- ‘It’s hard to accept I’m dying’: Mother diagnosed with cancer after noticing blood in her stool The Independent
- Mum’s shock as kitten helps find lump that turned out to be terminal cancer Express
- ‘How do I tell my kids I’m dying of cancer?’ – single mum shares heartbreaking dilemma The Mirror
- I’m a single mom of 3 with months to live — I don’t know how to tell my kids New York Post
- Bedford mum hoping to raise £100,000 for life-prolonging cancer treatment after devastating diagnosis Bedfordshire Live
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: diagnosed
She was diagnosed with a rare cervical cancer at 45. Now she’s getting candid about recovery
It was just a few months ago when Amy Jordan realized she no longer needed to rely on modifications during Pilates classes. Since being diagnosed with an aggressive cervical cancer and undergoing grueling treatment a little more than two years ago, Jordan slowly has been building up her strength in the hope that she’ll be able to. move her body as she once did.
“I really feel like I can do the workouts I used to do without breaks, without modification,” Jordan, the 47-year-old founder and CEO of WundaBar, a Pilates studio in New York City and California, tells TODAY.com. “It was sometime in November that I was like, ‘Wait a second, I just took a class and felt pretty much the same way I would have felt pre-cancer.’ And, I was so grateful.’”
In 2020, Jordan was diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix, a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer. According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, about 100 of the 11,000 cervical cancer cases will fall into the small or large types. The diagnosis meant that she needed to undergo an intense treatment plan.
“My oncologist said, ‘This is really rare and aggressive, and we have to throw everything at it,” Jordan told TODAY.com in December 2020. “‘We are aiming for a cure.’”
After five months of treatment, which included 90 hours of chemotherapy, 25 days of radiation and a radical hysterectomy, Jordan celebrated being cancer free with a photo showing her scars and a moving caption about the experience. Sometimes, it feels surreal.
“When I look back at pictures or just reflect on experiences, it seemed like it didn’t even happen in almost a Twilight Zone way,” Jordan says. “I have this new filter, this new lens of how to look at life and what a gift it is to be able to show up and help people.”
During her treatment, Jordan couldn’t teach Pilates like she once did and quickly adapted. She used body models to hold the poses she couldn’t sustain or even do, in some cases. Having a large abdominal scar meant doing a full roll-up — going from a prone position on the floor into a curled up seated position — wasn’t wise.
“That wasn’t doable, and it wouldn’t be a smart choice to do as you’re healing,” she says.
Having cancer and recovering from it taught her how to be a better teacher.
“This experience has given me a really intuitive way to work with people who are going through health concerns, and it’s made me a better movement educator,” Jordan says. “It allows me to really meet people where they’re at and allow for space and modifications and changes that keep them moving without trying to keep up with anyone else and really staying within the framework of your own skin while you’re moving.”
It was during her recovery that she even developed a new tool to help her as a teacher and to help her students, the WundaCore Resistance Ring.
“It’s basically a fitness tool that replaces a trainer’s hand because during COVID, during cancer, I couldn’t have my hands on my clients to adjust their bodies and help them get the most out of their (practice),” she says. “It really gives you the feedback to get the most out of your exercises.”
People have reached out to Jordan about her cancer story, often saying hearing about it helped them.
“They’ll come up to me and say, ‘Oh gosh I’ve watched your journey. I’m so inspired, and it helped me get through XYZ,’” Jordan says. “There’s this ripple effect of how we can share and show up with resiliency so that others can also grow and understand the important of resilience. And that’s my goal with sharing the story — to serve people with positivity, to serve others with a hope and an understanding that as much as it sucks right now, just keep moving. Just keep breathing.”
Jordan feels it’s important to be candid about her experience with cervical cancer to raise awareness and encourage others to undergo regular screening.
“There’s a pretty large void in discussing honestly and openly health crises, cancer, especially when it’s like a cervical cancer or something that might be a little bit of a touchy or a very private and personal area,” she says.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Mum Sarah O’Brien diagnosed with skin cancer after driving without wearing sunscreen
A 37-year-old mother has opened up on the horrifying moment doctors told her the ‘annoying pimple’ on her temple was actually cancer.
Sydney mum Sarah O’Brien dismissed the growth above her right eye as blemish before going to a clinic to get it removed when it was still there two months later.
‘Every time I flicked my fringe with my fingers I would touch it, which annoyed me, so I wanted it gone for that reason,’ Sarah told FEMAIL.
‘I walked into the skin clinic thinking nothing of it, then the doctor said it “doesn’t look right”.’
Tests revealed it was a Basal Cell Carcinoma, a common skin cancer, which had to be removed immediately.
