
I'm proof you can REVERSE your age: For decades BRYONY GORDON lived on a diet of cocaine, booze and cigarettes - but after getting sober, this is how she successfully lowered her biological age
For the first 37 years of my life, I treated my body like a pharmaceutical dustbin. If I saw something that promised to deliver me a quick, cheap high, I couldn't stay away from it.
As a child, it was the sugary sweets that I knew I wasn't allowed – but craved anyway – stealing pick'n'mix from Woolworths to shovel into my mouth when I thought nobody was looking.

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BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
New ultrasound forecast to cut Addenbrooke's treatment times
NHS patents will be the first in Europe outside a trial setting to have access to a liver cancer treatment described as "cutting-edge and non-invasive".Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will start using a histotopsy system, an ultrasound treatment that can be delivered in a single short session. It could potentially take no longer than 30 minutes with limited or no pain and a quick Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), said the technology could make a "huge difference" and reduce cancer treatment times. The Edison Histotripsy System, made by US-based HistoSonics, is expected to be fully installed at CUH later this year. It will initially be used to treat patients with primary and secondary liver tumours, and research is exploring its potential on treating other hard-to-reach Sinker said: "Histotripsy is an exciting new technology that will make a huge difference to patients. "By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment, we can care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons to treat more complex cases. "The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to receive the right treatment at the right time." The incisionless surgery uses pulsed sound waves to create "bubble clouds" from gases present in the targeted form and collapse in microseconds, creating mechanical forces able to destroys tumours without surgery, scalpels or has been procured following a donation to the University of Cambridge from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, a supporter of cancer research at the Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "Through his longstanding support of cancer research at Cambridge, Sir Ka-shing Li continues to make a significant impact on outcomes for cancer patients. "Cutting-edge technology such as this histotripsy machine allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating cancer, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital."Previously, 23 patients from Europe were recruited in a histotripsy clinical trial. More than 1,500 patients worldwide have received the treatment, mainly in the United States. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
NHS, defence, education and more in focus for voters in government's Spending Review
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing more difficult choices in the Spending Review on will sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few review will confirm how much taxpayers' money will be spent on the NHS, defence, police, education and other public services used by millions, as well as how much money the government plans to invest in projects like new public she makes her final preparations, people living in Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire outlined what they think her priority should be. 'The NHS is on its knees' Melissa Marley, 32, has spent the last two years studying at the University of Huddersfield to become a midwife but has quit her course after amassing debt of £60,000 and said there was "no hope for jobs at the end of it".The mother-of-three would like the chancellor to put more money into the NHS because it is "on its knees" and added "people abroad would kill for a system like that, so it needs protecting". Originally from Wakefield, she went back into education in 2021 to provide a better life for her began training as a nurse in 2022 before training as a midwife in well as £20,000 of tuition fees, she also owes about £40,000 in her maintenance grant accrued through her studies over the past few was originally going to defer due to health issues but decided to stop her course and is now hoping to become a maternity support role supports midwives, rather than being a midwife said the lack of jobs in midwifery was "sad because there are so many people putting so much work in. "They are working hard, having to miss times with their family, their children and then to have nothing at the end of it is sad". 'A less stable world' Pensioner John Addison agreed that a big part of the Spending Review had to be more funding for the NHS .He said that it was "hard work getting appointments".Mr Addison expressed his concern about spending on defence - and how more money was needed for that. He explained that he worried about the future for his grandchildren and younger people growing up in a less stable said that the Army had "been run down lately so we need to up it a bit because you never know what is around the corner with what's going off in the world." Earlier this month, a British defence review published recommendations which welcomed the government's ambition to spend 3% of Gross Domestic Product by 2034 but warned "as we live in more turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster."Several Nato allies have already committed to spending more than 5%. School buildings 'in a terrible state' Bill and Pauline Wardlaw would like to see funds focused on the education system and investing in the future. Bill was particularly concerned about problems with school said they were in "a terrible state" which meant "children are going to school in inadequate buildings and a lot of money should be spent getting them up to a decent standard".Pauline agreed with her husband but would also money spent on ensuring infrastructure around new housing estates is in place. She said when new housing is built "they need to make sure there is provision for the people that they are going to put in those houses - like doctors, education, schools etc because it is just not there".Ms Wardlaw was also frustrated with trying to get a GP appointment: "It's three weeks before you can see a doctor unless you ring up at 08:00 and then you are in a queue." 'Support for mums is needed' Beth Flannagan-Jones was out with her 16 month old daughter wanted to see more cash targeted at activities and support groups for mothers and babies. She said toddler groups could help mums who felt "alone".Ms Flannagan-Jones said there were "a couple of options but many of them are private and you have to pay for them"."If you have not got a lot of money and are on a budget I think a few more council groups and mum groups are missing," she added. 'Green investments need oversight' Pensioner David Lumb acknowledged the cuts to winter fuel allowance had been damaging to Labour party as some older people relied on the payment. He backed a more targeted approach to the benefit - which seemed to chime with the announced on Monday changes to the level the benefit would be paid at, meaning 75% of pensioners would now be eligible. His biggest priority was the NHS citing "the way the nation relied" on the service during the pandemic. However, Mr Lumb said he would also like to see more investment in green initiatives, but when it comes to home insulation he said it depended on "how efficiently it is done". "Quite often the government sponsor these things and they aren't properly monitored," he added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.


BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Free heart checks offered by NHS to people across Sussex
Free heart checks are being offered at events across Sussex to identify people with early signs of heart 2024/25, 19,415 people in the county were registered as having heart failure. The NHS said these figures have risen from the previous year, where there were 17,889 people, highlighting the growing impact of the condition of people queued at Sussex's first free heart health event at the Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove on Monday. The heart checks are being delivered in partnership by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx), East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT), NHS Sussex, local GP practices and the national heart failure charity Pumping attending events will be invited to complete a brief questionnaire, have their blood pressure and heart rhythm checked, and if appropriate, undergo a simple finger-prick blood test. Those showing signs of possible heart failure will be referred to the UHSx heart failure team for further assessment. What is heart failure? Heart failure is caused by changes in the heart's structure or function, which can lead to symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue and swollen the UK, over one million people are living with heart failure, with 200,000 new diagnoses each year and an estimated 400,000 people undiagnosed. Dr Sue Ellery, consultant cardiologist and heart failure clinical lead for Sussex Integrated Care Board and University Hospitals Sussex, said: "Heart failure is a major cause of avoidable hospital admissions and too often we only identify it when someone becomes seriously unwell."Dr Ellery added that the aim of the heart check events was to reach "people in the community who may have early signs and offering them a quick, simple check that could make a real difference to their long-term health". Dr James Ramsay, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Sussex, said: "By identifying heart failure earlier, we can begin treatment sooner, reduce the risk of hospitalisation, and ultimately help people live longer, healthier lives."