Atomic Kitten singer reveals skin cancer diagnosis
Former Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton has revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2024, after initially mistaking it for a mosquito bite.
Hamilton noticed an itchy spot on her back while on holiday in Majorca. It was later identified as a basal-cell carcinoma.
She believes her past use of sunbeds in the late 1990s and early 2000s contributed to her diagnosis, recalling frequent burns and the desire for a "sunkissed look".
Hamilton is now cancer-free after the tissue was removed.
Hamilton's mother, Maria, was also diagnosed with the same type of skin cancer after Natasha urged her to get a mark on her face checked by a dermatologist.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Dentists: Patients could be seen by any surgery under NHS plans
Patients could be moved around dental surgeries under proposed changes to the of having a regular surgery, the changes could see people offered treatment at any practice within their health board area, with check-ups for those with healthy teeth pushed to every 18 to 24 Welsh government said the proposals would improve access to dental services, particularly for those most in the British Dental Association (BDA) said the opposite could happen and more patients may be forced to go private. The biggest change would see all patients over 18 placed onto a central waiting list, called the Dental Access Portal (DAP).They would then be allocated a surgery, which could be anywhere within the health board they need treatment, they would remain with that surgery until it is complete and beyond, if they needed close or when teeth are healthy, patients would be returned to the central portal and would be recalled for a check-up in 18 to 24 months wherever there is would be assessed under the plans but stay at the first surgery they are charges for patients would also change - with check-ups going up from £20 to £24.75 but a single crown going down from £260 to £239.15. Health Minister Jeremy Miles said the plans would benefit everyone."It will make NHS dentistry more attractive to dentists and that is good for patients," he said."Actually, what we want to make sure is that patients do look after their own oral health but when they do need to see a dentist they will be able to access one which is the critical thing." Jody Pegler, 46, from Pontllanfraith, Caerphilly county, who has been with his dentist in Newbridge for more than 30 years, said: "I have been coming here since I was a child."It's nice to see the same person on a regular basis."Mr Pegler, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, said his family members needing to visit different surgeries could be problematic."My wife, my child and myself could potentially be attending different practices," he said."It's difficult to get out and to go anywhere really and if we have to go to different practices it would be impossible."This dentist's in particular have made a big effort to make sure the practice is wheelchair accessible for me - that means a lot." Jody's dentist is Dr Harj Singhrao, owner of Newbridge Dental Care, who believes the potential breakdown in continued care will be "devastating"."If families can't be seen at the same practice, if people are punished then to join a waiting list because they have looked after their mouth, then where are they going to go? Because we know hospital waiting lists don't work," he said. The proposals are now part of a public consultation, open until 19 June, and in Cardiff people gave a mixed response to the plans when asked by BBC Weldon, 21, said: "I've been going to my dentist since I was probably six so I guess that would be a bit sad if I can't go to him."I would say too that things haven't been going very well for the NHS so maybe this could be a good start to kind of make things easier for them and for us."Paul McCarthy, 77, said he was unaware of the changes."I wouldn't be very happy about it either," he said."I've been coming here for over 30 years and I'm used to coming here so I wouldn't like that at all."Justin Rees, 52, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, thought the new portal idea could be positive. "It's good because one, there are no appointments at the moment."Two, it'll remind people that they need to have their teeth checked because you're busy all day and there's things that you let go," he said. In relation to how people currently access services, the consultation document says "contrary to popular belief" patients are not actually registered with a practice once their treatment ends, adding "for those who clinically require regular access, or an urgent need arises, nothing really changes".On check-ups, it says there is "false narrative" that six-monthly check-ups are necessary for everyone and that by giving people with healthy teeth a check-up less often, it will open up access for guidelines say intervals between check-ups "should be determined specifically for each patient" and the longest interval for adults should be 18-24 months. But Dr Lauren Harrhy from the BDA said she was concerned that people may end up waiting much longer, with "most people" benefiting from regular checks. Dr Harrhy, who runs a practice in Pontypool, Torfaen, said: "If we are always having patients into the practice who need lots of work done and they are not able to be put back into the central database, there is a saturation point and at which point, access into dental practices will cease."Our main concerns are we will have an overall reduction in the continuity of care... and we may find that dentists leave NHS dentistry which has been a trend over recent years anyway."Dentists also say the proposals offer no extra money to fund the changes. But Miles said investment in dentistry had increased year on year."This isn't a contract we have drawn up from thin air, it is based on years worth of work, it's 13 months of negotiations with the BDA itself," he said."No contract gives everybody exactly what they want but I am absolutely confident that for everybody - for patients, for dentists, for the NHS, for the government - this is a step forward."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
My name's Ulrika Jonsson & I'm an alcoholic – I was on knees swigging a bottle at 11am then one day I made cry for help
