Latest news with #healthawareness
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
As 2025 kicked off my life was perfect - then everything spiralled out of control. Now I'm dealing with unimaginable grief and a stage three cancer diagnosis at just 27 years old
At the start of 2025 Chloe Haynes ' future felt busy in the best possible way. The special-education teacher and her partner Tom were saving for their first home, mapping a long-awaited trip to Japan, and quietly hoping to start a family by Christmas. Then, during a summer swim, Chloe brushed her hand beneath her left arm. 'I was fixing my swimmers and I felt a small little lump, the size of a pea,' Chloe, from Newcastle, told FEMAIL. Her mum and sister, who is a nurse, reassured her it was just a lymph node, so Chloe agreed and pushed the worry aside. Everything changed in March. Her 21-year-old brother died in a sudden traumatic accident and Chloe rushed home to Gloucester, taking six weeks off work to help plan the funeral and spend time with her grieving family. 'I was very stressed. I noticed the lump had grown, but I thought, my lymph nodes are probably flaring up because I'm grieving,' the 27-year-old said. By the end of May the bulge under her arm was unmistakable. When her sister finally saw it, she 'panicked' and ordered Chloe straight to a GP. Soon after, an ultrasound technician fell silent, ushered in colleagues, and sent Chloe for an emergency mammogram and biopsy. The call came the next afternoon as she shepherded students back from an excursion. 'The doctor said, "Chloe, I've got the results… is now a good time?" But I told him if he was ringing me in the middle of my work day, I knew it wasn't good.' He confirmed stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer that had 'already spread excessively' to her lymph nodes. Chloe has no family history of cancer and couldn't even get a referral for a mammogram at first because she was considered 'too young' for the killer disease. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers. It differs from other types in that it tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options and usually has a worse prognosis. This type of breast cancer has an average 77 percent five-year survival rate, but depending on the stage of the cancer, that rate can be as low as 12 percent. Triple negative cancers do not respond to hormone therapy or to the targeted therapy drugs used for other cancers. 'I just went completely numb,' Chloe said, recalling how she crumpled in the school office and sobbed in the principal's arms. 'I haven't been back to work since.' Only 24 hours earlier, Chloe and Tom had signed off on their first mortgage approval. 'We had actually been approved for a home loan the day before my diagnosis,' she said. 'We went back to the broker and said no. I'll be out of work for 12 months.' 'We thought we were going to have the house, the babies… all the fun, exciting things you're hoping for when you're 27. Now it's all pushed back by cancer.' Their Japan itinerary is cancelled; a visit to her best friend in England postponed. The travel fund now pays for petrol, parking, and hospital bills. Because chemotherapy could leave her infertile, Chloe was rushed into egg retrieval last week. 'It was really important for me to have one shot at saving that chance. If this round doesn't work, I don't have time for another,' she said. The moment doctors finish collecting her eggs, she begins six months of 'intense' weekly chemotherapy - sometimes three infusions a week - alongside year-long immunotherapy. Surgery will follow, perhaps a mastectomy; radiation may come after that. Chloe's parents, still raw from losing their son, drive two hours from Gloucester for every appointment. 'I don't know how Mum and Dad are doing it, but they drop everything for me,' she said. Tom takes unpaid days off to sit beside her in waiting rooms; the Gloucester Soccer Club raised $5,000 in a single weekend; an online appeal organised by friend Ella grows daily. Yet Chloe lies awake wondering how to cover rent and groceries. 'I've got no leave left - I used it all when my brother died,' she admitted. 'I hate that I'm stressing about money when I should be focusing on surviving.' Life that once raced from classroom to dinners, soccer matches and weekend getaways has slammed to a halt. 'I used to be go, go, go. Now I'm waiting between medical appointments. It's very different - and I'm scared.' She forces herself to find tiny joys: sunrise at the beach, craft videos on YouTube, lunch with a friend before her strength fades. 'I'm trying to flip it: these are terrible cards, but maybe I'll discover something that helps me relax.' Chloe is clinging to the dream that next year, when the IV drips are gone and her hair begins to grow back, she and Tom can restart the life they mapped out: a modest house, a Japan rail pass, a baby's first kicks. For now, Chloe takes each day as it comes. 'I'm trying to stay as positive as I can,' she said 'Everything is on hold - but I have to believe it's not gone forever.' What are the common symptoms of breast cancer? Breast lumps Changes in size or shape of breasts Changes to the skin including dimpling, a rash or puckering of the breast Changes to a nipple such as turning in or just feeling different to usual Abnormal nipple discharge Inflamed breast where your breast may look red or swollen Hard breasts A red, scaly rash on the breast Breast pain
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Could you be allergic to SEX? When symptoms strike, many wrongly blame them on STDs claims top expert
