
Why so many menopausal women are getting eating disorders. For LULU BANHAM it started with competitive mums... now she reveals the dark secret so many hide
The tape measure I pulled tight around my waist before getting on the scales is even crueller, recording an expansion of 1cm.
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BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Grandma writes book for grandson after brain tumour diagnosis
A grandmother who was diagnosed with a brain tumour has written and illustrated a book for her four-year-old from Stroud in Gloucestershire, said she went to hospital after suffering a seizure and a suspected stroke, but tests revealed she had a brain tumour the size of a receiving the diagnosis in February 2022, the 62-year-old said she was "terrified" she would not live to see her grandson Finn grow up, prompting her to write Finn's Wonderful World."I wanted to leave Finn something deeply personal, a message of wonder and joy, in case I wasn't there to share it with him myself," Jan said. Finn was one when Jan was diagnosed with the slow-growing tumour. To remove it, Jan underwent a craniotomy at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in May 2022. The surgery was successful, but she was left with partial vision. Shortly after the diagnosis, Jan returned to her hobby of drawing and painting after years of putting it aside while she "juggled everything" in her busy book, which explores themes of friendship and nature, features illustrations of a blonde child with blue eyes, just like said: "The diagnosis and the uncertainty about my future reignited that creativity in a deeply meaningful way. "This book has given me purpose and focus. "To see [Finn} enjoy the story I created for him, it's the most special gift," she added. Jan said all profits from the book would be donated to Brain Tumour Research."Without the knowledge and the skill, I wouldn't be here today," she said."They give people a chance of getting on with their lives."I poured my heart into [the book], and to know it's helping fund vital research means everything," she added.


BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Overnight Consett clinic closure faces resident backlash
People have raised concerns over the temporary overnight closure of a hospital's urgent treatment centre (UTC).The 24-hour facility at Shotley Bridge Hospital in Consett, County Durham, has been shut from 00:00 to 08:00 every night since 14 July. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said the centre would have reduced opening hours for three months due to difficulties staffing overnight shifts "safely and consistently".The nearest medical facility for urgent overnight help will now be 13 miles (21km) away at University Hospital of North Durham, but one resident Jackie Tupper said: "We deserve local services." UTCs provide urgent medical help for non-life-threatening emergencies, such as cuts and Tupper said she felt Consett was getting the "thin edge of the wedge". She said her husband had been referred to a specialist recently but had to travel an hour away to Darlington to see them. "The Consett area has grown no end in recent years and the community deserves to have every available service here," she said. Another Consett resident Mark Pearson said he has asthma and the overnight closure of the UTC was "worrying for families like mine"."This change affects vulnerable people, especially those without transport or those with ongoing health conditions," he said. He said was not confident the overnight closure of the UTC was temporary. 'Protect daytime care' The trust said between January and June this year it had shut the UTC overnight 65 times due to staffing also said on average just five people attended the site each night.A spokesperson said staff shortages had risen this year due to a combination of vacancies, sickness and maternity said the decision to temporarily shut the site overnight was so "daytime care could be protected"."We'll be reviewing the impact of this change closely and listening to feedback from local people and partners throughout the closure period," they added. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Unearthing end-of-life care at 8th Century Cookham monastery
A group of archaeology students have said their work feels "really important" after uncovering evidence of early end-of-life care during excavations at an 8th Century of Reading students and staff have been taking part in an annual dig at the site in Cookham, Berkshire, and a neighbouring team first discovered the Anglo-Saxon site in Cookham, Berkshire, in Hayes, director of the university's field school, said this year they had found evidence of illness and treatment in human remains, including bedsores, suggesting palliative care may have taken place. "It feels like I'm doing something really important," said first year undergraduate student Thalia Argrave."It's just the constant reminder that these were people, they were living their lives just as we're currently living our lives, and we're finding out about them and rediscovering them now. I'm really happy to be a part of [it]." Mr Hayes said the archaeologists had found "a lot more in the way of human remains", particularly "a number of juvenile remains".The evidence of those in the monastery caring for the sick, he said, was "really important"."At the time, care for the soul and care for the body were treated almost as the same - equal importance."But it's also showing the execution of this religious duty in the actual practice of this monastery."We don't always see that in the archaeological record but here we're seeing it very actively in the population that we're finding." Ms Argrave said the team spent a year preparing for the dig, adding: "It's really valuable and important to be part of that first hand."There are experts everywhere in the trenches so we're asking lots of questions and learning so much." Elearnor Rawlings, another first year student, said taking part in the dig made her appreciate how much effort is involved."I have so much more appreciation for the work that goes into what they put in the museums, because this takes so long to slowly inch away all the soil and to get such a good clear outline," she said. "I'm loving it."The excavated skeletons "tell their own stories", she added. "The bones themselves can tell you so much more about what a person's life would have looked like in that time." Mr Hayes said it was interesting to see the students get involved."Some of the students, who had no expectations and didn't know what to expect from this, are really taking to it and really enjoying it."This year, we've got a fantastic group of students who are just getting stuck in and asking loads of really interesting questions and really engaging with the subject." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.