Prostate cancer is among the most common forms of the disease, with an estimated 25,900 new cases in Canada last year. It is highly treatable if caught early, but a diagnosis requires a three-stage MRI, with the last stage involving an injection of contrast dye to make the scan easier to read.

Think about the last time you had ChatGPT write something for you and consider this: Would you be comfortable with that bot giving a teen mental health advice?

For many students, getting into med school feels like winning the lottery. And soon, for some of them, it will literally be like winning the lottery. 

What happened: Queen’s University will introduce a unique lottery system this fall as part of its medical school application process as it looks to spur admissions for students from diverse backgrounds. The lottery will be used to choose who reaches the first interview stage. 

Birds have already given us food, inspiration for band names, and countless sports mascots. Unfortunately, they might also be giving us a nasty virus.

Driving the news: A recent outbreak of bird flu in U.S. cattle has now spread to a human, with at least one person in Texas testing positive for the virus. It’s the latest worrying development in an outbreak that has infected millions of animals around the world.

When it comes to medical diagnoses, it’s always good to get a second opinion. Getting a third from an artificially intelligent healthcare tool might not be a bad idea, either.

What happened: An AI tool called Mia caught multiple small cancers missed by doctors in a test of 10,000 women’s mammograms performed by Britain’s National Health Service (NHS).

Newfoundland and Labrador’s health authority has launched a pilot to cut back on one of its most expensive indulgences: Out-of-province travel nurses from private staffing firms. 

Driving the news: Union staff nurses at public health institutions can now take on extra work as temporary fill-ins in rural areas. While the nurses can only do this during their days off, they are rewarded with an overwhelming sense of goodwill… and an extra $25 an hour.

One of Canada’s top biotech prospects has been called up to the big leagues. 

What happened: British pharma giant AstraZeneca is acquiring a promising Canadian biotech firm, Hamilton-based Fusion Pharmaceuticals, in a deal worth up to $3.26 billion. 

File this story under “diseases you thought you could stop worrying about”: Experts are worried that a recent surge in measles cases could soon get worse as kids return from the March break holidays. 

Driving the news: New modelling projections from researchers at Simon Fraser University show that Canada has a high chance of experiencing a significant measles outbreak, potentially infecting thousands.

A new type of retreat is going after a demographic that needs more R&R than perhaps any other: new parents. 

Driving the news: Last month, Alma Care — a retreat for mothers who have just given birth — officially opened in Toronto. Per the owner, it’s the first facility of its kind in Canada, offering new moms cozy rooms, doula consultations, masseuses, and a staffed nursery. 

Menthol cigarette bans are helping make the phrase “smoke ’em if you got ’em” obsolete. 

Driving the news: A new study on the effects of menthol cigarette bans in Canada, several U.S. states, and certain EU countries found that 24% of menthol smokers quit smoking entirely within two years of a ban, with national menthol bans being even more effective.