We’ve long known obesity leaves people at a heightened risk of disease and premature death. Now, researchers say it could also impact how early breast cancer spreads in women.

Unique changes in the bodies of women with obesity are helping breast cancer to become invasive and typically more advanced, spreading into surrounding breast tissue, new Oklahoma University research says.

The changes were seen in cancer tumors and the surrounding cells. The researchers discovered higher levels of an enzyme known as Sulfatase 2 in tumor cells, too.

Although more work needs to be done to determine how these changes contribute to invasive breast cancer, the findings could help doctors better treat patients.

“This could be why women with obesity are at higher risk for invasive breast cancer,” Bethany Hannafon, an assistant professor at the university’s College of Medicine, explained in a statement. “The changes that the cancer cells are undergoing are allowing them to survive and thrive.”

So, what are the changes?

First, the area surrounding the cancer was more inflamed in women with obesity, as immune cells arrived and sped up tumor growth.

These cells normally fight off disease, but can be reprogrammed by tumors to support cancer, according to New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

And, the cells that make up their tumors seemed to be able to survive better under stress, and there were differences in the tumor cells and cells around them, the researchers said.

The enzyme, a protein that accelerates chemical reactions in the body, has previously been tied to breast, lung, liver and other forms of cancer.

Future research will focus on its role in invasive breast cancer, the researchers said.

While breast cancer survival rates have improved over the past 20 years, the number of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer has not declined.

About 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, the American Cancer Society estimates.

Most breast cancers are invasive, but there are two types that are most common: invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.

Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, and makes up 80 percent of invasive cases, according to the society.

This type spreads in cells that line the milk duct in the breast, breaking through the wall of the duct and growing into nearby tissue.

Invasive lobular carcinoma, which makes up 10 percent of invasive cases, start in the breast glands that make milk.

There is currently no way of determining which women with noninvasive tumors later develop into invasive ductal carcinoma,

“As a result, many women with [noninvasive breast cancer] receive the same treatments used for [invasive ductal carcinoma], including surgery, radiation and sometimes hormone therapy,” Hannafon said.

“Overtreatment is a major concern, but if we had better ways of determining risk, unnecessary treatments could potentially be reduced,” she noted.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. – other than skin cancers. It accounts for about 30 percent of all new female cancers each year.

Obesity is a known risk factor for invasive breast cancer and other forms.

More than 100 million Americans live with obesity, some 40 percent of whom are women.

The retailer will now only offer blunt-ended knives that cannot pierce skin, a decision backed by anti-knife campaigners and charities.

The change follows police data showing there were 49,151 knife or sharp instrument offences last year—a 50 per cent rise over the past decade.

David Scott, Morrisons’ corporate affairs director, said: “They’re just as effective in the kitchen but reduce the risk of harm.”

He said he hoped the move would “help normalise safer knives and make our communities safer.”

Leanne Lucas, a knife attack survivor from Southport, has campaigned for people to make the switch to rounded-tip knives.

Her campaign began after a knife attack in July 2024 involving a then 17-year-old who killed three girls and injured ten others with an 8-inch kitchen knife.

Ms Lucas said such horror “must never be repeated” and urged MPs to support her Let’s Be Blunt campaign.

Her efforts are supported by The Ben Kinsella Trust, a charity working to reduce knife crime.

Patrick Green, the trust’s chief executive, said the introduction of blunted knives “remove the opportunity, the impulsivity.”

Morrisons closures

Morrisons is preparing to close 100 stores across the UK in the coming months.

The proposed closures, after staff consultations on Thursday, May 21, affect stores that are reportedly loss-making and described by the supermarket chain as “the most challenged” in its retail estate.

A Morrisons spokesman told us: “Expansion of our Convenience business is a core part of Morrisons growth strategy.

“We currently have around 1,700 Convenience stores, opening more than 120 new franchise stores last year, and we have a robust plan in place for further expansion in 2026.

“We continue to see the opportunity to open hundreds more franchise convenience stores in the years ahead.”

The spokesman added that the closures follow a strategic review of shop performance, many of which formed part of the 2022 McColl’s acquisition.

Members-only shopping site BrandAlley has announced 75 members of staff are set are to lose their jobs as a new firm takes over trading.

A UK fashion discount site that offers money off big brands has plunged into administration after almost two decades.

BrandAlley, a members-only shopping site, is popular for its huge deals slashing up to 80 percent off designer items, from clothes to beauty and homeware.

It was founded in 2008 and quickly grew a major following for its massive price drops on valuable goods in its flash sales.

