Newcastle Life Science Centre celebrates 25th anniversary
A woman who discovered she had a higher risk of developing breast cancer has praised the science centre where she was tested. Abbie Yorke, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was diagnosed with a BRCA gene variant by a team at Newcastle's Life Science Centre in 2022. The variant increases a person's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. "It almost felt like I could act upon it to safeguard me but also my little boys," she said. Ms Yorke went on to have a preventive double mastectomy in 2024.She said she was "very proud" of the science centre - which has celebrated its 25th anniversary - and called the team who helped her "life saving".
The Life Science Centre was officially opened by Elizabeth II in May 2000 and has since been home to medical research and treatment, spanning fertility to diseases including cancer.Lindsey Power, from Newcastle, said whenever she drives through the city she always points out the site to her triplets. "It was always my dream to have a baby and I knew that I would have to go down the IVF route or the fertility route," she said.
After seeking help from the fertility centre at the site, she recalled seeing the first scan of her children in 2022."I'll never forget [it]," she said. "There were two sacs there… it was confirmed just before Christmas – there's triplets there."She said the team "from start to end were fantastic". Linda Conlan, chief executive of Life, said: "Over that quarter century there have been numerous breakthroughs in medical research which have enhanced the lives of so many people."It's been a rollercoaster of a 25 years."
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Five ways to make your own dips using ingredients you may already have
YOU'LL be loaded this summer with the latest food trend. Nibbles and dips piled with extras are everywhere, from hummus with falafel at Sainsbury's to Marks & Spencer's mascarpone with roas-ted tomatoes and Parmesan. But you can make your own using ingredients you may already have . . . HEAPED HUMMUS: Start with an inexpensive pot of basic hummus. Pour it into a bowl and transform it with a tasty topping. Roast a drained tin of chickpeas with olive oil and salt. Put this on top of the hummus with chopped fresh herbs or crispy onions. For something cheesy, crumble over Greek-style cheese, chopped olives or cucumber and a sprinkle of smoked paprika — or swap the cheese for cherry tomatoes. LOADED LEAVES: Sturdy lettuce such as little gem can hold a topping. Add shredded chicken, grated carrot and sliced cucumber then top with a dollop of mayo or drizzle of sauce. Make sweet satay with peanut butter, sweet chilli sauce and a dash of soy sauce. For a fishy dish, mix tinned salmon with spring onion, plain yoghurt and a squirt of lemon juice, then add leaves. TOP YOG: You can give a yoghurt-based dip like Greek tzatziki a lift. Serve in a dish and load with chopped tomatoes, peppers, red onion, cucumber, parsley and pine nuts. Add a swirl of olive oil. CHIP FOR THE TOP: Loaded crisps are a great way to use up leftovers. Get a bag of tortilla or pitta chips, tip them on to a baking sheet and pour over some shop-bought salsa. Add chopped chicken, crispy bacon bits, sliced peppers, tomato chunks or olives. Finally, add grated cheese and bake until hot and bubbly. BETTER BANANAS: Fire up your fruit. Split open a banana and top with peanut butter, crumbled biscuits and honey. Or load the banana with chopped strawberries, blue-berries, nuts and a grating of dark chocolate. The Batch Lady shares her recipe for sundried tomato hummus All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day GIVE your feet a treat with the leopard-print heeled Mary Janes from Office, down from £55.99 to £18. Cheap treat FOR tasty comfort food, Gu's Hot Chocolate Melt In The Middle Puddings (2 x 90g) are down from £3.95 to £2.95 at Morrisons. Top swap TAKE dinner up a notch with the Romy speckle- glaze 12-piece stoneware dinner set from John Lewis, £75. Or serve up in style on the Reactive Blue set from Dunelm, £35. Shop & save 7 MAKE short work of tea time with four frozen favourites for £4.98 at Asda. With some of the deal's 13 items costing £2.48, including Birds Eye 12 Chicken Dippers, you could save almost 50 per cent. Hot right now PADEL is one of the fastest-growing sports, so join in the fun with Lidl's Padel Starter Kit, £14.99, including a racket, balls and bag. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The 7 best ways to combat hay fever as peak season hits – from ‘diaphragm dumbbells' to supplements