MY name is Ulrika and I am an alcoholic. Not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips in just over a year. 7 7 For family and friends, it's been a cause for great celebration, it's viewed as a major feat. My eldest daughter even offered to take me out for a celebratory meal. For me, the run-up to this anniversary has been the cause of much trepidation and a sprinkling of fear. But, most of all, it's been a realisation. Because this is my life now. The day I surrendered and accepted I had a problem with alcohol, I knew I couldn't just give it up for a while. I knew I couldn't just cut back in the hope that I'd be cured, because alcoholism is a disease for which there is no cure. There is a solution, but there is no fix. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Even with my best friend calling me one Saturday morning to tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem, I refused despite the unbearable shame I felt. Alcoholics are selfish creatures. Yes, having a problem with alcohol meant I was an alcoholic. Even though I would NEVER have admitted it at the time. Then came June 5 last year. A hangover day much like any other, really. I sat on the sofa with my liver and brain pickled in equal measure, wrapped up in the blanket of shame, and something made me reach out for help. Ulrika Jonsson speaks out during Sober October about overcoming binge drinking I typed a message that read, quite simply: 'I can't do this any more' and sent it to a friend who was five years' sober. And that's how a life of sobriety saved my life and my sanity. There is every possibility I could have given up drinking by myself — my obstinance can be a virtue — but I wouldn't have been able to heal myself and reach the level of emotional sobriety I have today without the support of other ex-drunks and a programme to guide me. Saved my life It has saved my life in more ways than one. And, without sounding too evangelical about my journey, I've had a spiritual awakening and found an inner peace I never knew possible. I'm a different person to the Ulrika I was over a year ago. I've learnt more about myself in the past year than I did in my past 56 on this planet. Has it been easy? Nothing easily gained is ever worth having, I say. I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere. What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups At the beginning, I would look lovingly at a glass of red wine when I went out for a Sunday roast. But knowing that a drink would not make things better, and it would never just be the ONE, stopped me from picking it up. I found Christmas difficult initially and, disconcertingly, Easter was even harder, with family around me drunk and laughing at things that just weren't funny. I had a couple of dates earlier this year, when I knew the social lubricant of alcohol would have calmed my nerves and allowed me to hide beneath a veil of intoxication. But at least I was able to be my authentic self — to be more discerning and accept that these men were just not for me. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome. So, this journey goes on. It's not a destination. It will only end with my dying breath. I've yet to learn the exact damage my drinking might have inflicted on those around me. 7 7 I think of my children and how worried about me they were. How I must have scared them. How torn they must have been between wanting to say something and just hoping I would come to my senses. I have amends to make. I have character defects to accept and improve. I have to remember to live in the moment and that whether I'm one year or ten years' sober, for me it will continue to be one day at a time. I still have alcohol in the house. Removing it would make no difference to me. I believe if I really wanted a drink, I would go to buy it. I have no objections at all to others drinking around me but, by Christ, people can be annoying when drunk! At least it's not me doing the crazy stuff, dancing on the tables or doing things I will quickly forget or regret. Nor do I wake up with punishing hangovers and terrifying anxiety or even a new haircut because the rum thought it was a great idea to give myself a new look the night before. Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too. People without judgment who fundamentally care for you and understand you. That has been my greatest reward. Don't get me wrong, life has continued to throw me curveballs. I'm just better equipped to deal with them as a sober person. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome I have a history of alcoholics in my family on my mother's side, but I don't have decades of alcohol abuse behind me. I didn't become addicted after the first sip of Pimm's at the age of 14 when I first got drunk. My drinking history is quite unremarkable. It didn't result in me losing my job, my marriage, my children or even my driving licence. I didn't get arrested or end up in jail. I wasn't a vomiting mess that couldn't get her kids ready for school in the morning. I wasn't a violent drunk. Which is why it might be helpful for anyone else out there to note that alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes and many live among us in plain sight. But the few years running up to my decision to quit, I was clearly drinking for the wrong reasons and I had no control over my cravings. I was a binge-drinker who drank to black out. Heavy shame A perfect storm of life led me to self-medicate, to soothe away life's ills and sharp edges; to quell my crippling anxiety by drinking neat rum from the neck of the bottle while kneeling into the cupboard underneath the stairs. There is nothing quite as 'sobering' as admitting to dropping to your knees at 11am and sticking your lips around a bottle of 40 per cent alcohol; feeling it swiftly burn your throat and immediately extinguish your anxiety, fears and self-loathing. Drinking was 'my thing'. It was a personal and private activity I had all to myself. I foolishly believed it was harmless because it didn't affect anyone else, so it was nothing anyone could take away from me. And I loved it. It made me feel instantly better and helped me cope with life. It killed my feelings of being overwhelmed; it relaxed me and made me a much nicer person. I thought . . . See, the one thing I had established by the time my drinking got completely out of hand was that I simply wasn't cut out for life. 7 7 7 I just couldn't cope. Everyone else