11 days ago
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is "cancer free," she announced on X on Sept. 16, 2026. "Some personal news I'm grateful to share. After a medical appointment at the Mayo Clinic this week, my pathology results came back clear," she explained.
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks — during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 — before it has spread — in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 — slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than 380,000 American women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.
#breast #diagnosed
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks — during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 — before it has spread — in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 — slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than 380,000 American women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.
#breast #diagnosed
25 days ago
NFL players diagnosed with advanced CTE after death who also demonstrated cognitive impairment in testing during their life still did not meet the requirements for financial compensation under the NFL Concussion Settlement, according to a Boston University study published Wednesday.
Researchers examined 33 NFL players diagnosed with CTE after an autopsy who had completed the baseline ****** sment program (BAP) stipulated by the 2014 settlement – that ended a years-long class-action lawsuit – in what researchers called the largest study to date linking cognitive testing performance during life with CTE confirmed posthumously.
The results, published in JAMA Network Open, found that seven participants had advanced (Stage 3 or 4) CTE. Six of those seven showed measurable cognitive impairment on testing, yet all seven received the lowest impairment rating (Level 0) on the BAP's system, according to documentation provided to researchers by players' families.
"The BAP's diagnostic criteria might miss cases of cognitive impairment that are objectively measurable and ****** ociated with confirmed CTE pathology," Michael Alosco, PhD, co-director of clinical research at the BU CTE Center said in a statement. "This has important implications for former players seeking diagnosis and potential compensation through the NFL Concussion Settlement."
The participants' average age at the time of testing was 63, and their average age of death was 65. The most-common problem was memory, particularly short-term, with 63% of the participants affected. Executive function (52%) and language (41%) were other common impairments.
#cognitive #testing #settlement #participants
Researchers examined 33 NFL players diagnosed with CTE after an autopsy who had completed the baseline ****** sment program (BAP) stipulated by the 2014 settlement – that ended a years-long class-action lawsuit – in what researchers called the largest study to date linking cognitive testing performance during life with CTE confirmed posthumously.
The results, published in JAMA Network Open, found that seven participants had advanced (Stage 3 or 4) CTE. Six of those seven showed measurable cognitive impairment on testing, yet all seven received the lowest impairment rating (Level 0) on the BAP's system, according to documentation provided to researchers by players' families.
"The BAP's diagnostic criteria might miss cases of cognitive impairment that are objectively measurable and ****** ociated with confirmed CTE pathology," Michael Alosco, PhD, co-director of clinical research at the BU CTE Center said in a statement. "This has important implications for former players seeking diagnosis and potential compensation through the NFL Concussion Settlement."
The participants' average age at the time of testing was 63, and their average age of death was 65. The most-common problem was memory, particularly short-term, with 63% of the participants affected. Executive function (52%) and language (41%) were other common impairments.
#cognitive #testing #settlement #participants
2 months ago
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) just extended its diagnostics franchise into one of oncology's toughest corners. On July 23, the company said European regulators had certified its PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx test, Code SK006, as a companion diagnostic for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinoma. That lets pathologists flag patients who might benefit from Merck's Keytruda. It is a narrow, technical-sounding approval, but it adds up to something bigger: Agilent's diagnostics business keeps racking up new indications while competitors scramble to keep pace.
Bull Case: A Diagnostics Machine That Keeps Adding Indications
This is now the eighth CE-marked indication for the 22C3 pharmDx ****** ay in the EU, following FDA approval of a related PD-L1 test (28-8 pharmDx) for esophageal and gastric cancers just nine days earlier. Each new label doesn't require Agilent to build a new product; it just extends the reach of an ****** ay already running in labs worldwide, which is a high-margin way to grow. Agilent has also been adding inorganically, closing its acquisition of Biocare Medical in June to deepen its clinical pathology reach, the same market where this new ovarian cancer approval lives. Together, the pipeline of regulatory wins and the acquisition strategy point to a company compounding its diagnostics footprint one label at a time rather than swinging for one blockbuster product.
Bear Case: A Crowded Diagnostics Field With A Scarier Neighbor
Companion diagnostics is not Agilent's alone to win. Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR), through its Leica Biosystems unit, competes directly for the same pathology lab budgets and just agreed on July 14 to acquire StatLab Medical Products to strengthen its own histology and AI-pathology pipeline. Danaher's own stock cratered 14% on July 21 after it trimmed its core revenue growth outlook, even though it beat on earnings and raised its profit forecast.
#pharmdx #pathology
Bull Case: A Diagnostics Machine That Keeps Adding Indications
This is now the eighth CE-marked indication for the 22C3 pharmDx ****** ay in the EU, following FDA approval of a related PD-L1 test (28-8 pharmDx) for esophageal and gastric cancers just nine days earlier. Each new label doesn't require Agilent to build a new product; it just extends the reach of an ****** ay already running in labs worldwide, which is a high-margin way to grow. Agilent has also been adding inorganically, closing its acquisition of Biocare Medical in June to deepen its clinical pathology reach, the same market where this new ovarian cancer approval lives. Together, the pipeline of regulatory wins and the acquisition strategy point to a company compounding its diagnostics footprint one label at a time rather than swinging for one blockbuster product.
Bear Case: A Crowded Diagnostics Field With A Scarier Neighbor
Companion diagnostics is not Agilent's alone to win. Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR), through its Leica Biosystems unit, competes directly for the same pathology lab budgets and just agreed on July 14 to acquire StatLab Medical Products to strengthen its own histology and AI-pathology pipeline. Danaher's own stock cratered 14% on July 21 after it trimmed its core revenue growth outlook, even though it beat on earnings and raised its profit forecast.
#pharmdx #pathology
