Latest news with #Crohn's&ColitisUK
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Ulcerative colitis red flags as TOWIE star shares health battle
Chloe Meadows has opened up about her battle with the condition after first noticing unusual symptoms at 16 years old Chloe Meadows openly discussed her struggle with ulcerative colitis on Dr. Oscar Duke's Bedside Manners podcast, revealing that she ignored warning signs for almost ten years. The 33-year-old reality star recalled noticing blood in her stool at the age of 16 while attending boarding school. "I remember I told my mum and was like there is quite a lot of blood down the toilet," Chloe, who once starred in The Only Way Is Essex, said. "I'm not really sure what is going on and she, of course, said go to the doctors. I went to the doctors and they said that I would have to have a colonoscopy. "The doctor referred me and I got this letter, and this is awful, but I got this letter and I just never went to the appointment because I was terrified. It would stop for periods of time so that the blood would go away. "I'd be like, 'Oh, cool, it's gone away, I'm better. There's nothing wrong with me'. I'd go through years where it wouldn't happen and then it would happen again, and then it would stop again. "I just got on with it and ignored it. I think I was scared of having any procedure done." The podcast episode underscored the importance of recognising this condition, pointing out how frequently people dismiss or overlook symptoms when they occur. To gain further insights into ulcerative colitis, we interviewed Pearl Avery, the IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) nursing lead at Crohn's & Colitis UK, who discussed several typical red flags to be aware of. Ulcerative colitis explained "Ulcerative colitis is a type of IBD where parts of the large bowel – the colon and rectum – become inflamed and ulcerated," Avery said. "This can cause worrying symptoms like blood in your poo and frequent, urgent diarrhoea as well as weight loss (because you're struggling to absorb nutrients) and fatigue. "Usually, the immune system protects the body, but it's thought that in colitis it goes wrong and starts attacking the bowel." Despite this, Avery emphasised that its exact cause remains largely unknown. She went on: "We don't know for sure what causes colitis or Crohn's, but researchers believe it's a mix of genes, bacteria in the gut and something in the environment that triggers it. There are all sorts of exciting studies happening now to unlock the mystery of what causes IBD and hopefully one day find a cure." Typical red flags to look out for While each person experiences colitis in their own way, certain warning signs should not be ignored. "Some symptoms to look out for include blood in your poo (more than once), urgent and frequent diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, joint pain and fatigue," Avery said. "Constipation can also be a symptom of colitis, as can stomach pain. There is a really handy symptom checker on the Crohn's & Colitis UK website which takes just 30 seconds to complete and provides support and guidance on when to see a doctor and what to say when you get there." When you should seek medical advice Although symptoms can be easily brushed off as a 'dodgy tummy' or something consumed, Avery advised consulting an expert promptly. "If you are seeing blood in the toilet when you poo, having frequent diarrhoea, or even waking up in the night to rush to the loo, then it's time to speak to someone about it," she said. "We know that it's taking too long for people with Crohn's and colitis to be diagnosed, but the sooner you start that process and ask for help, the better." Diagnosing ulcerative colitis If colitis is suspected, various tests might be suggested. Avery explained: "One is a straightforward faecal calprotectin test, which analyses a sample of your poo to work out how much inflammation you've got going on in your bowel. "Then you might be referred for a colonoscopy, which is done in the hospital and involves having a scope, or tiny camera, put into your bottom to look around the colon and rectum." Treatment options Currently, a cure for colitis is not available; however, several treatments exist to alleviate its symptoms. These treatments include immunosuppressants and steroids. Avery continued: "There are new drugs being developed all the time, which is really encouraging. Some people with colitis end up having surgery to have part of their bowel removed and a stoma fitted. "Those operations are life-changing, but that's not a bad thing, because for many patients the change is very positive, and they tell us they wish they had had the surgery sooner and it has given them a new lease of life."