Mum-of-one Sarah O’Brien was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) in May 2022 – a common type of skin cancer. Three months prior she noticed a lump on her right temple and thought it was a pimple but when it started to grow and hurt she got it checked out
Eight months on the mum is sharing her story so others can be mindful of the signs.
She said the news came as a ‘complete shock’ as she had had a skin check five months before doctors confirmed the growth was cancerous.
Sarah, now 38, believes driving with the sun hitting her face – and not wearing SPF in the car – caused the spot to appear, because it was on her driver’s side above her eye.
‘I’ve always been sun smart and wear sunscreen daily when I know I’m going to be in the sun – but I never thought about wearing sunscreen while driving,’ she said.
Sarah said skin cancer runs in her family and she’s aware of the danger of the sun while spending time outdoors.
She also said getting a diagnosis was easy.
The doctor conducted a quick needle biopsy to remove a sample from the lump and send it on to the lab for testing.
A few days later Sarah was called back into the clinic to discuss the results – and was told it was cancerous.
The now 38-year-old believes the lump grew as a result of not wearing sunscreen while driving, as the lump was on the drivers side of her face
‘It was confronting for sure, I think everyone believes they’re invincible until something happens,’ she said.
Thankfully the cancer was benign and hadn’t spread elsewhere in the body, so it only needed to be removed without any further treatment.
For that reason, Sarah considers herself to be lucky.
‘I used to think cancer was an ‘”old person’s problem”… but now I know that definitely isn’t the case and can happen to anyone of any age,’ she said.
Thankfully the cancer was benign and hadn’t spread elsewhere in the body, so it only needed to be removed without any further treatment. After the prognosis the doctor removed the lump that day with local anaesthetic, but also needed to take ‘around 3mm of tissue’ surrounding it, leaving Sarah needed between seven to nine stitches
After the prognosis the doctor removed the lump that day with local anaesthetic, but also needed to take ‘around 3mm of tissue’ surrounding it, leaving Sarah needed between seven to nine stitches.
The scarring took five months to heal with Sarah using bio oil to assist the wound.
Today she wears sunscreen whenever she leaves the house and teaches sun safety to her three-year-old son.
‘It’s so important to get your skin checked – and for young people to take care of their skin,’ she said.
‘It’s so important to get your skin checked – and for young people to take care of their skin,’ she said
Two in three Australians will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 – but new TAL research reveals most Australians are unaware of just how common skin cancer is in Australia, with more than 7 in 10 (72 per cent) believing the rate of diagnosis is lower.
TAL’s General Manager of Health Services, Dr Priya Chagan, says Aussies should apply sunscreen every morning and reapply during the day, check the forecasted UV levels daily, and learn how to self-check.
‘Regularly checking your own skin can help to maximise the chance of detecting skin cancer early and greatly increases the chance of successful treatment,’ Dr Chagan said.
‘Despite the importance of self-checking in early detection, only 36 per cent of Australians know how to self-check their skin.’
To learn how to self-check your skin and book a skin check at your local GP, visit the TAL website here.
Peloton’s Leanne Hainsby, 35, diagnosed with breast cancer
Peloton’s Leanne Hainsby has been quietly battling breast cancer since August, she announced on social media Friday.
Hainsby described at length the treatments she’s been receiving after one doctor first dismissed the lump she discovered, sharing that she’s been through 12 weeks of chemotherapy and will begin radiation.
“I would teach my Wednesday morning LIVE classes, and then meet my Mum and go to the treatment suite for my weekly dose (alongside other drugs as part of my treatment plan),” she wrote.
“Chemo is no joke. Cold caps are no joke.”
The British fitness sensation also revealed that she underwent surgery and will have her portacath (a device installed inside the body to dispense treatment) removed next.
“Treatment will continue for a long time for me, hospital visits are the norm, and I focus on one step at a time,” she wrote. “I do feel very fortunate to be having my treatment privately. The nurses and doctors are incredible, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Hainsby, 35, also shared that she and her fiancé, fellow Peloton instructor Ben Alldis, had the opportunity to complete one round of IVF prior to her starting chemo.
“We weren’t mentally prepared, but we got it done and we’re so grateful,” she wrote.
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Hainsby, who shared photos of herself dressed in the aforementioned cold caps, is hoping that by sharing her diagnosis she’ll be able to spread awareness and encourage others to always go for second opinions.
“I’m nearly 6 months down the line. I’m in fantastic hands, and I’ve got this,” she shared. “Nobody wants to be sat in a room and told they have cancer, and yet I’ve always felt like one of the lucky ones. I am one of the lucky ones.”
