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Abergavenny weightlifter ignored signs of brain tumour

Abergavenny weightlifter ignored signs of brain tumour

Scott Hinch, 31, led a fit and active lifestyle and - despite "experiencing a few headaches and nosebleeds" - had no significant health problems.
But on his way to work on August 19, 2019, he suffered a seizure and was rushed to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales.
He was put in an induced four-day coma and, after waking up, an MRI revealed a grade 2 astrocytoma - a type of tumour that usually develops in the brain or spinal cord - and he was given three to five years to live.
Scott before his diagnosis. A fit mountain climber was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing a seizure - despite ignoring headaches and nosebleeds, he now believes to have been warning signs. (Image: Brain Tumour Research Charity / SWNS)
On September 4, Scott underwent emergency surgery to partially remove the tumour and started his first round of treatment to keep the cancer at bay - which will entail seven weeks of radiotherapy and 12 cycles of chemotherapy.
But despite its initial success, Scott's cancer returned two years later, at the end of 2023, and he began his second round of treatment - which involved 20 months' worth of intensive chemotherapy, condensed into 10.
He is now undergoing his third round of treatment for his tumour and says he suffers from "relentless fatigue" and that he is "dependent" on his mum, Fiona Lott, 51, because he "can't leave the house most days".
Scott before his diagnosis. Now his mum is his full time carer (Image: Brain Tumour Research Charity / SWNS)
Scott, who worked as a solar engineer from Abergavenny, Wales, said: "Looking back, I now realise there were signs.
"Headaches, nosebleeds, things I chalked up to long work hours.
"Maybe heavy training at the gym and not drinking enough water.
"I even went to the opticians, but nothing was picked up.
"Most days, I can't leave the house.
"But I'm still here, and that's something I'm grateful for."
Scott was diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma after suffering a seizure on his way to work on August 19, 2019, despite experiencing "headaches and nosebleeds" in the months prior.
Although the general prognosis is good, and those with grade 1 have a 96 per cent chance of survival after five years, it can decrease to below 30 per cent for those with grade 3 or higher.
Scott woke from a four-day coma induced coma - after 45 minutes of continuous seizures - when a consultant told him the "devastating" news that he had three to five years to live.
"I had no memory of anything since leaving the house," he said.
"I had four days completely missing, I remember setting off for work and then waking up in the hospital with doctors and nurses over my bed.
"It was frightening.
"I was shocked and scared and didn't know what was going on.'
The consultant at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, Wales, explained to Scott and his family that due to the tumour's diffused nature, only part of it could be safely removed - called debulking - which happened on September 4.
"I was terrified," Scott said.
"But I woke up a couple of hours later, cracked a joke, and asked for a cup of tea.
"It was a relief to know my brain function was intact."
After the surgery, Scott went through 16 "gruelling" months of therapy - including seven weeks of radiotherapy and 12 cycles of chemotherapy - which had kept things stable for two years.
But a routine scan towards the end of 2023 revealed the tumour was active again and Scott started his second round of treatment with intensive chemotherapy - with no success in curing the cancer.
"I take it one month at a time," he said.
"The fatigue is relentless and most days I can't leave the house."
His mum, Fiona, became his full-time carer and was "dependent on her" for everything.
During this time, the 31-year-old had lost his driving license as a result of his seizures and sold his car.
"I felt like losing my independence," he said.
"I couldn't visit friends, and the risk of infection meant limited visitors.
"I felt incredibly isolated."
Scott during his treatment for a brain tumour (Image: Brain Tumour Research Charity / SWNS)
Five years later, Scott is still battling cancer and is now undergoing his third round of treatment.
But he remains determined.
"I'm still here, and that's something I'm grateful for," he said.
To help raise awareness, his mum, Fiona, and auntie, Lyndsey, are taking on the 200k in May Your Way challenge to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research Charity.
Fiona said: "Watching my son go through the trauma of surgery and three rounds of treatment for brain cancer has been heartbreaking.
"No family should have to experience the fear, uncertainty and pain that we have.
"We need better outcomes, kinder treatments, and ultimately a cure.
"If our efforts can help spare just one family from this suffering, then every step will be worth it.'
To support Fiona and Lyndsey's 200k In May Your Way challenge, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/lyndsey

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Heartbroken mum warns of killer mistake to never make with newborn babies after daughter dies from common infection
Heartbroken mum warns of killer mistake to never make with newborn babies after daughter dies from common infection

Scottish Sun

time32 minutes ago

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Heartbroken mum warns of killer mistake to never make with newborn babies after daughter dies from common infection

