Latest news with #healthScreening
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Dr Zoe reveals how you can get free bowel cancer tests on the NHS – and who needs prostate checks
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is concerned that they are no longer being sent poo tests. Q: I'M a man aged 81 and I'm no longer sent poo tests. Do you think I should request one, and should I request a prostate test too? A: Thank you for writing in, I think this is something that many readers will relate to. If you're aged 50 to 74 and registered with a GP you will automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test (FIT test kit) through the post every two years. The age limit was recently lowered to 50, after The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign called on the Government to extend testing to save lives. If you're aged 75 or over, you can ask for a home test kit every two years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060. Similarly, women who are 71 or over can still choose to have breast screening every three years, but they will not be automatically invited, so will need to proactively request a screening appointment. As far as your prostate is concerned there isn't an NHS screening programme for prostate cancer as of yet. But men can request a PSA blood test from the age of 50 years. It's important to research the pros and cons of doing so first so that you can make an informed decision. Prostate Cancer UK has some helpful resources on its website, including a risk checker. How to check your prostate cancer risk Some men are at higher risk and are more likely to benefit from having PSA tests. These include black men over the age of 45, men with a family history of prostate cancer who are over the age of 45 and men with confirmed genetic risk factors for the disease, for example the BRCA2 gene variation.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Are whole-body MRIs worth the hype?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. In recent years, celebrities like Kim Kardashian have taken to social media to tout the supposed benefits of whole-body MRI scans. Companies that offer the service promise that the scans can spot a range of conditions, including cancer, aneurysms, liver disease and multiple sclerosis, in as little as an hour. And if the initial scan looks clear, the companies encourage clients to return periodically to check up on their health status. But are full-body MRIs really a silver bullet, or just another expensive health fad? According to Dr. Matthew Davenport, a professor of radiology at the University of Michigan, for most people, whole-body MRI scans aren't only unnecessary but can actually lead to their own set of problems. Structural MRI scans visualize the inside of the body using magnetic fields and radio waves. Because they render detailed 3D images of internal anatomy, they're useful for detecting various conditions, including blood clots, musculoskeletal injuries, tumors, and neurological or cardiovascular problems. But doctors normally order these scans only when they already suspect that something is wrong based on an individual's symptoms, medical history and other test results. In some circumstances, doctors may recommend regular whole-body MRIs for certain patients as a preventive measure, Davenport said. But this generally occurs only when patients are diagnosed with rare disorders that put them at high risk of developing cancer. Such conditions include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a genetic disorder that increases the risk of developing cancer at a young age. The idea is that the regular scans could spot lesions in these high-risk individuals, potentially flagging them for further testing. However, for people without such conditions, there's little reason to get regular full-body MRIs, Davenport said. "There is no scientific evidence that whole-body MRI in asymptomatic, average-risk patients improves health," he told Live Science in an email. In fact, full-body MRIs may actually do more harm than good, he said. That's because tests that can be used for diagnostics, like MRI scans, are likely to discover incidental findings. Incidental findings are unexpected results that occur from a medical test ordered for a different reason. For example, a person might get an MRI of an injured rib and then have a suspicious mass pop up on the scan. Sometimes, these findings end up pointing to a previously undiagnosed condition that requires treatment. But more often, they're just benign abnormalities in the body that pose no threat. Related: The 10 deadliest cancers, and why there's no cure About 15% to 30% of diagnostic imaging tests raise at least one incidental finding, estimates suggest. That means people who get regular whole-body MRIs are likely to find abnormalities in their bodies that may not indicate any serious health issues. "The vast majority of findings identified by whole body MRI in a patient without specific risk factors will be findings that would not improve health if they had not been detected," Davenport said. Nevertheless, you may not know if an incidental finding is important without further tests, so these results can prompt additional diagnostic tests, biopsy procedures and even unnecessary surgeries — not to mention the health anxiety that can accompany those procedures. Because of this, Davenport argues that ordering too many medical imaging tests on otherwise healthy people is likely to backfire. Currently, no major medical societies recommend whole-body MRIs for people without conditions that put them at high risk of cancer. Davenport also pointed out that companies that offer full-body MRIs benefit from a highly profitable business model in that clients pay for the tests out-of-pocket. Full-body MRIs typically cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $4,000, depending on the provider and specific service they're offering. Some insurance plans may cover whole-body MRIs in high-risk individuals, but because the scans are elective for most and not backed by clinical guidelines, they're generally not covered by private or government insurance in the U.S. RELATED STORIES —Who needs more exercise: Women or men? —Can weight loss drugs help you drink less alcohol? —What is alkaline water, and does it have any benefits? While on one hand, whole-body MRIs may stoke health anxiety and lead to potential overtreatment, in some people, they may also provide a false sense of security, Davenport suggested. For many medical conditions, such as colon cancer and blood cancer, MRIs aren't used as a primary diagnostic tool because the scans don't necessarily pick up the diseases. Davenport recommended that the general public stick with established medical screening procedures recommended by physicians rather than relying on whole-body MRI. "It is possible we will see a future where imaging like whole body MRI is used for routine screening," Davenport said. "However, substantial research is needed before that." This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