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Nigerian-British woman makes history as UK's youngest mayor at just 29 years old
29-year-old Princess Opeyemi Bright has been inaugurated as the youngest mayor in the United Kingdom, holding the position of First Citizen of Barking and Dagenham in London A Nigerian-British woman has made history after she was elected the youngest mayor in the UK. Princess Opeyemi Bright now holds the esteemed position of First Citizen of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The 29-year-old was officially inaugurated in a ceremony on Friday, May 16. It marks a new chapter for British politics and helps shine a light on and celebrate Nigeria and its history. In her inaugural address, Councillor Bright shared her vision of a civic leadership grounded in inclusivity, pride and community service. She said: "I believe in the power of community, the importance of tradition, and the need to inspire pride in the place we all call home." She continued: "As Civic Mayor, I am committed to being a voice that uplifts our borough — honouring local heroes, supporting charities, and forging deeper connections with residents, schools, and businesses." Born to Nigerian parents in Homerton Hospital, and a resident of Barking and Dagenham since 2009, the trailblazer was first elected as a Councillor in 2018 at the age of just 22. Over the years she has gone on to serve as a school governor, a board member of an NGO, and continues to be an inspirational mentor for students who aspire to be leaders and professionals themselves. Councillor Bright brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and public service, and as part of her mayoral duties will support two charities very close to her heart. The first is Ab Phab Youth Club, a local initiative that provides inclusive youth activities and support for disabled and non-disabled young people. And also Crohn's & Colitis UK, a national charity offering critical support and advocacy for people living with inflammatory bowel diseases. The new mayor was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2011 and said: "Through this partnership, I aim to raise awareness, advocate for better support, and bring hope to those affected." In a statement on the Barking and Dagenham Council website, a spokesperson stated: "During her mayoral year, Cllr Bright is committed to fostering a sense of unity and belonging across the borough. Her focus will be on inclusivity, dignity, and connection — making sure all residents, regardless of background, feel valued and seen. The council extends its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Mayor Cllr Moin Quadri for his dedicated service and congratulates Cllr Princess Bright on her appointment."
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Strictly Amy Dowden's 'absolute honour' after 'sweet' gesture at major royal event
Strictly Amy Dowden's 'absolute honour' after 'sweet' gesture at major royal event The Welsh star revealed she attended the floral event with her parents Amy Dowden attended the Royal Flower Chelsea Show where they launched the newest variety if sweet pea, which was named after her (Image: PA ) Strictly star Amy Dowden has spoken of the "absolute honour" of having a plant named after her at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The professional dancer from Caerphilly was presented with the sweet pea in a special event at the major royal event, and described it as a "sweet" gesture. English Sweet Peas officially launched their newest variety - Sweet Pea Amy Dowden, on Monday, May 19. The business revealed that 10% of every packet of 'Amy Dowden' would be donated to the dancer's two chosen charities - CoppaFeel!, which is a breast cancer awareness charity, and Crohn's & Colitis UK, which is a UK based charity dedicated to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease. In a post shared on Instagram, English Sweet Peas said they were "extremely proud" to launch the special plant's name. In the caption, they added: "This sweet pea could not have been named after a more beautiful person and we are sure that you will all agree. We would like to personally thank Amy Dowden for taking the time to be here with us today." The Welsh star documented the event, which she attended alongside her parents, in a series of photos on her Instagram. In the caption, she wrote: "Today at The Royal Flower Chelsea show was the launch of the newest variety of sweet pea and named after me. Article continues below "What an absolute honour. Thank you English Sweet Peas. "The flower is so delicate, beautiful and smells so good. 10% of every pack sold will also be donated to my two charities Crohn's & Colitis UK and CoppaFeel. "Today really has been a perfect day and so happy I got to share it with my parents." Amy was diagnosed with Crohn's when she was 19 years old. Content cannot be displayed without consent In 2023, she faced a challenging time after being diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy. Following her diagnosis, the dancer documented and candidly shared her cancer journey with fans on social media and on the small screen. In February 2024, she received the uplifting news of 'no evidence of the disease', but the ballroom expert has been unwavering in her commitment to raising awareness of the disease, providing regular heartfelt updates to her followers. It's been a busy year for the star so far, having completed her UK tour, Reborn, with close friend and fellow professional dancer Carlos Gu at the beginning of the year. Article continues below Not long after, it was confirmed that the star would be returning to BBC's Strictly Come Dancing later this year. The dancer had returned to the series last year following her health battle and was paired up with JLS' JB Gill but had to take a step back when she suffered an injury and was replaced by fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden supported over 'exciting' announcement linked to 'invisible illness'