Some women may suffer from an unusual allergic reaction during or after sex—experiencing intimate discomfort, swelling or even difficulty breathing. The cause, experts say, could be a little-known condition called seminal plasma hypersensitivity, an allergy to proteins found in semen. Dr Michael Carroll, associate professor in reproductive science at Manchester Metropolitan University, says the condition may affect more people than previously thought—and often goes undiagnosed. Writing for The Conversation, he warned it is often mistaken for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yeast infections, and general sensitivity. But one clue you're in fact 'allergic to sex', is 'symptoms disappearing when condoms are used', he revealed. The sex allergy is now recognised as a 'type 1 hypersensitivity', falling into the same category as peanut allergy, cat dander, and hay fever, he said. While rare, the professor argues that is underdiagnosed due to embarrassment, stigma and a lack of awareness—meaning 'many women suffer in silence'. In women it typically affects the vulva or vagina, but can also cause full body symptoms like hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening immune response, he warned. Seminal plasma hypersensitivity was first documented in 1967, when a woman was hospitalised after a 'violent allergic reaction' to sex. It was thought to only affect less than 100 women globally, until a study in 1997 found that nearly 12 per cent of those reporting symptoms after sex could have the allergy. While Dr Michael Carroll had similar results in his own unpublished survey in 2013, he thinks the true figure could be higher. The professor said: 'It's time to bring this hidden condition out of the shadows and into the consultation room. 'And it's not just women. It's possible some men may be allergic to their own sperm,' he added. In men it has also been called post-orgasmic illness syndrome—because it causes symptoms that last seconds, minutes or even hours after ejaculation. It can cause headaches, burning eyes, a runny nose, sore throat, fever, muscle weakness and fatigue, claimed French researchers last year. More extreme symptoms include palpitations and incoherent speech, wrote an expert Hospital Center des Quatre Villes, on the outskirts of Paris in a French journal. In the hours after climaxing, a 22-year-old man was described as suffering from sneezing, watery eyes, stomach cramps, muscle pain and deep fatigue, in a paper published in the American Journal of Case Reports earlier this year. While only 60 cases post-orgasmic illness syndrome have been reported since it was first discovered in 2002, it could affect many more as it is likely some don't seek medical attention. 'The problem isn't the sperm', explained Dr Michael Carroll, but rather a prostate-specific antigen, a compound found in semen. And it isn't specific to any one partner—women can develop a reaction to any man's ejaculate. There was also evidence of something called 'cross-reactivity' found—when those with existing allergies can develop another one. So if you're allergic to dogs or other things, you may have developed an allergy to sex, even if you don't realise it. 'In one unusual case, a woman with a Brazil nut allergy broke out in hives after sex, probably due to trace nut proteins in her partner's semen,' he said. The diagnostic process involves a review of your sexual and medical history often followed by a skin prick test with your partner's semen or blood tests. Treatments include prophylactic antihistamines to prevent allergic reactions before exposure and anti-inflammatories. There is also desensitisation, which involves a doctor placing a diluted semen solution in the vagina or onto the penis, at 20 minutes intervals. While the allergy doesn't directly affect fertility—and many women with SHP successfully conceive—it can complicate things. 'Avoiding the allergen—usually the most effective treatment for allergies—isn't feasible for couples trying to conceive,' he explained. So, if your allergic to sex and you're trying for a baby, you may wish to choose IVF with washed sperm—to avoid the allergen PSA altogether.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning as common gym mistake triggers life-threatening brain bleed in 'ultra-fit' 40-year-old: 'I could have died'
A super-fit personal trainer has claimed medics blamed her sudden brain bleed on 'years of overdoing it at the gym'. Linzi Todd, from Northampton suddenly developed tinnitus—a ringing or buzzing in the ears—and throbbing headaches, while teaching at a fitness boot camp in March. But the 40-year-old mother-of-one dismissed the symptoms as merely feeling 'overtired'. It was only after the pounding headaches persisted, leaving her bed-bound, that days later she visited A&E, where she was referred for an MRI scan and claimed doctors advised her to increase her caffeine and water intake. Scan results, however, showed she was suffering a bleed on the brain and 17mm blood clot. Ms Todd said she was called by medics who urged her to come to hospital as soon as possible. Here, further tests showed the brain blood clot was triggered by fluid leaking from her spine— which doctors suspected was caused by years of intense exercise—and she underwent three weeks of treatment. Now, Ms Todd who is no longer a personal trainer and now works for a mental health company, is urging others to not take no for an answer from their doctors or give up if they think something isn't right. Recalling her terrifying ordeal, she said: 'I was doing a training camp to teach outdoor bootcamp fitness and went to bed that evening and developed tinnitus, which I'd never had in my life. 