Now, it has announced 75 members of staff set are to lose their jobs after it fell into administration and trading was handed over to a new company.

The company has reassured customers they are able to continue to shop on the site as normal, with all existing orders as well as returns and refunds to be undertaken by the new company.

Shoppers are estimated to spend on average more than £100 per order as the site runs dozens of flash sales every day across more than 1,000 brand partners.

Kiri Holland and Danny Dartnall, from accountancy firm BDO, have been appointed join administrators of BrandAlley UK Limited as of Friday (May 29), writes the Mirror.

The business reportedly ran into financial difficulty and has been sold through a pre-pack administration deal to a new company trading as BrandAlley International Limited.

Of its 163 employees, 83 have been kept on to facilitate the sale and 60 will remain temporarily to assist with the handover. Meanwhile, 15 were made redundant.

The company is reported to have weighed up alternative options to save the business, including a full or partial sale, after hiring advisory and restructuring firm Interpath to consult on its future.

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Liverpool have parted ways with manager Arne Slot, but the decision could be bad news for Man Utd next season.

Manchester United did the double over Liverpool in the 2025/26 Premier League season for the first time in 10 years. The Reds also finished above their fierce rivals for the first time since 2022/23.

Liverpool’s struggles have brought joy to United fans, who revelled in their slide again on Saturday when it was announced that Arne Slot had been sacked.

It’s worth reading Liverpool’s official club statement because the wording is unusual. “That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying,” it read. “The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.

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“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.”

It goes on to reference how the club immediately identified that Slot embraces responsibility, and how his title win in his maiden season in England “was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day”.

But if Liverpool thought so highly of Slot, why has he been sacked? The statement reads like Liverpool aren’t convinced by their own decision.

The truth is, United fans would have preferred Slot to have remained in charge, given the signs of weakness at Anfield this season. Liverpool went from Premier League champions to just about scraping into the Champions League in the space of 12 months.

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Liverpool fans said they had ‘won’ the transfer window when they splashed £225million on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz last summer, but that ‘prize’ yielded a combined total of eight Premier League goals.

Slot spent a vast sum of money in the market to build his own squad but somehow made Liverpool worse, so his departure could be considered as bad news for United, who probably would have had a better chance of finishing above their rivals again if he’d remained in charge.

The chances are Liverpool will benefit from a change of manager and become a bigger threat to United next season.

This new test could help more than 5,000 women a year.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Scotland, with many undergoing gruelling chemotherapy treatments to try and reduce the risk of the disease returning after surgery. However, a major trial has found that a breakthrough test could allow over 5,000 women in the UK to avoid unnecessary treatments each year.

At the moment, patients whose early-stage breast cancer has spread to their nearby lymph nodes are regularly offered chemotherapy. However, this can come with a range of side effects, including a weakened immune system, problems with memory and concentration, blood clots, vomiting, tiredness, or shortness of breath.

Additionally, some types of chemotherapy can also affect fertility, whether that be temporarily or permanently. For patients worried about these potential symptoms, or the chemotherapy having little to no benefit, this new gene test could be a game changer.

The test, called Prosigna, analyses a tumour sample to measure the activity of genes involved in growth. From an international trial led by the UCL, it found that only two per cent of patients with a low score would benefit from undergoing chemotherapy.

Using the test to help identify “who truly benefits from chemotherapy and who does not”, chief investigator and expert in breast oncology at the UCL Cancer Institute, Professor Rob Stein, presented the findings at the world’s largest cancer conference, reports the Express.

He said: “Our findings show that many patients can safely avoid chemotherapy without compromising their outcomes. Many may be spared the physical and emotional burden of chemotherapy and its potential long-term side effects.”

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In order to help destroy or reduce cancer cells, chemotherapy uses powerful drugs that can have an impact on the rest of the body. These drugs can also affect healthy body tissue where cancer cells have been constantly growing and dividing.

To find out who truly needs to undergo this gruelling treatment, the OPTIMA trial involved more than 4,400 people from places such as the UK, Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.

The patients each had hormone-sensitive breast cancer and were aged 40 and above. In most cases, the form of breast cancer for these women has spread to their underarm lymph nodes which puts them at a higher risk of recurrence.

The Prosigna genomic test was performed using samples taken from tumours removed during surgery or from needle biopsies. It was found that two-thirds of participants (68%) had a low score.

In the study, participants were randomly assigned to receive treatment guided by their test score or given standard care, which includes a course of chemotherapy and hormone tablets to be taken for five to ten years.

