Off the Charts:

An Unexpected Post-Pandemic Cancer Spike Conventional Medicine Can't Explain

February 06, 2026

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A Message from Dr. McMillan

More than ever, those who questioned assumptions during the pandemic carry a responsibility now, not to accept reassurance at face value, but to continue asking what the data actually shows.

When it comes to cancer trends, particularly in younger adults, many people are being offered a comforting explanation: that this is routine, expected, or simply an artefact of better detection. That narrative is increasingly repeated, and increasingly unexamined.

Each of us has a responsibility to challenge lazy explanations, to ask whether claims are supported by evidence, and to ensure that those around us are not mistaking reassurance for truth. Silence, at this point, is not neutrality: it is abdication.

Dr. Philip McMillan

In this week's February 6th, 2026 update:

  • Covid-19: Unexpected post-pandemic cancer spike

  • Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video

  • Health: All foods can fit in a balanced diet

  • Infographic: Off the charts

  • News: Medical news in brief

  • Education: Post COVID phenotypes - What makes you unique?

    Read time: 6 minutes

FEATURE ARTICLE

COVID-19

  • UK bowel cancer hospital admissions surged from ~95,000 pre-pandemic to 108,000 by 2024–25, far exceeding historical trends.

  • Cases among 25–49-year-olds have risen sharply, with 40–49 admissions jumping from 3,400 to over 5,100.

  • Diet, lifestyle, and aging trends are unlikely to account for the sudden post-2021 acceleration in cancer diagnoses.

  • Proposed biological mechanisms linking COVID-19 vaccines to cancer increases remain poorly investigated rather than disproven.

Why this is important: Something unexplained by health authorities is driving a sharp rise in bowel cancer among younger adults in the UK, and the post-2021 timing raises uncomfortable questions about pandemic-era interventions. If conventional explanations like diet and lifestyle cannot alone account for the spike, the real cause demands urgent, honest investigation.

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HEALTH

All Foods Can Fit in a Balanced Diet, Flexibility Can Be Healthier Than Dieting
Author: Charlotte Carlson, Colorado State University

  • Diet culture promotes rigid food rules that can lead to guilt, shame, yo-yo dieting, and eating disorders.

  • The "all foods fit" approach encourages balanced eating guided by internal body cues, not external rules.

  • Removing moral labels from food reduces stress and can actually lead to healthier, more sustainable choices.

  • Getting started involves eating at regular intervals, reintroducing restricted foods, and focusing on hunger and fullness signals.

Why this is important: Rigid dietary rules and food shaming can harm both physical and mental health, often leading to disordered eating. Research suggests that removing moral labels from food and listening to your body's natural hunger cues leads to healthier, more sustainable eating habits and a more balanced relationship with nutrition.

INFOGRAPHIC

EDUCATION

This short tool maps symptom patterns and highlights which systems may need attention first - because with Post-COVID patterns, order of therapy often matters more than severity of symptoms.

If you’re living with ongoing symptoms or know someone who is, I would encourage you to click on the link, create a record of your symptoms and learn more about what they may mean.

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 How Sleep Loss Can Damage Your Brain's Wiring: Poor sleep doesn't just tire your neurons. Scientists discovered it strips away the fatty insulation around nerve fibers by disrupting cholesterol transport. A drug reversed this damage in rats, restoring normal brain speed. This could eventually lead to targeted treatments for the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation. [SOURCE]

🚥 Two in Five Cancers Worldwide Are Likely Preventable: Millions of cancer cases each year may be preventable. Analysis of 185 countries reveals that everyday exposures like smoking, infections, and alcohol account for nearly 40% of new diagnoses. Identifying which risks matter most in each region empowers governments to target prevention where it will save the most lives. [SOURCE]

🚥 Your Genes Matter More for Lifespan Now Than They Did a Century Ago: Scientists now believe genes may influence lifespan twice as much as previously thought, accounting for around 50–55% of variation rather than 20–25%. However, this shift reflects improved living conditions rather than new genetic power, meaning lifestyle choices still play a vital role in how long we live.

🚥 Nasal Spray for Flu Prevention Shows Promising Trial Results: Flu kills hundreds of thousands annually, and current vaccines are only about 50% effective. A nasal spray that blocks nearly all flu strains at the point of entry could transform prevention, offering broader, more reliable protection than anything currently available. [SOURCE]

🚥 Perceiving Nature in Daily Life and Exercise Linked to Better Mental Health: Young adults facing rising rates of anxiety and mood disorders may benefit most not from proximity to parks, but from actively noticing nature in multiple daily contexts, especially during exercise. This reframes urban planning and public health strategies around perception and access rather than simple greenery metrics. [SOURCE]

🚥 In Developing Immunity to Allergens, a Little 'Dirty' Goes a Long Way: Yale researchers have solved a long-standing mystery: why children raised around farms, pets, and diverse microbes develop fewer allergies. They discovered that early microbial exposure trains the immune system to produce protective antibodies instead of overreacting to harmless substances. This opens the door to new prevention strategies and potential cures, not just symptom management.
[SOURCE]

BOOK NOOK

Set within a child’s nose, ‘Humming Heroes’ features a family of Lymphocytes led by a wise Mother, brave Father, determined Brother, and heroic Baby, confronting invading microorganisms. The story takes an imaginative turn, when a humming melody combines with the Lymphocytes’ song to repel the invaders and restore inner harmony.

"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:

  • Practical strategies for personal and community preparedness.

  • Lessons learned from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.

  • Actionable steps to boost resilience against emerging health threats.

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