Latest news with #diagnosis
Telegraph
20 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
I asked for a PSA test on a whim, then found out I had prostate cancer
Paul Henderson received his official diagnosis of Stage 2 prostate cancer on June 17. In this weekly diary, he will be sharing what life is like after diagnosis: the tests, the scans, the fear, and what it's like when you have to sit down with your loved ones to tell them that you have cancer. I got the call that changed my life at 3:04pm on Tuesday April 15. It was a short two-minute conversation with my doctor. The next day I received a copy of my referral letter. It read: Urgent Suspected Cancer. My contribution to that phone call was minimal. A sequence of the words 'OK', 'Right', 'Oh…' and 'Thanks for calling'. As my doctor explained my test results, what hit me was a mixture of surprise, shock and fear. I understood what she was saying. But as I sat at my desk and stared blankly out of my office window, I simply couldn't process the information. The news was bad, I got that, but just how bad was it? My mind raced with all the possible outcomes then slowly I tried to get things in perspective. 'Don't panic,' I told myself. 'Maybe it's not as terrible as you think it is.' I didn't know it then, but within three months that quick chat would become a formal diagnosis of stage 2 prostate cancer and then me on an operating table having life-changing surgery. Time flies when you aren't having fun, right? As a 56-year-old journalist who has worked in the media for over 30 years covering a variety of subjects, including health, I like to think that not much fazes me. As the associate editor for British GQ, I've ridden motorbikes with Keanu Reeves, swapped recipes with Robert De Niro, sung an impromptu duet with Mike Tyson and advised Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to get into politics, all without batting an eyelid. But cancer blindsided me. When I went to see my doctor early in 2025, it wasn't for anything specific. For a few months – perhaps more months than I realised – I hadn't been feeling myself. I was tired, lacking in energy and had started suffering from back pain. I had slightly high cholesterol and blood pressure, but I also felt like something wasn't quite right, as though I'd lost a little of my mojo. Welcome to your mid-50s, I thought. But my wife Marilyn viewed me differently. Not only had she noticed my general malaise, she was also starting to worry that I was getting worse. I was becoming irritable, impatient and generally out of sorts. So she encouraged me to make an appointment at my local health centre. And like all good husbands, I did as I was told. On the surface there was nothing much to worry about. I don't smoke, don't drink much, my weight is average and I work out a couple of times a week, so I'm pretty fit (if a little boring). My wife and I walk our mini-dachshund, Ziggy Pup, every morning, so I always get my 10,000 steps in. We try to cook healthy food, we socialise and recently celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. As a freelance journalist with my own creative media agency, I had plenty to keep me busy. And although our kids still live at home, they are both old enough (Nyah is 22 and Fox is 20) to look after themselves (most of the time). And after a routine examination everything seemed to be OK. However, just as I was about to leave I asked my GP if perhaps I should have a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. I didn't have any specific symptoms (no frequent trips to the toilet at night, no problems with erections etc) and there was no history of prostate cancer in my family. It certainly wasn't something I was worried about – it just seemed like a good idea at the time. She readily agreed and I made the necessary arrangements for a blood test. Then simply got on with my life. It was a couple of weeks later when I got the call that changed everything. 'We've had the results back from your PSA test and they have come back elevated,' Dr Mahmood told me. I was stunned. The word that stuck in my head was 'elevated'. What did that mean? Was it slightly too high? Way too high? Does that mean I have cancer? I'd like to tell you that these were the questions I asked. They weren't. I just dropped in a few polite affirmations to convey that I was listening and waited for her to finish. 'So I am going to refer you to the urology department at Whipps Cross Hospital and then we will have a better idea,' she told me. 'But just to let you know, the letter might sound worrying, but that is just NHS protocol to ensure you are seen within two weeks.' And that was it. When Marilyn came home from work, I told her about the phone call. I had to watch as she tried to absorb what I was saying. Not only was it the first time I had had to tell someone I loved that I might have cancer, she is the most important person in my life. The words stuck in my throat (it would not be the last time) and we were both in tears. After I had explained what happened, the first question she asked was what the PSA score had been. I didn't know. Not only that, I didn't even know what to ask. I felt almost comically hopeless and we laughed. The next day I called the surgery and asked for a copy of the test result. My PSA was 18.1. It should be less than 3. And that's when I became a case of Urgent Suspected Cancer. I was in the system. I was also scared. Frequently asked questions How should I ask my GP for a PSA test? The PSA blood test is available free to men who request it, and you can book an appointment with your GP to discuss the potential pros and cons of the test. However, the PSA test isn't suitable for everyone, so GPs will use their clinical judgement and may advise against it. For example, GPs are unlikely to recommend a PSA blood test if your general health means you wouldn't be fit enough for treatment, or if treatment is unlikely to help you live longer.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm highly organized and productive, so my ADHD diagnosis at 32 surprised some people in my life. It didn't surprise me.