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From a normal pregnancy to critical ordeal Hailey Riches who works as a specialty coordinator for NHS said she had a "normal" pregnancy and gave birth to daughter Violet via an emergency caesarean on March 22, 2023. Despite the newborn seeming "fine and well", once the family returned home, mum Hailey noticed that Violet started to feed less, looking fatigued and had a yellow skin. A health visitor advised Hailey to take her to Worthing Hospital - where she was checked with a jaundice machine. The newborn was sent home but everything "started to get worse", explained Hailey. At eight days old, Violet was still having troubles feeding, so Hailey took her back into hospital, where a nurse discovered she had a high temperature. At that point mum Hailey was admitted with sepsis. This led to blood checks and a lumber puncture, which revealed that Violet had neonatal herpes (HSV-1) - a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). 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Hailey concluded: "Thank you to Southampton General Hospital, the Pediatric Unit and Ronald McDonald charity who accommodated us in Southampton and London during these tragic times."

Mum's urgent warning after innocent UTI led to life-threatening condition – and all four of her limbs being amputated
Mum's urgent warning after innocent UTI led to life-threatening condition – and all four of her limbs being amputated

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

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Mum's urgent warning after innocent UTI led to life-threatening condition – and all four of her limbs being amputated

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KIM Smith's hands and feet went black and had to be amputated after a common infection turned deadly. "I woke up at 4am and I thought I was going to die," the 63-year-old said in a TikTok video, recalling the day fateful day she woke up sick. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Kim Smith after her quadruple amputations. Credit: mediadrumworld/@kims2ndchance 5 Doctors diagnosed the mum with severe sepsis and put her into a coma Credit: mediadrumworld/@kims2ndchance The mum-of-two from Milton Keynes was on holiday with her family in Spain in 2018 when a simple urinary tract infection (UTI) spiralled out of control. A UTI is a common infection where bacteria infiltrates parts of the body like the bladder, kidneys and urethra. It often causes a painful burning sensation when urinating and the need to pee more often. Familiar with the signs, Kim, then 56, saw a doctor on November 28 2018 and was prescribed antibiotics. Read more on sepsis TAKEN TOO SOON Mum, 28, with stomach ache died after hospital staff failed to spot sepsis But the pharmacist did not have her prescription available for collection that day, so the former hairdresser returned to their hotel, where she quickly deteriorated. "I had severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion. I was really really cold. I had a fever and I was shivering like mad," she explained. Kim was rushed to hospital in the early hours of November 29 where doctors diagnosed her with severe sepsis - with the mum being put into a coma. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection, which occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection. By the next day, her hands had already turned purple. For weeks, Kim remained in the Spanish hospital, with her family getting more and more concerned. My UTI turned out to be cancer & I had my vagina reconstructed with my bum Eventually, her daughter arranged an air ambulance to get her home, and two weeks after coming back to the UK Kim was brought out of her coma. Waking up, Kim saw her limbs had blackened and died, with doctors telling her she needed them to be removed. Once she recovered from the quadruple amputation, the mum spent 12 weeks in physical rehabilitation, where she regained her strength and learned to live without her limbs. If you feel unusually unwell and you know something is not right, please please please advocate for yourself Kim Smith Now, the mum wants to raise awareness for the little-known risk associated with common UTIs. "I want to tell you, if you need to go pee, go pee," she said. "Don't hold it, that could cause you to get an infection and that could develop into sepsis," she added. 5 The hairdresser before she developed sepsis Credit: SWNS 5 The mum is now raising awareness about sepsis symptom Credit: SWNS "The symptoms are severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion I had that I didn't pass much urine that day and I had a fever but I was really cold," she said. "If you get anything like that, if you feel unusually unwell and you know something is not right, please please please advocate for yourself," the mum urged her followers. She added: "Tell [doctors] something is not right and ask them to test you for sepsis. "Ask for a second opinion if you have to. Do not leave if you feel something is wrong." How UTIs and sepsis are related UTIs affect the urinary tract - including the bladder, urethra, and kidneys. In the UK, 1.7 million people suffer recurrent UTIs (three or more a year). Around half of all women will get a UTI at some point. Common symptoms are burning pain when peeing, needing to go more often, and cloudy urine, which can also signal dehydration. Some may feel lower abdominal or back pain, fever, chills, or a dangerously low temperature below 36C. Severe symptoms may mean a kidney infection, which can lead to life-threatening sepsis if untreated. 5 Globally, sepsis kills 11 million people a year. In the UK, it claims 48,000 lives annually. Septic shock can cause blood clots that block oxygen to limbs which is when tissue dies, turning skin black. Doctors may try removing dead tissue, but if that fails, amputation is needed. UTIs are a leading cause of sepsis, known as the 'silent killer' because symptoms mimic flu. Key signs of sepsis include confusion, slurred speech, blotchy or blue-grey skin, difficulty breathing, and a rash that doesn't fade when pressed. Skin may be pale, cold, clammy, or show purple bruises. Producing less urine or not peeing for a day is another warning sign, as sepsis lowers blood pressure and blocks blood flow to kidneys. The NHS urges anyone with these symptoms to call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

