Latest news with #KatieO'Brien
The Star
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Hormone therapy may influence breast cancer risk under age 55: study
LOS ANGELES, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A new study led by scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that two common forms of hormone therapy may alter breast cancer risk in women under the age of 55. According to the study, women who received unopposed estrogen hormone therapy (E-HT) had a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who did not use hormone therapy. In contrast, women treated with combined estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy (EP-HT) were found to have a higher risk of developing the disease. The findings, published Monday in The Lancet Oncology, are based on an extensive analysis of data from over 459,000 women under the age of 55 across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. "Our study provides greater understanding of the risks associated with different types of hormone therapy, which we hope will help patients and their doctors develop more informed treatment plans," said lead author Katie O'Brien, a researcher at NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The study found that E-HT use was associated with a 14 percent reduction in breast cancer incidence compared to non-users. The protective effect was more pronounced among women who began E-HT at a younger age or used it for a longer duration. Conversely, women using EP-HT experienced a 10 percent higher risk of breast cancer, which increased to 18 percent among those who used the therapy for more than two years. The cumulative risk of breast cancer before age 55 was estimated at 3.6 percent for E-HT users, 4.5 percent for EP-HT users, and 4.1 percent for women who never used hormone therapy, according to the study. The researchers also noted that the elevated risk associated with EP-HT was particularly significant among women who had not undergone hysterectomy or oophorectomy, emphasizing the importance of considering surgical history when evaluating hormone therapy options. "These findings underscore the need for personalized medical advice when considering hormone therapy," said NIEHS scientist and senior author Dale Sandler.
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘It is everything. It is why I do this' – Tiarnán O'Donnell claims PR2 gold at World Cup regatta
In the two-and-a-half years since he accepted an invitation from the great Ireland pararower Katie O'Brien to switch from wheelchair basketball to rowing, O'Donnell (26) has excelled. He took silver in the PR2 single sculls in two World Cup regattas in 2024, and the 26-year-old today won gold in Varese, with a dominant performance. He was the one Irish representative at this regatta. 'Rowing is a much different sport (to wheelchair basketball). I think a little bit harder,' he told World Rowing. 'Finally I got a gold!' His family, gathered around him at the venue, cheered, and O'Donnell said the support they give is vital. 'It is everything. It is why I do this. Whether I get a bronze, a silver, or no medal at all, I do it for my family, so they can share this with me. It's really special,' said O'Donnell. He said he could hear the crowd cheering him as he rowed. 'You usually only hear them for the last five hundred metres, but because they're Irish you hear them from 1,000 metres away!' The PR2 is not a Paralympic or World Championship event. O'Donnell and O'Brien, who has been out of action this season so far, teamed up to take eighth place in the PR2 mixed double in Paris last year, and the Irishman hopes to compete in the PR2 double at the World Rowing Championships in September. '(The) A Final is always the goal. And if we are fast enough, hopefully, a medal.' After winning the preliminary race on Friday in a new personal best of eight minutes 41.8 seconds, O'Donnell said he wanted to set a new benchmark. 'The goal was 8:50 and I almost broke 8:40, so that's the goal [in the final],' he told Rowing Ireland. He set off at 45 strokes per minute and reached his goal with plenty to spare. His winning time was 8:36.61, over six seconds ahead of young scullers from Uzbekistan and Turkey, who took silver and bronze. ADVERTISEMENT The determined Irishman overcame the loss of his right leg to excel at sport using a prosthetic. 'I was diagnosed with a rare tumour when I was very, very young. I battled it for 15 years,' he told the Irish Independent last year. 'Eventually, I made the decision I was finished with fighting. We had tried every option. I made a decision to amputate it. It's the best decision I ever made.' He competed in a number of disciplines before his potential as a rower was spotted. 'I got a DM on Instagram from Katie O'Brien. She saw a photo of me at a blade-running [event]. She said 'I think you'd be great at rowing. You've a perfect body type for rowing, or whatever.' 'I didn't really consider it because I was playing international basketball at the time. She told me, 'come see me at the Irish Indoors (rowing championships) and see how I get on, I'll try and convince you'. She broke the world record that day! 'So I was, like, this girl is serious business. So I told her 'once I finish my degree, I will come rowing'. That's where the journey started.'
Rhyl Journal
09-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
LTA to support British women's tennis players' health
The initiative will offer bespoke support around education, nutrition and research as well as medical screening to optimise their performance and well-being. The programme has been designed to address specific challenges female athletes face, offering targeted interventions and expert guidance, led by LTA Chief Medical Officer Dr Guy Evans. Examples include offering medical screenings to all professional players supported via the LTA Player Pathway. These screenings are tailored around female health and menstrual cycles, and gives the athletes access to specialised medical support tailored to their physical reproductive health needs. A podcast series has been launched featuring discussions with leading experts to highlight and educate critical female health issues that impact elite athletes. DEXA scanning (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) has been introduced to assess bone mineral density, providing vital data on injury prevention and energy balance (Image: LTA) Pioneering research into understanding and mitigating health risks for female athletes has also been announced as well as a Pregnancy and Maternity Policy – the first of its kind in British tennis – to support players through pregnancy and postpartum recovery. LTA National Coach and former British No.1 Katie O'Brien said: 'The sporting health of our athletes is significantly important to us since this is awareness of female health has been growing massively in recent years since I was a player. 'We would like to thank Dr. Guy Evans for his leadership in driving work forward so we are able to support our British female players the best that we can and help them achieve their best performance.' In late 2024, the LTA launched a Breast Health and Bra Fitting Service for female players, highlighting the importance of wearing a correctly fitted sports bra for both performance and breast health. For the past two years, the LTA has hosted the UK Sports Gynaecology Conference at the National Tennis Centre, bringing together chief medical officers, gynaecological surgeons, and sports science experts to discuss and advance female athlete health. The 2025 event saw over 50 industry leaders gather in Roehampton, tackling issues such as low energy availability, gender-specific concerns in sport, and effective medical strategies for female athletes. Dr Evans added: 'These conferences provide a dedicated forum to discuss the care of elite female athletes across sports and disciplines. It allows sharing of knowledge, open discussion and healthy debate ensuring we provide optimal care for our female athletes. The conferences shine a light on some of the key topical issues such as low energy availability, sex and gender related issues in sport, and effective strategic planning related to the female athlete with the sporting setting.' Through these innovative and tailored initiatives, the LTA is setting new standards for female athlete health and support in tennis. By addressing medical needs, providing essential education, prioritising nutrition, and driving research, the LTA is empowering female athletes to thrive both on and off the court.