The results of the trial were discovered five years later, with 94.8 per cent of those who received standard care being alive and breast cancer free, compared to 93.6 per cent of those treated with hormone therapy alone.

Due to the small difference between the two groups, researchers believe that the test could be used to determine if patients can avoid having chemotherapy altogether.

Going forward, these results will be considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which will determine whether the test should be rolled out through the NHS.

Co-chief investigator Professor Iain MacPherson, of the University of Glasgow, said the research “provides robust, practice‑changing evidence that we can safely reduce the use of chemotherapy for many patients with hormone‑sensitive breast cancer”.

He added: “These findings represent a major step forward in delivering more personalised, precise care, ensuring that treatment decisions are driven by what will genuinely improve outcomes for patients, while avoiding unnecessary toxicity. The potential impact for both patients and health services is substantial.”

Moments after Jenna Carberg gave birth to her daughter, doctors put the baby on her chest.

“I felt a disconnect right away,” she recalled.

At home, the Orlando, Florida, mom was exhausted and anxious and cried every day. She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression — a potentially dangerous condition that can fill a typically joyous time with deep despair.

The mood disorder has been on the rise. A 2024 study in the journal JAMA Network Open found that U.S. rates more than doubled in just over a decade, climbing from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021, partly due to improved screening and diagnosis.

It can be hard to differentiate the disorder from the much milder and more common “baby blues” brought on by plummeting hormone levels. But recognizing and treating postpartum depression is crucial, said OB-GYN Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

Moms who go untreated may have problems bonding with and caring for their babies. And they’re at increased risk of suicide.

“A healthy you will ultimately be important for a healthy baby,” Moore Simas said.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

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How to tell if postpartum sadness is more than baby blues

Baby blues affects about 8 in 10 new moms, striking shortly after delivery.

“Moms will feel kind of more emotional than normal,” said Dr. Jennifer Payne, an expert in reproductive psychiatry at the University of Virginia.

But the crying jags and feelings of sadness aren’t severe enough to interfere with normal life. Moms should still be able to care for themselves and their babies.

Screening tools can help discern if the problem is more serious. A commonly used 10-item questionnaire, often given at a postpartum checkup, asks how often a mom has experienced feelings such as sadness, panic or worry. A high score points toward the need for further evaluation.

Experts say there’s no single cause of postpartum depression. Genetics, physical changes and emotional issues may contribute to it.

“We’re pretty sure that having a case of the baby blues doesn’t increase your risk of postpartum depression,” Payne said. “But it does seem that both conditions can develop in the same person.”

Signs of postpartum depression to watch out for

If sadness lingers for more than two weeks, that’s one sign.

Others include intense feelings of despair, anxiety, loss of interest, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, low energy and decreased concentration and appetite. Moms may worry constantly about their babies, be unable to sleep, or stop showering for days.

They “feel negatively and badly about themselves. They’ll feel that they’re a bad mother. They might not feel attached to the baby very much,” Payne said.

They may even have thoughts of harming themselves.

Carberg, who gave birth to her daughter in 2016, had such thoughts a couple of times — once while driving with her daughter. She went to a psychiatric facility for a few days and did better for a while.

But she later had a severe breakdown. She sent text messages to her husband, Chris, saying she was sorry, then turned her phone off. Chris desperately tried to reach her, worried she’d hurt herself.

“She luckily went to the hospital ER,” he said.

Postpartum depression can be treated effectively

Ultimately, finding the right medication was the key to Jenna Carberg’s recovery.

“I felt like myself again,” she said after taking the stimulant Vyvanse.

Other medications include antidepressants such as Zoloft or Prozac, or Zurzuvae, the first pill approved for postpartum depression. Talk therapy is another common treatment, and experts also stress the importance of getting enough sleep and support from family and friends.

To help others, the Carbergs started an online information resource — postpartumdepression.org — to provide support and connect patients with professional help.

Doctors advise anyone who thinks they or a loved one may have postpartum depression to reach out to their OB-GYN, primary care doctor or mental health provider.

If necessary, be persistent, said Dr. Kerry Hudson, an OB-GYN at Newport Women’s Health Services in Rhode Island. When she suffered postpartum depression two decades ago, she said, her doctor told her she was just an overstressed medical resident. She finally got help after breaking down in front of colleagues during a presentation.

After therapy and medications, Hudson went on to have a second child. So did the Carbergs. All are doing well.

