I hate the ugly veins in my legs... is there a way to get rid of them? DR ELLIE reveals the treatments available – and the simple seating position that can help
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: Thread veins are not usually treated on the NHS as they are considered a cosmetic issue – but that doesn't mean there's nothing to be done.
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Daily Mirror
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Sir Chris Hoy's emotional plea answered as ‘staggering' response to cancer diagnosis emerges
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2024 and has been campaigning for more men to get checked since Sir Chris Hoy has seen one of his wishes come true as thousands more men are now getting screened for prostate cancer following his devastating diagnosis. The six-time Olympic champion revealed in 2024 that he'd been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer after a routine check-up with his GP. The illness had spread from Hoy's prostate into his bones, leaving the cycling legend with just two to four years to live. Hoy was determined to smash the taboo surrounding cancer screening, having never been offered the PSA test that detects the disease - despite his dad and granddad both battling the same condition. Fresh NHS figures reported by The Telegraph reveal nearly 5,000 additional men have been referred for urological cancer checks in the six months since the 49-year-old went public with his news. The data shows 138,734 more males received urgent referrals for urological cancers - with prostate cancer being the primary type - between October 2024 and March 2025. This represents an extra 4,962 cases compared to the same period the previous year, a surge that medical experts are calling "staggering." Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent form of the disease amongst men, with roughly one in eight British males receiving the diagnosis during their lifetime. Separate data has revealed a significant surge in the number of men with a family history of prostate cancer checking their own risk, with usage of online risk checkers increasing by 77% over the same period. Despite his diagnosis, Hoy remains optimistic about his future and continues to fundraise and raise awareness for cancer charities nationwide. He recently launched Tour de 4, an initiative aimed at raising funds for cancer charities and changing perceptions of those living with the disease. Earlier this year, Hoy spoke about his desire for more men to come forward, as he said: "I've faced many challenges in my life, and going public with my prostate cancer diagnosis was certainly one of them. "I've been incredibly lucky to have so much support from my family, friends and the general public. The kindness has lifted me up and given me a sense of purpose. "I'm committed to taking that forward and using my platform to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more men at risk to come forward and get tested." He added: "I was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer at 47. By this age, my prostate cancer was advanced and could have been progressing from when I was 45 or even younger. "With prostate cancer, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. We need the system to change to enable more men to get diagnosed earlier, and stop them getting the news I got."
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Hardline' BMA blocks emergency pleas for strike doctors to work
NHS bosses have criticised the British Medical Association for its "increasingly hardline" approach in rejecting emergency requests for striking doctors in England to return to work.A system known as 'derogation' is in place whereby the NHS can ask for resident doctors, who are taking part in a five-day walkout, to cross the picket line where patient safety is at of Sunday evening, 18 requests by hospitals for derogations had been rejected in this strike - the twelfth in the long-running pay dispute - with nine BMA said while it was ready to respond to emergencies, poor planning and the push to continue non-urgent care in this strike had stretched staffing too much. However, NHS England accused the doctors' union of putting safety at risk, criticising a "remote BMA panel" for "second-guessing" doctors on the ground who were trying to look after patients.A central committee of senior BMA doctors makes decisions on each derogation England said it was particularly worried about a number of requests relating to cancer care being turned it said the BMA was sitting on some requests for hours, with some rejected because hospitals would not pay striking doctors premium rates to come back this strike started, the BMA had only agreed to five derogations during the whole dispute. 'Rigorous' Among the requests agreed was a doctor to work at Nottingham City Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit over the BMA members were also brought in to work a night shift at the Northern General in the BMA rejected a request by Milton Keynes Hospital for a doctor to carry out prostate cancer checks. In that case the BBC understands a doctor did return to work under their own volition.A BMA spokesman added: "It remains our position that this agreement will be available for the NHS to rely upon should a safety-critical, urgent event occur."That process is there day and night throughout industrial action, and we remain ready to respond to any emergency requests."However, we need to be clear that the purpose of this agreement is not to facilitate the continued delivery of non-urgent care at the same time as senior doctors are covering for residents taking industrial action, as trusts simply do not have enough senior doctors to do that safely."NHS England sources said it was particularly disappointed with the rejections as the national organisation was now vetting every request from hospitals to ensure a consistency in approach between different request, they said, was based on "rigorous assessment"."We absolutely recognise the legal right for people to strike, but we also recognise that it's essential to maintain as many services for patients as possible," they five-day strike by resident doctors is due to run until 07:00 on Wednesday morning.