A 66-year-old grandfather who exercised daily was stunned to learn he was pre-diabetic — and he says making one small change to his eating habits helped reverse it. Dance teacher Will McKechnie, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, told SWNS he had always considered himself healthy. At 5 feet 10 inches tall and 167 pounds, he wore a medium-sized shirt, danced seven times a week, and didn't think twice about his daily snacks: a chocolate bar and a bag of chips. Experts Reveal Hidden Ways Sugar Accelerates Aging Beyond Just Weight Gain "I honestly thought I was really fit and healthy," McKechnie said. But after undergoing a free screening for people over 60 in May 2023, a routine blood test showed that his average blood sugar level was 6.2% — an indicator of pre-diabetes, according to SWNS. Read On The Fox News App McKechnie didn't find out until a year later, during an unrelated appointment, when his doctor reviewed the results. "I was so shocked and worried to hear I was pre-diabetic," he said. 'I'm A Neurologist — Here's Why Dementia Is Rising And How To Reduce Your Risk' McKechnie continued, "When he said it wouldn't be reversible over 48, I was terrified. I was petrified at the idea that I might be starting to have poor health." Determined to turn things around, McKechnie made some major changes — not only in what he ate, but how. He cut out the nightly chocolate and chips, started eating whole, nutritious foods, and began chewing his food much more slowly. Now, his lunch — a wholemeal chicken sandwich — takes him 40 minutes to eat. "I just have a very occasional treat now, and much smaller," McKechnie told SWNS. Golfer Phil Mickelson's Strict Weight Loss Diet: Doctor Shares What To Know His breakfast now consists of fruit, and a typical dinner includes boiled eggs, roasted peanuts, celery, cherry tomatoes, carrots and cucumber. By focusing on slower eating and more mindful food choices, McKechnie shed nearly 27 pounds, bringing him down to 142 pounds and a size small shirt. He also lost two inches off his waist — and, more importantly, his blood sugar dropped to 5.9% within nine months, SWNS reported. "I'm very determined," McKechnie said. He added, "If I set my mind to doing something, I'll do it, and I'm going to get my blood sugar even lower." The grandfather of four said he no longer battles sugar cravings and doesn't feel the urge to rush into stores for a chocolate fix. He also stays busy caring for his 18-month-old grandson and teaching two dance classes a week. McKechnie, who quit smoking in 1986 and stopped drinking in 2012, believes everyone should be proactive about checking their health — even if they look healthy on the outside. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Even if you have to pay for it, it's worth getting your blood sugar checked routinely," he told SWNS, adding, "It's much, much better to find out." For more Health articles, visit According to SWNS, McKechnie now says he feels stronger than ever and has "enormous amounts of energy." "I'm so relieved I had that test. It has changed my life and made me so much fitter."Original article source: Grandfather's simple changes reversed pre-diabetes diagnosis that left him 'petrified'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sponge pill test for diagnosing cancer rolled out in Halifax
A "pill-on-a-thread" designed to diagnose cancer is being trialled among heartburn patients in from across West Yorkshire were invited to take part in the oesophageal cancer trial at mobile screening vans in the Coyle, 61, was one of the first patients to undergo the procedure, which involved swallowing a small, coated sponge pill attached to a piece of said: "I thought it was going to be quite invasive, and really, it was nothing. It was just a case of swallowing the pill, waiting for several minutes and then it's pulled out and there was no real discomfort at all." "It was just a quick pull and a very slim amount of discomfort and that was it."Mr Coyle said he had suffered from indigestion throughout his life and had tried a number of remedies."Heartburn has been a lifelong problem for me, but it has soothed recently as I've been drinking cabbage juice," he said."It's one of these things you hear about. I don't know whether I heard about it online but it isn't a magical solution. It's a mind thing really, but it seems to soothe it a bit."He said he was pleased to have been asked to take part in the trial. "If there's any positive signs of cancer of the oesophagus, the team book you in for an endoscopy and if not they'll keep monitoring you."I would recommend it to anybody. It's a harmless procedure and it's all for the good." According to Cancer Research UK there are around 9,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer in the UK every year. The sponge test takes 10 minutes and can be done by a nurse, meaning it is faster and less expensive than an endoscopy, said patient swallows the pill, the coating dissolves and the sponge inside it expands to the size of a cherry sponge collects cells from the oesophagus as it is pulled out from the stomach. The cells are then tested for two proteins which tell doctors if someone has Barrett's oesophagus or oesophageal trial was funded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care the next three years researchers aim to recruit 120,000 people who take medication for Rebecca Fitzgerald, inventor of the capsule sponge test and co-principal investigator of the study, said the trial was changing how the disease was detected."Catching it earlier can save lives by reducing the need for chemotherapy and surgery to remove the oesophagus," she said."This trial could fundamentally transform the lives of people affected by oesophageal cancer by providing the crucial evidence needed to make it a viable screening programme, rolled out to every part of the UK."The Halifax mobile screening follows initial trials in Cambridgeshire in November 2024. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Mobile skin cancer screening unit stopping by this weekend
'Mole Mobile' is a free skin cancer screening clinic that is run by volunteer dermatologists and is travelling across Canada. Oct. 27/23 (Amanda Hicks/CTV Northern Ontario)