'You want to kiss your newborn - I have heartbreaking reason why you never should'
'You want to kiss your newborn - I have heartbreaking reason why you never should'

Wales Online

timean hour ago

  • Wales Online

'You want to kiss your newborn - I have heartbreaking reason why you never should'

'You want to kiss your newborn - I have heartbreaking reason why you never should' Violet-May Constantinou was diagnosed at just eight days old Hailey Riches and Dimitri Constantinou with baby daughter Lily (Image: Hailey Riches/SWNS ) A heartbroken mum is warning people not to kiss newborn babies after losing her daughter to a viral infection. Hailey Riches, 25, knew there was something wrong with Violet-May Constantinou after she refused to feed and had yellow skin. She was advised to take Violet to hospital as she "started getting worse". At eight days old it was found out from a series of tests that she had contracted neonatal herpes (HSV-1) - a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). ‌ Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated and she began to experience seizures. She was consequently taken to Southampton Hospital, where she was placed in intensive care. ‌ Doctors noticed the newborn was having acute liver failure and, despite being put on the highest priority in the UK for a liver transplant, she tragically died at one month old while still waiting. They told mum Hailey and dad Dimitri Constantinou, 30, they would never know where the herpes came from. Hailey and her fiancée have vowed to spread awareness for people with cold sores, or those prone to the virus, to keep away from newborn babies. Hailey said: "I do see it online many times people saying 'but why can't we kiss a baby?' when it is not their baby - it frustrates me because of having gone through this situation. Article continues below "This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware. If you have got a cold sore don't go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them. "This is not to scare new mums or pregnant women. It is to say if you are not feeling right in yourself and if the baby is not feeling right then to be persistent and get it checked." Violet-May in hospital (Image: Hailey Riches/SWNS ) ‌ Hailey added: "I don't have genital herpes, none of my family or myself had a cold sore outbreak. They said it is most likely from an outsource, but they are not sure who. "Anyone can spread the virus without even knowing. Even if you have got no symptoms you might still pass it on." Hailey, who works as a speciality coordinator for the NHS, said she had a "normal" pregnancy and gave birth via an emergency caesarean on March 22, 2023. ‌ Despite the newborn seeming "fine and well" once the family returned home mum Hailey noticed that Violet started to feed less, looking fatigued and had yellow skin. A health visitor advised Hailey to take her to Worthing Hospital - where she was checked with a jaundice machine. The newborn was sent home, but everything "started to get worse", explained Hailey. At eight days old, Violet was still having troubles feeding, so Hailey took her back into hospital, where a nurse discovered she had a high temperature. At that point mum Hailey was admitted with sepsis. This led to blood checks and a lumber puncture, which revealed that Violet had neonatal herpes (HSV-1) - a serious infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). ‌ It can be contracted before, during, or after birth. Type 1 (HSV-1) is mostly spread by oral contact through kissing, sharing drinks or utensils, and causes infections in or around the mouth, like cold sores. Violet was immediately given anti-viral medication, but her condition quickly deteriorated, and she began to experience seizures. On April 1, she was taken to Southampton Hospital where she was placed in intensive care. Violet-May with yellowing skin in hospital (Image: Hailey Riches/SWNS ) ‌ Hailey, of Billingshurst, Sussex, said: "The doctors said that we will be lucky to see her survive the next 24 to 48 hours. She was deteriorating further and then they decided to flew her by helicopter to King's College Hospital in London because they realised she was having acute liver failure." Hailey said: "It was absolutely traumatising. The worst time of our family's life - I don't think our family has ever gone through such a traumatic time. "Every day something was happening and she was deteriorating further - it affected her brain, her lungs, she then had a cardiac arrest at one point where we watched her being resuscitated for nine minutes. It just got worse and worse and it was time to say goodbye at the end." ‌ To their happiness on August 16, 2024, Hayley and her fiancé welcomed daughter Lily into the world. But Hailey explained she was "terrified" during the first months of giving birth following her experience with Violet. Hailey Riches and Dimitri Constantinou with baby daughter Violet-May in hospital (Image: Hailey Riches/SWNS ) She said: "I had consultants telling me the first six weeks are crucial to protect her because they have no immune system. I had always said to people no kissing, wash your hands when you come in or if you want to hold her. We were very protective because of the situation we went through. Article continues below Hailey concluded: "Thank you to Southampton General Hospital, the Pediatric Unit and Ronald McDonald charity who accommodated us in Southampton and London during these tragic times."

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