South Wales Argus
09-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
LTA to support British women's tennis players' health
The initiative will offer bespoke support around education, nutrition and research as well as medical screening to optimise their performance and well-being. The programme has been designed to address specific challenges female athletes face, offering targeted interventions and expert guidance, led by LTA Chief Medical Officer Dr Guy Evans. Examples include offering medical screenings to all professional players supported via the LTA Player Pathway. These screenings are tailored around female health and menstrual cycles, and gives the athletes access to specialised medical support tailored to their physical reproductive health needs. A podcast series has been launched featuring discussions with leading experts to highlight and educate critical female health issues that impact elite athletes. DEXA scanning (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) has been introduced to assess bone mineral density, providing vital data on injury prevention and energy balance (Image: LTA) Pioneering research into understanding and mitigating health risks for female athletes has also been announced as well as a Pregnancy and Maternity Policy – the first of its kind in British tennis – to support players through pregnancy and postpartum recovery. LTA National Coach and former British No.1 Katie O'Brien said: 'The sporting health of our athletes is significantly important to us since this is awareness of female health has been growing massively in recent years since I was a player. 'We would like to thank Dr. Guy Evans for his leadership in driving work forward so we are able to support our British female players the best that we can and help them achieve their best performance.' In late 2024, the LTA launched a Breast Health and Bra Fitting Service for female players, highlighting the importance of wearing a correctly fitted sports bra for both performance and breast health. For the past two years, the LTA has hosted the UK Sports Gynaecology Conference at the National Tennis Centre, bringing together chief medical officers, gynaecological surgeons, and sports science experts to discuss and advance female athlete health. The 2025 event saw over 50 industry leaders gather in Roehampton, tackling issues such as low energy availability, gender-specific concerns in sport, and effective medical strategies for female athletes. Dr Evans added: 'These conferences provide a dedicated forum to discuss the care of elite female athletes across sports and disciplines. It allows sharing of knowledge, open discussion and healthy debate ensuring we provide optimal care for our female athletes. The conferences shine a light on some of the key topical issues such as low energy availability, sex and gender related issues in sport, and effective strategic planning related to the female athlete with the sporting setting.' Through these innovative and tailored initiatives, the LTA is setting new standards for female athlete health and support in tennis. By addressing medical needs, providing essential education, prioritising nutrition, and driving research, the LTA is empowering female athletes to thrive both on and off the court.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LTA to support British women's tennis players' health through programme
British women's tennis players are to receive a series of groundbreaking initiatives from the LTA to support their health. The initiative will offer bespoke support around education, nutrition and research as well as medical screening to optimise their performance and well-being. Advertisement The programme has been designed to address specific challenges female athletes face, offering targeted interventions and expert guidance, led by LTA Chief Medical Officer Dr Guy Evans. Examples include offering medical screenings to all professional players supported via the LTA Player Pathway. These screenings are tailored around female health and menstrual cycles, and gives the athletes access to specialised medical support tailored to their physical reproductive health needs. A podcast series has been launched featuring discussions with leading experts to highlight and educate critical female health issues that impact elite athletes. DEXA scanning (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) has been introduced to assess bone mineral density, providing vital data on injury prevention and energy balance (LTA) Pioneering research into understanding and mitigating health risks for female athletes has also been announced as well as a Pregnancy and Maternity Policy – the first of its kind in British tennis – to support players through pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Advertisement LTA National Coach and former British No.1 Katie O'Brien said: 'The sporting health of our athletes is significantly important to us since this is awareness of female health has been growing massively in recent years since I was a player. 'We would like to thank Dr. Guy Evans for his leadership in driving work forward so we are able to support our British female players the best that we can and help them achieve their best performance.' In late 2024, the LTA launched a Breast Health and Bra Fitting Service for female players, highlighting the importance of wearing a correctly fitted sports bra for both performance and breast health. For the past two years, the LTA has hosted the UK Sports Gynaecology Conference at the National Tennis Centre, bringing together chief medical officers, gynaecological surgeons, and sports science experts to discuss and advance female athlete health. Advertisement The 2025 event saw over 50 industry leaders gather in Roehampton, tackling issues such as low energy availability, gender-specific concerns in sport, and effective medical strategies for female athletes. Dr Evans added: 'These conferences provide a dedicated forum to discuss the care of elite female athletes across sports and disciplines. It allows sharing of knowledge, open discussion and healthy debate ensuring we provide optimal care for our female athletes. The conferences shine a light on some of the key topical issues such as low energy availability, sex and gender related issues in sport, and effective strategic planning related to the female athlete with the sporting setting.' Through these innovative and tailored initiatives, the LTA is setting new standards for female athlete health and support in tennis. By addressing medical needs, providing essential education, prioritising nutrition, and driving research, the LTA is empowering female athletes to thrive both on and off the court.
