Are sausages bad for you?

Felicity Cloake: New research says that people who eat processed meat have an increased risk of an early death. Does this mean we have to give up sausages – or will we be OK if we buy posh bangers and grill rather than fry them?

‘I had leukaemia, so I know how the patients must feel’

Dom Hurford's battle with childhood leukaemia has led to a life as a doctor on the wards where he was once treated

Teen fiction and the shadow of cancer

Mal Peet: From John Green's The Fault in our Stars to Jenny Downham's Before I Die, childhood cancer is becoming a taboo-busting subject for teen fiction

What doctors won’t do

From steroids to sleeping tablets, IVF to the flu jab – doctors reveal the treatments they would avoid

The antioxidant myth is too easy to swallow

Henry Scowcroft: People are hooked on the fallacy that 'antioxidant' is a byword for 'healthy' – perhaps because the truth is less appealing

Tumorous cigarettes – and the rest of the year in shockvertising

Arwa Mahdawi: A shocking ad may put us off our breakfast, but such tactics probably aren't the most effective way to change behaviour

Smokers face graphic ad campaign showing tumour growing on cigarette

£2.7m advertising campaign will warn smokers that just 15 cigarettes can lead to a cancerous tumour

The NHS failed my father

When her dad became seriously ill, Hannah Rose had to battle for a proper diagnosis and care. But worse, she says, was the lack of compassion

High blood pressure, smoking and alcohol are biggest health risks

IHME global study of health risks finds that high blood pressure caused 9.4m early deaths, while smoking was next biggest

My brain tumour blog

When she was told she had a brain tumour, Jennie Cohen began to record her thoughts online. Here's how she coped with the diagnosis and surgery

The Yellow World by Albert Espinosa – review

Albert Espinosa's initially beguiling account of his 10-year battle with cancer is spoilt by self-help hokum, says Michael Hogan

‘Fighting cancer taught me how to live’

Albert Espinosa insists that his gruelling, 10-year battle against cancer was a happy time. Now he has written a book to explain why

Life after cancer

For many patients, remission of the disease is just the first step in a long and emotionally draining process of recovery

Breast cancer: should I examine myself for lumps?

Women are often advised to check their breasts once a month. But there is strong evidence that self-examination doesn't work

Bucket lists: are they a good idea?

Skydiving and swimming with dolphins are just two popular items on the lists of things people want to do before it's too late. But are they facing up to death – or merely in denial?