Amy Dowden has been flooded with messages of praise and support as she made an announcement linked to suffering from an 'invisible illness'. The Strictly Come Dancing star has been living with Crohn's Disease since she was a teenager, and earlier this year, she was formally made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work as a Crohn's & Colitis UK ambassador. Now, Amy teamed up with Crohn's & Colitis UK to launch a range of merchandise raising awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease which affects more than half a million people in the UK. READ MORE: The 20 countries that gave UK nul points in Eurovision 2025 - full list READ MORE: Britain's Got Talent's Alesha Dixon causes 'upset' over golden buzzer decision The Amy Dowden X Crohn's & Colitis UK: It Takes Courage range of t-shirts and tote bags is on sale from today, May 19th, which is World IBD Day. Amy's design features one of her favourite flowers, the sweet pea, surrounded by purple hearts, which are symbols of the Crohn's and Colitis community worldwide. Every item will be printed to order by Everpress Ltd and a minimum of 20% of the sales (excluding VAT) during the campaign will be donated to Crohn's & Colitis UK. "Raising awareness is vital and it takes real courage to live with Crohn's or Colitis every day, so I wanted to celebrate that with this design," Amy said in a statement. "I'm so proud to be an ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis UK. I'd say to anyone else with Inflammatory Bowel Disease that you might feel overwhelmed sometimes, but you're not alone. There's so much strength in the Crohn's & Colitis UK community and it's such an amazing charity." She also shared a message in a post shared by Crohn's & Colitis UK as she modelled the T-shirt range on Monday (May 19): "As it's World IBD Day, there's no better time to share some exciting news. "I'm so proud to have been invited to collaborate with @crohnsandcolitisUK to design their mfirst ever merchandise drop! This artwork means a lot to me, as I know all to well that it takes courage to live with IBD."I want to help Crohn's & Colitis UK spread the message, and now you can too! Our collaboration pieces are now live and available for pre-order. A minimum of 20% of the sales (excluding VAT) of the campaign will be donated by Everpress Limited to Crohn's & Colitis UK."Order your own by going to the link in the @crohnsandcolitisuk bio, under 'World IBD day' click 'Amy Dowden x Crohn's & Colitis UK' or visit I hope you love it as much as I do!" And the messages of support came flooding in. @angelinaballerina1607 said: "So proud of you, can't wait to get my hands on some." @ commented: "Brilliant partnership @crohnsandcolitisuk Well done Looks fab and wearable while raising positive awareness @ wrote: "Oh I love it." @countrylifewith__jo replied: "Beautiful @amy_dowden and fab attire." @amysdowdenn added: "Love these so cute." The Amy Dowden X Crohn's & Colitis UK: It Takes Courage range is available to buy online at and via the Crohn's & Colitis UK website
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Strictly's Amy Dowden honoured at Buckingham Palace
Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden has spoken about the "impact of chemotherapy" with King Charles as she was honoured at Buckingham 34-year-old from Caerphilly, who has Crohn's disease, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, described being presented with the honour by the King as being like an "out-of-body experience"."We spoke about my recovery from chemotherapy and the impact of chemotherapy on my body," she said. Dowden learned of her cancer diagnosis after returning from her honeymoon with husband Ben the BBC documentary Strictly Amy: Cancer And Me, she revealed that she had frozen some Royal Family has also publicly shared their cancer experiences, with Buckingham Palace announcing last year that the King has been treated for cancer while Catherine, the Princess of Wales revealed she was in remission from the disease in January after undergoing her cancer diagnosis, Dowden revealed in 2019 that she was living with Crohn's disease and spoke about her struggles with the condition in BBC documentary, Strictly Amy: Crohn's And years later, she was admitted to hospital in Manchester following a Crohn's flare-up while on the Strictly live tour. Dowden said being presented with her MBE "hasn't sunk in yet", adding that she was determined to continue her awareness and fundraising work for Crohn's and after the ceremony on Tuesday, Dowden said: "It's really surreal, it's been like an out-of-body experience but it is a true honour to get an MBE and I will forever do what I can to raise awareness and fundraise for Crohn's and colitis, and Crohn's & Colitis UK charity, and also, recently as well for breast cancer - getting as many people as I possibly can to check themselves as earlier detection saves lives."It's an incredible honour, and one that still hasn't sunk in yet." 'Normalising conversations' Asked what she was most proud of in her career, Dowden said she still could not believe she had become a British champion dancer with her said that, in addition to being the first ever Welsh professional dancer to join Strictly Come Dancing, "I'm also super proud of my documentaries I've made for Crohn's disease and breast cancer, and raising awareness and, obviously, getting an MBE".Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of charity Crohn's & Colitis UK, said the dancer had helped "normalise conversations" about the conditions with her openness and honesty."People never used to talk about Crohn's or colitis, but Amy has really helped to normalise conversations about these conditions by being open and honest, and adding some of her trademark sparkle," she Radcliffe said that every year 25,000 people in the UK were told they had inflammatory bowel disease, and there would be many who felt less afraid about what lay ahead because of Amy Dowden's work."She has inspired so many with her determination and considerable achievements and we are proud to have Amy as a Crohn's & Colitis UK ambassador," she added. Composer honoured Composer Sir John Rutter said it was "very special" to receive a knighthood from King Charles at the ceremony on Tuesday because the King was a "music lover".Sir John, who is also a conductor, editor and arranger, was honoured for services to musician is best known for his choral compositions, including Christmas carols, anthems and extended works such as the Gloria, the Requiem and the has previously had works commissioned for major royal events including Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee, the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011 and the coronation of King Charles III.