'I woke up the next morning with a really banging headache. I popped a couple of pills, felt unwell but cracked on. 'I rang the doctors and they put it down to labyrinthitis [an ear infection] because I felt dizzy as well. 'I just thought maybe my body was tired. I'm not the type of person that gets sick. I've always been really fit and healthy. 'But the headaches persisted. I would wake up with intense throbbing in my head as soon as I got up every morning. 'It felt like the worst brain freeze and only lying down and painkillers would give me some relief.' After attending A&E and undergoing an MRI, she said she received an urgent phone call from the neurologist who urged her to attend hospital immediately. 'He said he could see an acute subdural hematoma on your brain, which is very serious and a very large blood clot,' Ms Todd said. 'He said we don't often see bleeds of this size in women of your age without any head trauma and it was a medical emergency. 'I was Googling what this condition was and it said there was a 25 per cent survival rate. I thought, "am I going to die? Do I need to plan my funeral?" 'It was so traumatic. I had to say goodbye to my husband and daughter. I didn't know if I was going to see them again or not. 'Doctors were baffled by how I was presenting based on my scans and what they found. I was high risk of a stroke and seizure, yet I was passing all of their cognitive and reflex tests. 'It's normally found in boxers, rugby players, horse-riders—someone that has had a trauma to the head. I was walking around with that in my brain and it could've killed me.' Tests showed the bleed on the brain was caused by fluid leaking from her spine—which doctors explained can happen to fit and active people who 'overdo it'. They believe over-exercising may have teared her dura. The dura is the outer-most layer of membranes, which acts as a barrier between the brain and spinal cord. In rare and severe cases, the leak causes a drop in spinal fluid pressure tearing veins. This allows the blood to then form clots. She is due to soon undergo an epidural blood patch, a procedure used to stop further leakage of fluid surrounding the spinal cord. She said: 'I don't want anyone to be put off exercise because it's a very rare thing to happen but it's the only logical reasoning for why this happened. 'I never thought a bad bout of headaches would result in this and nearly three weeks in hospital. 'I had to push every single step of the way. It would've had a different ending if I hadn't pushed as much as I did with doctors. I absolutely would've died. 'I just knew there was something wrong. I always tell others to listen to their own body and gut. Push to get seen and get answers. 'You'd rather get a normal result than leave it and it be too late.' Previous studies have suggested excessive exercise may trigger brain bleeds leading to potentially fatal strokes or brain haemorrhages. In 2019, Joanne Leach, 46, from Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales also died from a brain haemorrhage while working out on exercise bike. Despite her husband Justin Beilensohn, 47, performing CPR for 20 minutes and managing to revive her as paramedics arrived, she later died in hospital.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Saudi Ministry of Health launches nationwide campaign to tackle obesity
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health launched on Thursday its 'A Nation Without Obesity' campaign in Riyadh, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and combating obesity across the Kingdom. In its initial phase, the campaign aims to target 1 million beneficiaries, bringing together several governmental, private, and non-profit entities. 'A Nation Without Obesity' was launched in response to multiple calls from Shura Council members and aligns with the Kingdom's health transformation efforts, which have recorded notable progress toward the targets set out in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Mustafa Abdul Rahman, general manager of Lilly in Saudi Arabia, emphasized that obesity is not a personal choice or a lifestyle issue, but a chronic disease that demands long-term management grounded in science, innovation, treatment, and prevention. He highlighted the urgent need to shift societal perceptions and eliminate the stigma surrounding obesity, which often discourages individuals from seeking the help and treatment they need. 'The company supports the 'A Nation Without Obesity' campaign, which aims to raise awareness, remove psychological and social barriers, and empower individuals to access the support and treatment they need,' Abdul Rahman added. Real transformation, he noted, starts with formal policies that back sustainable solutions and with strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. Obesity impacts not only physical health, but also leads to a decline in mental well-being and social stability, often intensifying social isolation and reducing overall quality of life. Eliminating the stigma surrounding individuals living with obesity is therefore essential, Abdul Rahman explained. The economic toll of obesity is equally pressing, with escalating healthcare costs linked to associated diseases and a notable decline in productivity driven by its complications — factors that cannot be ignored. For this reason, Lilly places economic impact at the core of its comprehensive strategy to combat obesity, Abdul Rahman said. Mohammed Alghasham, CEO of Qalb Health Association, praised the campaign's remarkable spirit of collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership with the Quality of Life Program and the engagement of Kayl Association for Combating Obesity as key contributors to a unified awareness effort. 