The beloved spin instructor concluded her message assuring fans that she “WILL BE OK,” saying she’s more “empowered” than ever.
“You gain a strength you never knew you had, and you keep pushing forward,” she wrote. “Strong, as healthy as possible, and empowered.”
Alldis also shared photos of Hainsby throughout her treatment journey and gushed over her strength and bravery.
“I am so incredibly proud of you @leannehainsby 💙,” he began his message. “You’ve been an absolute inspiration to all of us and have taken every step of this journey so far in your stride, with so much grace and with your head held high.”
He continued, “Here’s to, as you would say, sparkly days ahead and living our healthiest and happiest lives using the countless lessons that this last year has taught us.
“I love you Leanne💙Your shining light on this world is shining brighter than ever✨.”
A 24-year-old says she ‘ignored’ her bloating and stomach pain until it got so bad she went to the ER. Doctors diagnosed her with ovarian cancer.
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A woman, 24, found out she had ovarian cancer after her stomach pain got so bad she went to the ER.
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Doctors arranged for an ultrasound scan, which found two tumors on Chloe Etheridge’s ovaries.
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Etheridge told SWNS that she “ignored” her pain for months because she didn’t know cancer could cause it.
A 24-year-old who “ignored” her bloating and stomach pain for months was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer, according to a report.
Chloe Etheridge, from the UK, initially experienced bloating and abdominal pain in December 2021. By April 2022, her stomach pain was so bad she went to the emergency room, she told the South West News Service.
Doctors arranged an ultrasound scan, which found two tumors on her ovaries. One was seven inches long and the other was about four inches long, she told SWNS.
‘I don’t think young women know the symptoms of ovarian cancer’
Three months later on July 11 2022, doctors told Etheridge she had germ-cell ovarian cancer, a rare type of the disease that is typically diagnosed during adolescence, though anyone above the age of one can get it, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.
Generally, people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer after menopause and it’s rare in people younger than 40 to develop the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. It estimates that 19,710 women in the US will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2023 and about 13,270 women will die from the disease.
Symptoms of germ-cell ovarian cancer, which affects fewer than 1,000 people in the US, include: a pelvic mass, fever, vaginal bleeding, and abdominal pain, GARD states.
Symptoms of other types of ovarian cancer include: pain in the pelvis or back, bloating, and feeling full “too quickly,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other conditions can cause those symptoms but “the only way to know is to see your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional,” the CDC states.
Etheridge told SWNS that she ignored her symptoms because she didn’t realize they could be caused by cancer. “I don’t think young women know the symptoms of ovarian cancer,” she said.
Chemotherapy was ‘brutal’
Treatment of ovarian cancer depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread, but includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and surgery. Etheridge started chemotherapy the day after she was diagnosed, for six months.
“It was incredibly brutal. My chemotherapy had seven different chemical components. The side effects were horrendous, I had nausea, fatigue, hearing loss — I still can’t hear some frequencies now,” she said.
Etheridge had an operation on January 11 to try to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
She told SWNS that the procedure went “really well,” and she is “expected to make a full recovery.”
According to the ACS, germ cell ovarian tumors often have a “good outlook,” with more than 90% of people with the condition living for more than five years after diagnosis.
Etheridge shared her story to raise awareness: “I think for women because we have periods, it is assumed that we are meant to live with pain but that should not be the case.”
Read the original article on Business Insider
CCSD says person at Las Vegas elementary school was diagnosed with tuberculosis
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Clark County School District confirmed to FOX5 that a person at a Las Vegas elementary school recently was diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).
According to a letter sent to parents Tuesday from principal Christina M. Miani of Helen Jydstrup Elementary, “the Southern Nevada Health District is working with the school to discuss any possible student health concerns and create a testing plan” for those who may have come in close contact with the individual.
It was not immediately clear what the infected person’s relationship to the school is, whether it be a parent, staff member or student.
According to the letter, SNHD is advising the school ” that students who are possibly at risk of infection are those who came in close, personal contact with this person over a period of time.”
The letter advises that SNHD says “students other than those in the above circumstances are not considered to be at risk.”
The letter notes that tuberculosis is a “bacterial disease that can be transmitted between persons who are in close, repeated contact by breathing the same air over a period of time. Tuberculosis is not transmitted through touching or handling objects.”
Miani’s letter said that additional notices would be sent to those who meet the criteria for testing.
In the letter, the school reminds that a tuberculin test is mandatory and required by law, according to NRS 44IA.365. Testing for students and faculty will begin on Thursday, according to the letter.
The school says parents will be given the option to take their student to Quest Laboratories for testing at no charge.