I recently received an ADHD diagnosis at 32. I've used coping mechanisms for years to make life easier without knowing why I was doing it. Now, I'm learning about thriving with ADHD, and the confirmation of a diagnosis is validating. Aristotle said that knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. My latest 'ah-ha' moment is a long-suspected ADHD diagnosis, made official this month. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the median age for a mild ADHD diagnosis is 7. I'm 32. I was hesitant to assign myself the label, since finding ADHD memes relatable is hardly a diagnosis, even when those memes feel like they were made with me in mind. Now that I've seen a specialist who confirmed my suspicions, the feeling of vindication is kind of exhilarating. I've suspected I had ADHD for about 10 years "When was the first time you suspected this?" the doctor asked. Ten years ago, I was team-marking with other teachers, trapped for a full weekend with the task of grading hundreds of senior exams before the deadline. The other teachers were flying through essays, their red pens a blur. I watched them for a bit, wondering how they were able to tune each other out. I graded two essays and then made some tea. I rewarded myself for finishing another essay with the slow removal of my jacket. Many buttons. Thrilling. And then one more essay, followed by a snack. The sound of my colleagues' pens was distracting. The sound of the kettle boiling, even more so. Speaking of which…more tea? A bathroom break? I was bored senseless. "How many have you done, Tayla?" I'd tackled four in the time the others had each graded 12. I told myself it was because the other teachers were more experienced. I developed coping mechanisms long ago to mask symptoms I shared the news of my diagnosis with a friend from school. "Seriously? But…you're so productive?" she said, shocked. It was easy to slip through the cracks as a high achiever. ADHD diagnoses are often missed in girls — the ratio of boys to girls with ADHD is 3:1 in childhood, but in adulthood it's much closer to 1:1. Apparently, girls with ADHD are more likely to make an effort to mask symptoms. I got straight As in school (bar physical science, which felt like torture) and graduated from university magna cum laude. Along the way, I'd unknowingly been developing coping strategies, weaving them into my daily life. A major one was the subjects I chose. In high school, I dropped two math classes in my final year; it wasn't my strong suit. In university, excelling in psychology and English was easy — I loved both majors and would happily fixate on them for hours. I've had a daily to-do list for decades. I voice note myself constantly. My calendar is so detailed that it looks encyclopedic. I schedule meetings and my toughest tasks during my most productive hours. I lock my phone away during work because I'll scroll fruitlessly. And now I can see all of this for what it is: a plethora of coping mechanisms. Even pursuing my writing career, I curated it around an ADHD diagnosis I didn't yet have. I struggle to write on topics I don't care about, so I built a roster of clients and publications in travel, a subject that obsesses me. Being self-employed has allowed me to tap into other interests, like coaching people in writing personal essays. I've always gravitated toward the form. After a quick Google, it turns out many associate oversharing with ADHD, too. Hmm. I'm throwing myself into learning. I'm reading books about thriving with ADHD. I'm following relevant accounts on social media, knowing that I now belong in these communities. The best time to get this diagnosis was probably 25 years ago. But I have it now. I'm not convinced this is the "beginning of wisdom" as Aristotle says, but it's the beginning of something. That's good enough for now. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
'White rose' drive to end cancer inequality in Hull
A charity has brought its "white rose" campaign van to Hull to highlight how more than one in four cancers there are only found in an Cancer Research said the city had the second highest rate of late diagnosis in England. Nikki Brady, from the charity, called on the government to take account of "the issues local communities are facing in Yorkshire". A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was tackling cancer inequalities "by ensuring everyone, regardless of where they live or their background, can access early diagnosis and faster treatment". According to analysis by the charity, 26% of cancers in Hull are diagnosed through an emergency route such as A&E, compared with 19% in England. The average in Yorkshire is 21%. Ms Brady said: "We know that one in two cancers are diagnosed late in Hull. "Reasons can be because people are coming forward with symptoms at a later stage, because they have difficulty accessing certain health care, or have problems getting a GP appointment, or they might be worried or scared." The charity's campaign involves delivering hundreds of white roses to Health Secretary Wes wants issues in Yorkshire to be considered as part of the government's national cancer plan, which is due to be published later this Mccunnel, 57, decided to work in a Yorkshire Cancer Research shop after her own experience with pancreatic cancer in 2008. She recalled how she was "just trying to keep strong for my children and my grandchildren until I found out I was cancer free". But she added: "Deep down it always left that lingering feeling of how long have I got? What's going to happen?" Ms Mccunnel wants people to "stand with Yorkshire" and send white roses to London to make sure more cancers are caught in the early DHSC spokesperson said it was opening new community diagnostic centres and "investing an extra £1.65bn, including for new surgical hubs and AI-enabled scanners, to help catch more cancers faster across all communities". According to the government department, an extra 90,000 people were diagnosed with cancer or told they did not have the disease between July 2024 and March this year, including a record number in February. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Deion Sanders says Randy Moss called 'every other day' during cancer treatment