'The association is committed to driving forward innovative social, awareness, and pharmaceutical initiatives while continuing to conduct studies and research aimed at enhancing existing solutions to the complex challenge of obesity, and supporting healthcare providers with insights that strengthen decision-making,' Alghasham said.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Rita Ora reveals her world 'crumbled' after her mother's breast cancer diagnosis which led to her suffering from hypochondria
Rita Ora opened up about her 'tough' years as a teenager as her world 'crumbled' after her mother Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer. The British singer, 34, was only 13-years-old when her mother was diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 39 with her undergoing a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Rita, who has previously said she has experienced PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and panic attacks in the wake of Vera's health battle, revealed she now has hypochondria and regularly gets health check-ups. Opening up to Davina McCall on her Begin Again podcast, the pop star reflected on her mother's health battle. She said: 'It was tough seeing something that you believe has always and is always going to be there just sort of like crumble in front of you. 'Even when you're a kid, I was a teenager, I was 13 and I was very confused. 'I wanted to be with her all the time but she wanted me to go to school you know, I was going to a really great school that they were paying for amongst all of the treatments that she was doing, it was a really hard time for them my parents.' Rita said that seeing Vera's whole treatment process 'trickled into her own health' and she started going to the doctors 'too many times' herself. She continued: 'It's insane the ratings and the percentages of breast cancer and that definitely got me worried and checked and going to get my checks regularly and and it kind of trickled into my own health I guess because I was definitely seeing the whole experience with my mother. 'I definitely wanted to be there for her so I didn't realise actually that that was a thing until I started therapy. 'I was like "Oh maybe I'm going to the doctors too many times." But I do believe that is the reason because I saw that happen and that whole treatment process.' The singer added that her mum has PTSD and 'never ending fear' around the times of her regular check-ups as there is always that 'what if' scenario. She added: 'She still feels that way too when she gets her checkups, you have to always have your regular checkups and my mother always has that fear just during that period of what if and of course that's PTSD. 'God knows what that must have felt like to go through it but yeah, it's a never ending fear that will happen when you have that one lifechanging experience'. She said: 'I wanted to be with her all the time but she wanted me to go to school you know, I was going to a really great school that they were paying for amongst all of the treatments that she was doing, it was a really hard time for them my parents' In February 2019, Rita's mother Vera discussed being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39 while appearing on Loose Women. Vera emotionally explained: 'The journey I had was really tough. At a young age treatment tends to me more rigorous and prolonged. 'When it's diagnosed young, the treatment gets to be more intense, I had chemo, radiotherapy and a mastectomy.' In 2022, Rita broke down in tears as she spoke about her mother's battle with breast cancer on an episode of The Voice Australia. At the time, she was moved by contestant Aleisha Gam's story, as she spoke about her own mother's cancer battle. 'My mum's been struggling with cancer for the last two years...' Aleisha, 26, told the coaches, explaining that she hoped her mother could 'feel my love' in her song. Her raw honesty inspired Rita to detail her own family's experience with cancer, something she admitted she's reluctant to talk about publicly. 'I know how it feels to sort of have that connection with a song, and then that memory always sticks with that song,' Rita began, wiping tears from her eyes. 'My mum, she also had cancer. When she would go and get her treatment, and she was losing her hair and stuff, we were kind of teenagers,' she continued, her voice breaking. 'It was really weird to see your mum, like, not be the superhero that you always think your mum is going to be... 'Because you never think your parents are going to sort of, like, break down in front of you, you know what I mean?' Taking a deep breath, she added: 'And then you have to sort of put them together... I can't even speak.' After taking a moment to compose herself, Rita explained her mother had had breast cancer, but said she was a 'survivor'. 'It's also something she talks about. She's a survivor, but she had it super young, and I think it's so important to have that memory with them,' she continued. She added: 'I just wanted to put that out there. I don't really talk about my mum like that... It's really hard.' Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare. Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