“When we get people help, I think they can have a good future ahead of them,” Hudson said. “You don’t have to suffer in silence.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has confirmed that they sent six fire engines to Chadderton shortly after 11am this morning,

A spokesperson for GMFRS told the MEN: “Just after 11am this morning (Saturday 30th May), six fire engines from Blackley, Hollins, Heywood, Philips Park, Broughton and Offerton fire station, along with the Technical Response Unit from Ashton, were called to reports of a fire at a scrap yard on Moston Road, Chadderton.

“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters are using six hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. Firefighters have been in attendance for around an hour and are still at the scene.”

Liverpool had insisted that a change of head coach was not on the agenda, but after assessing the situation following the end of the season last weekend, the club’s hierarchy believe the next phase requires a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.

The decision to sack Slot was made by Michael Edwards, FSG’s chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool‘s sporting director.

Iraola, 43, is one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe and is known for his attacking style of play.

He was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds.

Bournemouth finished only one place and three points behind Liverpool to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down at Anfield after nine years as manager.

Earlier this month, forward Mohamed Salah said the club must return to being a “heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear” after “crumbling” to a defeat at Aston Villa.

Much of Liverpool‘s success under Klopp – where they won every major trophy – came through this style of play.

“The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach,” the statement added.

“Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield.”

Little Eleanor Sim, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, spent weeks in intensive care after developing the rare condition just hours after being born.

A baby who is one of Scotland’s youngest ever stroke survivors is celebrating her first birthday after a remarkable battle.

Little Eleanor Sim spent weeks in intensive care after developing the rare condition just hours after being born.

Eleanor’s family, from Kirkcaldy in Fife, is today marking her big day with loved ones and a special birthday cake with a purple stroke awareness ribbon.

Parents Kimberley and John spoke of the horror of watching their daughter’s health deteriorate and their pride in her recovery.

Kimberley said: “Watching our precious little girl turning one is something that feels incredibly special.

“Words cannot describe how proud we are, of her strength, her resilience, and how much she has achieved in just one year of her life.

“There have been times when the anxiety over her future has been all consuming, and there is still that worry of whether or not she will face more hurdles as she grows.

“This time last year, we watched helplessly as our daughter began having seizures, something that you cannot comprehend happening in a newborn. She was covered in wires and tubes and then began two weeks of invasive tests and procedures. The trauma of that time will never leave us.

“But right now, in this moment, we are grateful for her health and happiness. She loves to dance, she loves her two big brothers and she brings joy to everyone who meets her.”

Around 400 children suffer a stroke in the UK every year.

Babies can suffer strokes in the womb or just after birth when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, depriving brain tissue of vital oxygen and causing cells to die – sparking a critical emergency.

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A stroke can affect movement, speech, vision and how a child swallows. It can also impact learning, memory, behaviour, and mood.

Born at 39 weeks after a planned c-section, Eleanor needed help with her breathing and was moved to neonatal care but was expected to quickly join her mother on the maternity ward.

But the following day her parents noticed she was twitching, which was later identified as seizures.

She was rushed to intensive care for a series of tests, including a lumbar puncture, before eventually being stable enough for an MRI, where it was revealed she’d had a stroke.

The news left her parents “numb” with shock.

Eleanor spent two further weeks in hospital before being allowed to go home, where she has remained under specialist care at a high-risk clinic.

But she has gone on to achieve her developmental milestones so far, with per parents describing her as an “absolute warrior”.

The happy one-year-old is doted on by big brothers, two-year-old Arthur and eight-year-old Thomas.

To celebrate her amazing milestone, the family are urging Scots to help raise finds for stroke services, including the Stroke Association’s childhood stroke support team.

Associate director John Watson said: “Every day, a family somewhere is going to have their world absolutely turned upside down from this.

“It’s wonderful the family chose to speak out. Raising awareness isn’t always easy, but they’ve done that to help us. As a charity we’re reliant on donations so we can continue to provide that support.”

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The club said in a statement: “Liverpool FC can confirm Arne Slot is to depart his role as head coach with immediate effect and that the process to appoint a successor is under way.”

The statement added: “Having joined the club in June 2024, Arne went on to deliver our 20th league title in his first season in charge, ending the 2024-25 campaign as LMA Manager of the Year having also guided the team to the Carabao Cup final and the last 16 of the Champions League.

“He subsequently oversaw Champions League qualification for a second successive season in 2025-26 as the Reds also reached the quarter-finals of the same competition.

“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.

“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

“From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.

“At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title.

“That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

“He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

“As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.

“Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.

“Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield.”