Tra la la la la, la la, la la.
It’s time, once again, to look back upon the year that was.
To reflect on what we achieved, where we fell short and how we grew personally and professionally.
The holidays are a time to ruminate on how drastically things can change in one short jaunt around the sun.
And of course, most importantly, they’re the time to revisit our favourite Oncology Republic stories of 2025!!
Coming in at number four…
It’s GLP-1 drugs linked to lower cancer risk.
As if we needed any more reasons why they’re the crowning glory in diabetes and weight loss treatment, this class of miracle drugs have been associated with lower rates of more than a dozen cancers.
There was a 17% reduction in overall cancer risk, but highlights included a reduction in endometrial cancer risk by a quarter and ovarian cancer by almost half.
What unexpected wonders does 2026 hold for GLP1-RAs?
In third place:
Cancer: the story is better overall, says AIHW.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare gifted us some positive news: cancer death rates have gone down, and survival rates have gone up over the past 30 years.
Among some very interesting statistics on cancer types, there was a reminder that the incidence of cancer has increased in under 50s and skin cancer numbers continue to climb.
While things improve, there’s always more work to be done.
Second place goes to…
Second breast cancer diagnosis unlikely.
A small piece of comfort to offer those who’ve been given terrible news.
Women diagnosed with early breast cancer are only at 2-3% greater risk of a future diagnosis than the general population.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity had more of an influence on subsequent diagnoses than a previous breast cancer diagnosis.
We’ll take all the wins we can get.
And in first place (drum roll please)
Squeezed cancer cells may turn deadly.
This was an incredible piece about the mechanisms that drive metastasis.
In a first of its kind recreation of the journey of metastatic cancer cells through the body, researchers discovered how some cells are triggered into becoming more tumorigenic.
It’s a highly enjoyable read; I can see why our readers were drawn to this so much.
Lastly, an honourable mention
This article didn’t reach the top of the list but was this author’s personal pick.
Often, prompts to hold our loved ones close come hot on the tail of sad news. But Oxytocin, affectionate touch improves wound healing is a positive reminder of why we should prioritise this.
In a human first, researchers found that combining oxytocin with positive behaviours such as affectionate touch and sexual intimacy promotes physical healing.
A timely reminder that when you’ve had a few too many at Christmas lunch and accidentally dip your hand in the scalding gravy, it might be time for a hug – after completing the appropriate first aid, of course.
From all of us at OR, we want to thank you for your ongoing support this year and wish you a very happy holiday season.
We welcome suggestions and story tips for the new year – please reach out to laura@medicalrepublic.com.au, amanda@medicalrepublic.com.au or lincoln@medicalrepublic.com.au if there’s something you’d like us to cover.