Deion Sanders and Randy Moss have a lot in common. They were both star athletes that helped define a generation of NFL talent, multi-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro honorees, members of their respective teams' Rings of Honor and members of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. More recently, they've both added another shared experience to their already impressive résumés: cancer survivors. Sanders, 57, revealed in a Monday press conference with his medical team that he had been diagnosed with – and subsequently had defeated – bladder cancer. As he shared details about his cancer battle, Sanders took the time to thank Moss for his support during the treatment. "Randy Moss called me every other day to make sure I was straight," he said. "Randy Moss prayed for me. He and his wife told me what I needed to be doing. He's gone through some things very similar." "@RandyMoss called me every other day to make sure I was straight." @DeionSanders shares his love for Randy Moss ❤️ DEION SANDERS HEALTH ISSUES: A timeline of Colorado coach's history Sanders was referring to Moss's recent battle with bile duct cancer, which led the former Vikings receiver to announce a leave of absence from ESPN's NFL coverage in early December. Moss announced later that month that he was a cancer survivor and returned to ESPN's "Sunday Night Countdown" for Super Bowl 59 coverage in February. The Athletic recently reported Moss would return to "Sunday Night Countdown" full-time for the 2025 season. "Randy Moss, man. I love him to life. Love him more than ever," Sanders said. "He gave me so much strength and so much guidance. And so much love and respect and appreciation." The Colorado Buffaloes' head football coach had been battling his health issue for months – leading him to miss a recruiting event and former Colorado star Travis Hunter's wedding, among other things – before returning to Boulder on Friday. Monday's press conference with his medical team was the first time Sanders publicly disclosed his diagnosis and ensuing treatment.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC Strictly stars kick off rehearsals for 2025 series with two new glam pros
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is just around the corner and the professionals looked delighted to be back in action as they rocked up for the first day of rehearsals The Strictly Come Dancing professionals were all smiles as they rocked up for the first day of rehearsals for the new series today. Fans of the BBC dance show can't wait for primetime programme to be back on our screens and they don't have long to wait! Ahead of its launch in September, a whole host of familiar faces were papped this morning as they made their way into the rehearsal studio - and they were joined by two new recruits. First to be seen arriving, was much-loved star, Amy Dowden, who is back in business after being forced to leave the show early last year while recovering from a foot injury. The Welsh wonder, who also underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy in May 2023 following her breast cancer diagnosis, looked delighted to be back with her pals as she smiled for photographers, clutching a coffee and a Holland and Barret bag. Also flashing a smile a mile wide was last year's champion, Dianne Buswell. The Aussie, who lifted the Glitterball trophy with Chris McCausland, arrived at the dance studio sporting a tan waistcoat and matching boots with cut-off denim shorts alongside fellow pro, Kai Widdrington, who flashed the peace sign. Next to arrive was South African star, Joahnnes Radebe, who cut a striking figure, sporting a Protect The Dolls a paisley neckerchief and suede ankle boots. He was followed by Spanish champion, Gorka Marquez and Ukranian dancer, Nadiya Bychkova, who looked gorgeous in an all-cream ensemble with a Union Jack bag. Nadiya recently admitted that she and pro, Kai, no longer speak to one another after they briefly dated, so hopefully things will go smoothly in training today. Also seen at the studio were Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley, Karen Hauer and Michelle Tsiakkas. They were joined by Jowita Przystal and Janette Manrara's husband, Aljaz Skorjanec. And finally, making their debut in the Strictly gang were new recruits, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon. Alexis, hailing from the US, triumphed in So You Think You Can Dance in 2022, earning the title of America's Favourite Dancer and becoming the first female Ballroom and Latin dancer to win the accolade. Meanwhile, Julian, originally from Australia, started dancing at the tender age of 10, focusing on Ballroom and Latin American styles, and has proudly represented Australia in international competitions. Expressing his excitement about joining the show, Julian stated: "Joining the cast of Strictly really is a dream come true. "I've watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it. I can't wait to get stuck in, have some fun, and be part of something special!" And Alexis shared: "I've admired Strictly for years, so joining this incredible family is such an honour. I can't wait to step into the ballroom, pour my heart into every moment, and share my love of dance with the UK."
