Roundup: Misinformation About Sunscreen Raising Skin Cancer Risks, Survey Finds; and More News

Skin Cancer Misinformation Online Fueling Risky Tanning Habits, Survey Finds

Misinformation about sunscreen is putting millions of U.S. adults at greater risk for skin cancer, according to new survey data from the American Academy of Dermatology.

The group’s annual Practice Safe Sun Survey — May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month — found that more than 16 million adults say they have reduced or stopped using sunscreen because of claims they saw online. The problem is especially strong among younger adults, many of whom turn to social media for skin-care advice.

The survey points to a gap between what people think they know about sun safety and what they actually do. While 57 percent of Americans say they regularly use sunscreen, one-third also said they had a sunburn in the past year.

Sunburn is more than a short-term irritation. It is a sign that the skin has been damaged by ultraviolet radiation, often called UV rays, which are invisible rays from the sun that can cause skin cancer and early aging.

The Dangerous Myths Surrounding Tanning

Many people also overestimate their knowledge. Nearly half of survey respondents earned a C or lower on a sun-safety quiz, even though 67 percent rated their own habits as good or excellent. Among Gen Z adults ages 18 to 29, one-third scored a D or F.

The survey also found that false beliefs about tanning remain common. A tan may look healthy, but dermatologists and skin cancer specialists say it is actually a sign of skin damage. UV exposure changes the skin’s color because the skin is trying to protect itself from injury. Over time, that damage can build up and raise the risk of skin cancer. It can also cause wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of early aging.

At least one in five U.S. adults will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Even so, tanning myths are still widespread. More than half of adults believe at least one false claim, such as the idea that tanning is safe if you do not burn or that a “base tan” can protect you from later sun damage. Neither is true.

How to Protect Yourself: Simple Steps for Sun Safety

The findings also show how much online content shapes health choices. About 21 percent of survey respondents say they rely on Instagram or TikTok influencers for skin care advice. Among Gen Z, that figure rises to 36 percent. Nearly half of all adults, and almost two-thirds of Gen Z, say they have seen sunscreen misinformation online.

Health experts say the best way to protect your skin is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, wear protective clothing, seek shade, and avoid intentional tanning. If you have questions about what products to trust, get advice from a board-certified dermatologist.

Learn about Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Clinic.

When Heart and Metabolic Health Decline, Cancer Risk May Rise, New Research Finds

A growing body of research is revealing how major organ systems are closely connected. And a new study suggests that when heart, kidney, and metabolic health decline together, cancer risk may rise as well.

The condition at the center of this research is called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. This term refers to a cluster of interrelated health issues, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, obesity, and diabetes. These conditions often share common risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, excess body weight, and reduced kidney function.

Large-scale study links advanced CKM syndrome to higher cancer risk

In a large new study, published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, researchers analyzed data from nearly 1.4 million adults to better understand how CKM syndrome relates to cancer risk. Participants were grouped by stages of CKM syndrome, ranging from stage 0 (no risk factors) to stage 4 (severe disease, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure).

Over an average follow-up period of about three and a half years, researchers tracked new cancer diagnoses. The findings were striking: cancer risk increased significantly in the more advanced stages of CKM syndrome. Compared to people with no risk factors, those in stage 3 had a 25 percent higher risk of developing cancer, and those in stage 4 had a 30 percent higher risk. Earlier stages showed only minimal increases.

Why these conditions may be connected

Why does this connection exist? Experts believe it comes down to shared underlying processes. For example, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and insulin resistance (when the body doesn’t respond well to insulin, leading to higher blood sugar levels) are common in CKM syndrome—and all have been linked to cancer development.

In simpler terms, when one system in the body isn’t functioning properly, it can trigger a chain reaction that affects others.

The study also highlights what researchers call a “bidirectional relationship.” This means not only can cancer and its treatments harm the heart, but poor cardiovascular and metabolic health may also increase the likelihood of developing cancer in the first place.

What this means for your health

While the study was conducted using data from Japan, and results may not apply equally to all populations, the findings align with previous research linking metabolic and kidney problems to cancer risk.

The takeaway is both concerning and empowering. Since many components of CKM syndrome are influenced by lifestyle, healthy habits can play a major role in lowering risk across multiple diseases at once. Maintaining a balanced diet, staying physically active, managing weight, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and getting regular medical checkups can support heart, kidney, and metabolic health—and potentially reduce cancer risk as well.

For people already diagnosed with cardiovascular or metabolic conditions, doctors may begin to consider more proactive cancer screening strategies.

Ultimately, this research reinforces the concept that the body’s systems don’t operate in isolation—and protecting one aspect of your health helps protect them all.

New AI Tool Could Transform Cancer Predictions—and Personalize Treatment

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could change how doctors understand—and potentially treat—cancer. The model, called scSurvival, doesn’t just estimate how a patient might fare over time. It also helps explain why.

In a recent NIH-funded study, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University tested scSurvival using data from more than 150 cancer patients. The tool successfully predicted survival outcomes—how long patients were likely to live—and identified specific groups of cells within tumors linked to higher or lower risk.

What makes this different?

Most cancers are not made up of identical cells. Instead, tumors are more like a patchwork (or “mosaic”) of different cell types, each behaving in its own way. Some cells may drive aggressive growth, while others respond better to treatment.

Until now, many research methods have simplified this complexity by averaging data across all tumor cells. While useful, this approach can miss important details—like blending all ingredients in a smoothie and losing the distinct flavors.

The AI tool, scSurvival, takes a more precise approach. It analyzes single-cell data, meaning it looks at individual cells rather than lumping them together. This type of data comes from gene expression, which measures how active certain genes are inside each cell—essentially revealing what that cell is doing.

How the AI works

The model uses machine learning, a type of AI that finds patterns in large datasets. It assigns each cell a “weight,” or level of importance, based on how strongly it is linked to survival outcomes. Cells that matter more are emphasized, while less relevant ones are filtered out.

By focusing on the most influential cells, scSurvival can make more accurate predictions—and importantly, trace those predictions back to specific cell types.

Why this matters for patients

Instead of simply labeling a patient as “high risk,” tools like scSurvival could help physicians understand the biological reasons behind that risk. For example, the study found certain immune cells (the body’s defense system) and tumor cells that were associated with better or worse survival. In melanoma, a serious skin cancer, the model even identified cell patterns linked to response to immunotherapy — a treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer.

This could eventually help doctors:

• Choose treatments more likely to work for each patient
• Avoid therapies that are less effective
• Better predict how a cancer will progress

While these findings are encouraging, scSurvival is still in the research stage. More studies are needed before it becomes part of routine care.