Amidst all the negative news, there are always positive stories to be found. Here are some good news stories from this week:
Cancer mortality rates in the UK have dropped by 37% in men and 33% in women since 1993, according to a recent Cancer Research UK study. The biggest decrease was in cervical cancer deaths, dropping 54.3% thanks to improved screening. Lung cancer deaths also fell, with a reduction in smoking cited as the reason behind the decrease. The good news comes with a note of caution, as the UK is not meeting its cancer waiting times targets and staff report being “under extreme pressure”.
Ben Trotman, a British man diagnosed with brain cancer and given nine months to live, took part in a clinical trial for immunotherapy after his diagnosis. He went on to have a strong reaction to the treatment, causing doctors to believe the treatment was working. His latest scan showed no sign of high-grade disease in his tumour, offering Trotman and his wife hope for the future.
Despite 98% of Europeans still breathing air that breaches pollution guidelines, a recent study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health has found that air quality in Europe has improved significantly over the past two decades. Particulate matter levels have fallen by an average of 2.7% per year since 2003, but the report’s authors still acknowledged the need for “targeted measures” to further address the pollution.
A new study has found that low-traffic neighbourhoods lead to an increase in active travel and can save the UK £1bn over 20 years, mostly through healthcare savings. The study also noted that setting a national target of 5,000 steps a day in the UK could save the National Health Service £15bn by reducing chronic illness rates. Despite the benefits, Lambeth Council in London recently scrapped one low-traffic neighbourhood scheme after concerns it had caused slower bus journeys.
Scientists at the University of Exeter have found hope for the world’s reefs in the form of the Mars Coral Reef Restoration Programme in Indonesia. The program uses transplanted coral fixed to sand-coated steel frames to revive degraded reefs. Researchers found that reefs restored with planted coral grew and were able to reproduce, offering potential solutions for the threats facing our reefs.
These good news stories offer us hope in today’s world
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