THE sun is shining, the sky is blue – yet for millions of us, this time of year can be pure hell. Instead of making the most of the warmer weather, we're inside, battling itchy eyes and runny noses and we just . . . can't . . . stop . . . sneezing. Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects one in four of us. It's a reaction to pollen, which triggers inflammation and increased mucus production – hence the watery eyes, coughing, nasal issues and scratchy throat, mouth and ears. It can also aggravate lung conditions such as asthma, which affects 7.2million people in the UK, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects 1.2million. Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead for charity Asthma + Lung UK, tells Sun Health: 'If you are allergic to pollen and come into contact with it in the air, the muscles around the airways tighten and the airways' linings become swollen and inflamed with a build-up of mucus, making it difficult to breathe.' So, what can you do if you want to enjoy the summer without feeling like your face or lungs are under attack? Here are some simple tactics to consider . . . PROTECT EYES SENSITIVE, irritated eyes need extra protection during hay fever season, says dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh. She suggests: Ditch mascara: The sticky consistency makes it a trap for pollen. Wear sunglasses: The larger they are, and the more they wrap around the eyes, the better. Wipe the lenses and frames regularly with a clean cloth to remove any build-up of pollen. Try the wraparound sunglasses from price £22.95. Use a calming gel or mask on the skin around the eyes: Try Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel (£10.95, which contains soothing plant sterols to calm irritation and can be worn overnight and under make-up. Or Optase Cooling Eye Mask (£10.99, is perfect for ten minutes of quick relief. Using eye drops to soothe red and itchy eyes: Try A. Vogel Pollinosan Hay Fever Eye Drops (£13.99, They contain chamomile, hyaluronic acid and sterile water. MUSCLE TRAINING HAY fever can inflame your airways and make it harder to breathe. One option, backed by physios and medics, is inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a resistance-based device such as the POWERbreathe Plus (£59.99, It's been described as 'dumbbells for your diaphragm', as it improves the strength of your respiratory muscles. Studies show that when asthma patients breathe into the device for five minutes a day for at least three weeks, their symptoms improve by 75 per cent and their medication use drops by 79 per cent. Dr Simon Taggart, consultant chest and general physician at Spire Manchester Hospital, says: 'In addition to your usual use of antihistamines and your preventer device, the POWERbreathe helps to strengthen your breathing during pollen season.' Speak to your GP, as some devices are available on the NHS with a prescription. THE AIR THAT YOU BREATHE 5 TRY to keep your windows closed on days with high levels of pollen and pollution, ventilate your home when cooking or cleaning, and consider getting an air purifier if you live in a badly affected area, says Dr Gareth Patterson, an NHS GP. Try 4 Speed White Air Purifier (£32, which creates a cleaner and fresher home environment. Or, Coway Airmega Mighty (£164.99, is a portable, quiet air purifier that removes pollen, dust and other allergens. And MedicAir Pro Mini (£599, is a medical-grade purifier that employs the highest-rated HEPA filter to keep the air free of pollutants, including pollen, pet fur, smoke and mould. EASE YOUR WHEEZING WHEEZING when pollen hits? This clever gadget could help. The Shaker Medic Plus (£44.99, is a drug-free device said to help clear sticky mucus from your chest — ideal when either hay fever or asthma flares up. It uses gentle vibrations as you breathe out, shaking loose gunk from your lungs so you can cough it up more easily. The result? Easier breathing, fewer flare-ups, and less risk of infection. It's pocket-sized, easy to use and a smart extra tool when the pollen count soars. BE PREPARED MANY of us check the weather forecast before heading out — so try doing the same for pollen levels. Dr Gareth Patterson says: 'If you suffer from hay fever or seasonal asthma, this is triggered by exposure to tree and plant pollen, so always check the daily pollen count and avoid spending time walking, exercising outdoors or gardening when levels are high.' The Met Office issues nationwide pollen forecasts for the coming five days. WHAT SUPP? EVER tried any anti-hay fever supplements? The evidence on how effective these are is mixed, but some people swear by them. Try probiotics. Research suggests that imbalances in gut bacteria can cause inflammation, which may trigger allergies and hay-fever. A report published in Frontiers In Nutrition found that probiotics may help by modulating the immune system. Try Wellbio Live Cultures (£16.95, which contains ten billion gut-friendly cultures. Vitamin C has antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In a study in the International Journal Of Otorhinolaryngology And Head And Neck Surgery, 1g daily alleviated hay fever symptoms. Try Vitamin C 1,000mg, right, (£3.50, from Quercetin is a plant flavonoid found in foods. 'It has anti-allergic and antihistamine properties,' says registered sports nutritionist Rob Hobson. 