“TB follow-up testing will start the week of March 20, and reminders will be sent closer to that date,” according to the letter.
The Southern Nevada Health District provided the below statement:
“The Southern Nevada Health District is conducting a TB investigation that involves students, staff and faculty. The Health District is working closely to identify individuals who will require testing and to provide them with additional information and resources as necessary. TB remains a public health concern here and across the country, and the Health District conducts proactive investigations to identify and treat people with latent TB infection or active TB disease whenever they are identified in Clark County.”
A full copy of the letter to parents can be read below:
Copyright 2023 KVVU. All rights reserved.
Brain tumor diagnosis: Man rushed to hospital with an ‘ear infection’ diagnosed with incurable brain tumour
A man who was rushed to hospital with an ear infection has been told he has just months to live after his illness turned out to be a terminal brain tumour.
Dave Whitford, 49, first realised something was not right when he became dizzy and started vomiting while sitting in his garden.
The next day he was rushed to hospital where doctors told him he was suffering from an inner ear infection that had been caused by an insect bite.
Because Dave was still feeling sick and struggling to balance, doctors performed a scan on his head, which revealed a small growth on his brain.
The mass was monitored for two years and as it began to grow, doctors decided to remove it. They then discovered the mass was actually an incurable brain tumour.
Dave was left devastated when he was told he has between one year and 18 months left to live.
He said: “When they removed it, it took them a month to find out how bad it actually was.
“They thought it might have been a grade two tumour to start with, but it got examined and came back as a grade four which is the worst one.
“I’ve got 12 to 18 months to live but I might live longer, I just don’t know.
“When I found out, I just cried. I was just devastated.”
The father-of-one said he would love to tour the US and even had an early 50th birthday party in case he doesn’t reach the milestone.
Dave, of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said: “My 50th birthday is this May so I had a birthday party last year incase I don’t make it to being 50.
“So I invited around 60 people round including all of my family and friends to just celebrate.”
(Dave Whitford / SWNS)
(Dave Whitford / SWNS)
Alongside having the mass removed, Dave has also had chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
But because he has had so much treatment and part of his brain removed, he is now suffering from debilitating side affects such as short-term memory loss and fatigue.
He said: “I have no energy and I get cold really easily so I have to have special sheets to warm me up.
“They operated on the left side, so I have ringing in my ear which is quite annoying, especially when I’m trying to get to sleep.
(Dave Whitford / SWNS)
“It does affect people differently and it’s affected my short term memory so I forget a lot of things.”
Dave worked as a bus driver until he fell ill, as he had his driving licence taken off him as soon as doctors found the mass on his brain.
He has been able to work in various roles doing odd-jobs for people over the last three years but now due to the severity of his symptoms, he’s had to stop working.
Dave has set up a Go Fund Me page to help with expenses while he is unable to work.
Jeremiah Green: Modest Mouse drummer diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
CNN
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Jeremiah Green, the drummer for the band Modest Mouse, is currently being treated for cancer.
The band’s frontman Isaac Brock asked people for support on Modest Mouse’s official Instagram on Wednesday, writing, “Some of you may have already heard, but I figured it would be good to hear the news directly from our camp. Jeremiah was diagnosed with cancer a short while ago, and he’s currently in treatment. It seems to be going smoothly and making a positive difference. Jeremiah, as am I, are believers in the power of positive energy, so if you would be so kind as to send “good vibes”( to quote Jeremiah) in the direction of Jeremiah and his family, that’d be great.”
Brock did not specify what kind of cancer Green has been diagnosed with.
While undergoing treatment, Green has paused touring with the band, which recently wrapped their “Lonesome Crowded West” tour. They are scheduled to continue performances in Mexico City in March.
Radio DJ Marco Green took to Twitter to say: “Just found out my friend Jeremiah Green (@modestmouseband) pulled off the band’s tour b/c he is undergoing chemo to battle Stage 4 Cancer. Despite having a stage 4 diagnosis, his prognosis is good! His oncologist is a big MM fan (so he’s got that in his corner!) Sending (two heart emojis)”
Green is a founding member of Modest Mouse, famous for their song “Float On.” Along with Green, Brock and bassist Eric Judy formed the band in the 1990s and released their debut album in 1996.
The band has released eight albums, including “The Golden Casket,” last June.
Jeremiah Green: Modest Mouse drummer diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
CNN
—
Jeremiah Green, the drummer for the band Modest Mouse, is currently being treated for cancer.
