Cancer survival hits 70%; higher minimum wage tied to safer pregnancies; FDA moves to drop suicide warnings from GLP-1s – Morning Medical Update

Cancer survival hits 70% milestone

The five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 70% in the United States for the first time, according to the latest annual statistics report from the American Cancer Society (ACS). The organization’s “Cancer Statistics, 2026” report shows especially large survival gains since the mid-1990s for historically lethal cancers, including myeloma, liver and lung cancer, reflecting decades of progress in research, screening and treatment. Although cancer mortality continues to decline, ACS researchers cautioned that rising incidence for several common cancers and persistent racial disparities — particularly among Native American populations — underscore the need for sustained research funding and improved access to high quality cancer care.

Higher minimum wage tied to safer pregnancies

State-level increases in the minimum wage are associated with lower rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, according to a new study from Rutgers University published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers found that each $1 increase in the minimum wage was linked to 64 fewer cases of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders per 100,000 women over five years, with the largest effects emerging two to four years after a wage hike. The findings add to evidence that economic security and other social determinants of health play a meaningful role in maternal outcomes, particularly in lower-income communities where these conditions are most common.

FDA moves to drop suicide warnings from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked drugmakers to remove warnings about suicidal thoughts from labels of widely used GLP-1 weight-loss drugs after finding no evidence of increased risk. The request applies to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Saxenda and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, following an FDA review of 91 placebo-controlled trials involving more than 107,000 patients. Regulators said the data showed no higher rates of suicidal thoughts, behavior or other psychiatric side effects compared with placebo, reinforcing conclusions from a preliminary review released in 2024.