seemed on top of everything while I was constantly swimming against the tide. I was forever traipsing through fields of molasses; perpetually found myself on the battlefield of life utterly unarmed. I was just no good at it. While I made no specific plan to end my life, my hope was eventually that alcohol would destroy me. I was a solitary drinker. But what might have started out as fun very quickly, and without fail, ended in blackout. I couldn't just have the one drink. What weirdo does that? I wasn't seeking light inebriation. I wanted the full anaesthetic effect. My self-esteem and self-worth were so bad, I believed the drink would make me become someone else. Or better still, nothing at all. I had such crippling anxiety about the present and future, which was coupled with past ordeals, that I was desperate for my feelings just to STOP. Because I didn't initially drink every day, and because my life looked impeccable from the outside, I convinced myself there wasn't a problem. I was still in control. However, I know now that those close to me saw a different picture. They heard my slurred voice on the phone; saw my drunk eyes betray me; worried about my volatile and highly strung demeanour and mood swings. They grew tired of repeating things to me that my blackouts had erased. It took months to rid myself of the heavy shame that drinking brought. Now, I realise I was really ill — both physically and spiritually — and that makes me go a bit easier on myself. In short, I'm grateful to my alcoholism for bringing me to where I am today: a life of honesty and integrity; of clarity and calm and being the person I never believed I could be. My name is Ulrika and I'm an alcoholic. And I have chosen life.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
From cold showers to hot tomatoes, how TV's Michael Mosley is still keeping us healthy a year after his tragic death
IT has been a year since the death of the much-loved presenter Dr Michael Mosley, famous for his practical tips on improving health and well-being. Here Laura Stott looks at his legacy of enlightening and easy-to-follow ideas, including ones that the telly doctor personally benefited from, all backed up by science. 8 ECCENTRIC EXERCISE: Mosley advocated 'exercise snacking' – or fitting small bursts of physical activity into everyday life rather than working out in one prolonged gym session. 8 He recommended mixing things up, doing plenty of squats and planks for lower body strength, posture and heart health, and trying 'eccentric exercises', such as walking backwards, proven to reduce back pain and aid memory. He also suggested going down flights of stairs to stretch and lengthen muscles, and Nordic walking — an aerobic stroll using poles for support — to strengthen the core and upper body. GET IN THE SWIM: Dr Mosley was a huge advocate of the gains that come from getting into the water. 8 Swimming lengths is effective for blood vessels, enhancing vascular function and increasing the flexibility of our arteries. And time in the pool has also been shown to up mental speed and cognitive sharpness, especially in older adults. Getting wet for half an hour two or three times weekly was optimal, according to Mosley, who also suggested trying a cold-water wild plunge to strengthen the immune system. BODY BALANCE: Being able to support your body weight by standing on one leg also enhances health. 8 Learning to balance without wobbles could aid longevity and reduce injury from falls – one of the most common reasons for declining health as people age. Better stability makes for a more productive life, as it is easier to do daily tasks. Overall bodily equilibrium and poise is a proven indicator of quality of life as we age. Tragic TV doc Michael Mosley's extreme science tests - swallowing tapeworm, shroom trip & food made from his own blood as show reveals heartbreaking fears Mastering the art of standing one-legged, in turn on left and right feet, while brushing your teeth is beneficial, said Mosley, who himself did it daily. PLANT POWER: Tending to house plants and getting out in the garden are both great for boosting wellness. 8 Studies show time in nature and around greenery can reduce stress, boost cognition and reduce anxiety. Fresh air is another wellness win. Smelling the trees, listening to the birds and appreciating the pattern of light passing through the leaves while in the countryside were all pastimes Mosley enjoyed himself. KEEP YOUR COOL: Cold temperatures aid wellness. Dr Mosley recommended that everybody should embrace the health benefits of feeling a chill. 8 Alongside exercising in cool conditions, he promoted daily cold showers for immune system benefits and himself ended warm ones with a 30-second icy blast. Studies show this can cut muscle pain, increase immune cell production and boost circulation. He also advised keeping homes cool, and set his own thermostat at just 15 degrees. Dr Mosley's research showed this could improve blood-sugar metabolism and potentially protect against Type 2 diabetes. TURN THE PAGES: Reading each day can benefit both mind and body. 8 Mosley cited a study by America's Stanford University, where brain scans of people reading Jane Austen novels showed an increase in blood flow. This suggests the activity may improve memory and concentration. If you aren't a fan of Pride And Prejudice any book should have the same effect. TINNED TOMATOES: Getting your diet right is key. Dr Mosley showed with his own research that cooked tomatoes could be better for you than raw ones. An antioxidant called lycopene is released when they are warmed, which helps the body fight off cell-damaging chemicals called free radicals. He recommended filling your kitchen cupboards with tinned tomatoes to make dishes that could help heart health, bring skin benefits and possibly reduce cancer risks. Eating beetroot and garlic to lower blood pressure, and oily fish such as mackerel, to reduce inflammation, were among his other tips. TAKE A DEEP BREATH: Slowing breathing before bedtime could help you enjoy a better night's kip, reduce stress levels and boost relaxation. Dr Mosley practised a breathing exercise called 4-2-4 which he used when unable to kip. This entails breathing in for four seconds, holding the breath for two, then breathing out for another four. Long inhalation and exhalation slow down your heart rate and may help control chronic pain.