'Research shows that quercetin may help to reduce allergies'. Try eating apples, berries, cherries, grapes, onions, capers, green tea and leafy green veg. PUT IT TO BED FROM pollen to dust mites, allergens will also lurk in your bedroom. The average mattress, for example, can harbour up to ten million dust mites, which can wreak havoc on hay-fever sufferers. Vacuum your home daily, and consider buying anti-allergy bedding. Try Silentnight Anti-Allergy Duvet, Pillow and Mattress Protector (£11.99, which is approved by the British Allergy Foundation and filled with specially treated hollowfibre that protects you from pollen, bacteria and dust mites. Or the AllerGuard Home Starter Pack (from £229.50 at includes pillow, duvet and mattress protectors made from light, breathable fabric that has been woven tightly enough to create a barrier against allergens.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Bargain hunters go wild as the iconic M&S summer beauty bag is BACK in stock – it costs just £35 but is worth over £200
SHOPPERS are racing to M&S to pick up their new summer beauty bag. The bag comes with a collection of viral beauty products for you to try out at a fraction of the usual cost. 2 2 Nicky May, took to social media to share that she was lucky enough to get her hands on it. She took a picture of the contents and the pink and orange travel bag they came in. Nicky said: "£211 pounds worth for £35 in M&S." The bag includes four full-size products and seven travel-sized ones. Including in the bag is a mixture of cult-favourite buys like Color Wow's dreamcoat spray and the Dr Paw Paw skin & lip balm. There's also new launches inside like REN's SPF 50 lotion that's the perfect size for hand luggage. Also in the bag is the Arkive's good habit hair oil and a compact Tangle Teezer brush for brushing your hair on the go. Offering a two-step bodycare routine, there's Bloom & Blossom's ultra-nourishing moisture body cream, as well as This Works' body smoothing wash. You'll also find two Estée Lauder products in the beauty goody bag. The double-wear mascara is full size and claims up to 15 hours of lash definition, while the brand's revitalising supreme moisturiser is packed with peptides for reducing fine lines. Shoppers race to M&S as one of their best selling items which is a mum-essential viral are scanning for just 63 PENCE To finish the bag, there are two travel-sized perfumes that are perfect to take on holiday. Discover's M&S' sweet frangipani and Floral Street's electric rhubarb. The bag's content is worth £210 but is currently on sale for just £35. While the bag has previously been sold online, this year it is only available to buy in store because of the ongoing cyber attack. Since the incident, the company has reportedly lost around £300 million, having paused online orders and purchases on apps until at least mid-July. Biggest skincare trends for 2025 Face The Future's Head of Clinic, Kimberley Medd, shared the five skincare trends predicted to take off in 2025. 1. Exosomes Exosomes are the buzzword for 2025, taking advanced skin regeneration to new heights. These micro-messengers signal skin cells to repair damage, boost collagen, and accelerate recovery, and they're a gamechanger for targeting ageing. 2. Streamlined Skincare The age of 12-step routines is fading as consumers shift to more intentional, multi-functional products. Streamlining skincare not only saves time but also reduces the risk of overloading your skin. In 2025, we'll see a rise in hybrid products that combine active ingredients for simplified, effective results. 3. Vegan Collagen Plant-based collagen will dominate the skincare world this year, providing a sustainable, ethical alternative to traditional animal-derived collagen. Expect vegan collagen in everything from moisturisers to serums. 4. The Rise Of AI AI is revolutionising the beauty landscape, making it possible for consumers to get truly personalised skincare solutions. In 2025, we predict a dramatic shift towards AI-powered tools that help people understand their skin on a deeper level. 5. Hair Loss Solutions - Hair loss is an issue that affects more men than we often realise, and it's no longer just something we're talking about behind closed doors. This year, expect to see a continued rise in demand for treatments that not only tackle hair loss but also nurture overall scalp health. Shoppers were eager to find the beauty bag for themselves after seeing Nicky's post on the Facebook group ,Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK. One person wrote: "Brillaint buy, love mine." Another commented: 'My store has sold out." "I was there first thing 8am to get mine on Thursday," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Got one yesterday... some lovely things, and just in time for holiday." "I got one on Thursday. It's really good. Worth the money and no minimum spend,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'I got this in store. It's great. Definitely worth the money."
