| | | | |  | | By Erin Schumaker, Daniel Payne, Carmen Paun, Ruth Reader and Toni Odejimi | | | | | 
Jackson Lee | Pool photo by Andrew Harnik | The funeral of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in Houston on Thursday underscored again the grim toll of pancreatic cancer. Jackson Lee, 74, who previously had breast cancer, disclosed in June that she’d been diagnosed with the disease, making her one of about 66,440 to get it this year and one of 51,750 to die from it, according to National Cancer Institute estimates. “It is not easy to lose a member of one’s family who holds such an extraordinary place,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a eulogy. “She truly was a force of nature.” By the numbers: Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., with a five-year survival rate hovering around 13 percent, according to the institute. By comparison, the five-year survival rate for female breast cancer is 91 percent. In addition to being aggressive, pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early because the pancreas is hidden behind the abdomen and other organs, and signs and symptoms of the disease typically aren’t noticeable until its later stages. Incidence rates for pancreatic cancer and other cancer types are rising in younger generations, according to a large study by researchers at the American Cancer Society and published in The Lancet Public Health this week. Pancreatic cancer rates among study participants born in 1990 were two to three times higher than the rates among people born in 1955. Rahul Shinde, an assistant professor at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia and a pancreatic cancer expert, called the trend “a significant concern.” While it’s unclear what’s driving younger people’s increased risk, lifestyle factors like diet and obesity may contribute as well as rising diabetes rates, said Shinde, who wasn’t involved in the cancer society's study. Even so: The death rate has modestly improved since the 1990s. Treatment has seen advancements, according to Shinde, including better surgical techniques, new chemotherapy drugs and emerging options for immunotherapy.
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Prince Edward Island, Canada | Shawn Zeller/POLITICO | This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. More turbulence in flight means no more instant noodles for economy class passengers on Korean Air as of mid-August, the BBC reports. That’s to avoid burns, the airline said. Those in business and first class will continue enjoying the snack, though, because the likelihood of scalding is lower there. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Carmen Paun at cpaun@politico.com, Daniel Payne at dpayne@politico.com, Ruth Reader at rreader@politico.com, Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@politico.com, or Toni Odejimi at aodejimi@politico.com. Send tips securely through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp.
| | |  An online therapy company has an app for that. | Hristo Rusev/Getty Images | Online therapy company Talkspace is rolling out a “smart notes” feature for mental health clinicians — the first of many artificial intelligence-powered tools expected from the company’s new AI innovation group, company leaders told Daniel. The tool will offer an AI-generated summary of notes and insights for patients’ treatment plans, which could save each care provider three or more hours a week, the company estimates. The backstory: Talkspace relies on its network of clinician clients to guide product development, according to Michael Rodio, the company’s general manager of AI. “How can we ensure that this resolves an actual problem for you and that we’re not just building a solution in search of a problem?” he said of the company’s approach. “We’re saying, ‘What are the things that are going to really help you as a provider?’” Mary Potter, chief privacy officer at Talkspace, said. Even so: The tool isn’t set to “on” by default — therapists have to click a button for it to generate a summary. And though those who’ve used the tool like it, according to the company, some clinicians might not be ready for AI in their practices. “If they’re not comfortable, I don’t want them to use it,” Potter said. Even Talkspace isn’t comfortable with AI in some cases — Potter said the tool should never replace a clinician’s judgment.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRI | | | | | | | | |  The WHO wants European nations to do more to prepare for extreme heat. | AFP via Getty Images | European countries should develop heat-health action plans to respond to increasing numbers of people dying of heat-related ailments. That’s according to the World Health Organization’s Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge. “Heat stress is the leading cause of climate-related death in the Region,” Kluge said in a statement. “Temperature extremes exacerbate chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebro-vascular diseases, mental health, and diabetes-related conditions.” By the numbers: Extreme heat kills at least 175,000 people annually in the European region, where temperatures continue to rise rapidly, according to the WHO, our European colleagues report. And Europe is among the fastest-warming regions in the world, with temperatures increasing at around twice the rate of the global average. Heat-related deaths there have grown by around 30 percent over the past two decades. Even so: A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health last year that looked at temperature-related deaths in Europe’s cities found extreme cold took about 10 times as many lives as extreme heat. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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