The band’s frontman Isaac Brock asked people for support on Modest Mouse’s official Instagram on Wednesday, writing, “Some of you may have already heard, but I figured it would be good to hear the news directly from our camp. Jeremiah was diagnosed with cancer a short while ago, and he’s currently in treatment. It seems to be going smoothly and making a positive difference. Jeremiah, as am I, are believers in the power of positive energy, so if you would be so kind as to send “good vibes”( to quote Jeremiah) in the direction of Jeremiah and his family, that’d be great.”
Brock did not specify what kind of cancer Green has been diagnosed with.
While undergoing treatment, Green has paused touring with the band, which recently wrapped their “Lonesome Crowded West” tour. They are scheduled to continue performances in Mexico City in March.
Radio DJ Marco Green took to Twitter to say: “Just found out my friend Jeremiah Green (@modestmouseband) pulled off the band’s tour b/c he is undergoing chemo to battle Stage 4 Cancer. Despite having a stage 4 diagnosis, his prognosis is good! His oncologist is a big MM fan (so he’s got that in his corner!) Sending (two heart emojis)”
Green is a founding member of Modest Mouse, famous for their song “Float On.” Along with Green, Brock and bassist Eric Judy formed the band in the 1990s and released their debut album in 1996.
The band has released eight albums, including “The Golden Casket,” last June.
Only 14% of diagnosed cancers in the US are detected by screening, report says
CNN
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A small proportion – 14.1% – of all diagnosed cancers in the United States are detected by screening with a recommended screening test, according to a new report.
The remaining diagnosed cancers tend to be found when someone has symptoms or seeks imaging or medical care for other reasons, suggests the report, posted online Wednesday by researchers at the nonprofit research organization NORC at the University of Chicago.
“I was shocked that only 14% of cancers were detected by screening. I think, for many people, we talk so much about cancer screening that we imagine that that’s how all cancers are diagnosed. We talk about mammograms and colonoscopies all the time,” said Caroline Pearson, an author of the report and senior vice president at the organization.
Yet “the vast majority of cancer types don’t have screening tests available,” Pearson said.
The technical report notes that just four types of cancer – breast, cervical, colorectal and lung – have screening tests recommended for use by the US Preventive Services Task Force, and the percent of cancers detected by screening varies across those types: 61% of breast, 52% of cervical, 45% of colorectal and 3% of lung cancers. The report also includes data on prostate cancer, even though screening for prostate cancer is not broadly recommended, and the data suggests that 77% of prostate cancers are detected by screening.
The report, which has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, is based on data from 2017. But Pearson said that since then, studies have shown that the rates of cancer screenings declined during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. She suspects that the percentage of cancers detected by screening could now be even lower than what was found in the new report.
“I definitely think that the percent of cancers detected by screening would have been lower as a result of the pandemic. We know that people missed a tremendous number of recommended screenings, and we are seeing those cancers showing up at later stages in clinical settings,” Pearson said. “So with the reduction in screenings, we get fewer cancers diagnosed that way, and that is certainly something that we would pick up in the data.”
For the new report, Pearson and her colleagues developed a model to calculate the percentage of cancers detected by screening, using data from the National Cancer Institute on the incidence of diagnosed cancers, national screening rates from the National Health Interview Survey, testing rates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and several studies on the rate at which cancers are detected.
There has not been much data in the medical literature on cancers that are detected by screening, she said, adding that she hopes the report draws attention to the importance of cancer screening, the need for more tests and the need for more data on how cancers are diagnosed, including the important role that screening tests play in catching cancers early.
“We would benefit from much more robust data and analysis to really understand how cancer is affecting different populations and how we can improve equity,” Pearson said. “For the researchers of the world, I would love for people to dig into some of these estimates and some of the geographic variations that we’re seeing to understand how we can begin to shape the public policy environment to improve treatment across the country and improve screening across the country.”
Dr. Otis Brawley, an oncology professor at Johns Hopkins University, said he was not surprised by the findings in the new report – especially because some cancer screening tests can be improved in their performance.
“Everyone has been led to believe that screening is better than it actually is,” said Brawley, who was not involved in the new report. “We need to invest in research to try to find better tests.”
In the case of breast cancer, for instance, “clinical trials tell us screening prevents 25% of those destined to die of breast cancer from dying of breast cancer,” he said. “In the US, about 60% of women aged 50 to 70 get screened. That means we can only prevent about 15% of the deaths destined to occur. It also means a lot of patients are diagnosed with cancer after a negative screening test.”
People in the United States could benefit from following cancer prevention measures – such as getting screened and maintaining a healthy lifestyle – but the public can also benefit from better screening tests themselves, Brawley said.
“We spend so much time pushing screening and pushing screening tests – yes, they do save lives, but we need to be able to save more lives,” he said. “We need better.”