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Mum's shock after learning real reason behind ‘unbearable' gum pain and the signs to look out for
A MUM was left surprised after her unusual dental complaint turned out to be a sign she had started the menopause. Angela Cook, 49, started to experience "unbearable" gum pain whenever she ate and couldn't understand why. 1 The mother-of-one endured "intense" gum ache, particularly around her molars, when eating hard or chewy foods. Enjoying her favourite treats – humbug sweets, sugar cane and apples – was "impossible", and soon eating everyday meals became just as agonising. Given the nature of the problem, she visited a dentist – opting to go private and was told the discomfort was likely due to ageing. Angela had been experiencing typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and mood changes 12 months prior to this in 2021 – at the age of 45, but she hadn't made the connection. It was only when she happened to overhear a discussion on the radio about menopause and gum health that everything "clicked into place" – and she realised she was going through the menopause. She shared her story after a poll of 1,000 women yet to go through menopause, commissioned by CanesMeno, found 19 per cent consider it to be a mystery. Signs of ageing There are 50 recognised signs of the ageing process - including dental problems, a symptom 89 per cent aren't aware can develop during the climacteric. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly a drop in oestrogen during menopause, can cause gums to become inflamed, bleed and ache, according to experts. Determined to find a solution, Angela started researching online for possible treatments and came across "gum massaging" on YouTube ≠ gently rubbing the gums underneath each tooth with her fingers after flossing, once a day. She started doing it daily in June 2022 and noticed an "instant difference". Angela, a psychologist from Banbury, Oxfordshire, said: "I never had any tooth or gum problems before the menopause – dentists would tell me how healthy my teeth were. "So, this was a massive surprise. "It left me in great pain and apprehensive about eating food that had to be chewed, so I was desperate for anything that would help take away the pain I was in, even if it was a little. "I felt relieved when I came across the radio segment – I didn't feel so alone.' Fiona Phillips opens up about the heartbreaking real reason behind marriage troubles after 'blaming menopause' Due to the massaging, over time, her symptoms gradually improved, and Angela still massages her gums weekly to maintain her gum health and prevent flare-ups. While she still experiences occasional aching, the episodes are far less frequent and no longer dominate her life. She also still experiences hot flashes, "few and far between", as well as occasional night sweats. 'The risk of gum ache curbs my cravings' Angela, married to Matthew Cook, 57, a builder, and mum to daughter, Dee, 14, said: "I still experience aching from time to time, but not so much. "I miss eating humbug sweets and sugar cane, but the risk of having the gum ache, like before, curbs my cravings." It comes after further research by CanesMeno of 1,000 females who are going or have been through menopause found 52 per cent didn't feel prepared for the ageing process. With 52 per cent of all women polled – both those who have and haven't experienced the ageing process believing more needs to be done to educate women on it. Similarly, 48 per cent think the wider public needs to be better educated on the topic, while 35 per cent wish they'd been taught about menopause at school, university, or college. Carried out through OnePoll, the study found 21 per cent of everyone polled believes the menopause is a taboo subject. And 75 per cent of those who have gone through the ageing process admitted they avoided talking about their symptoms with others. Angela added: "It wasn't until I heard it discussed openly that I realised it was even a thing. It made me feel validated – there was a reason for what I was experiencing.' A spokesperson for CanesMeno, which has launched a training programme to educate Boots pharmacists on the signs of the menopause, said: 'It's still somewhat of a mystery for many women – perhaps even for those who have experienced it. 'People will have their perceptions of what they think the menopause is, but it impacts those going through it many ways, way beyond what they might expect. 'And this study highlights some of these ways – sadly there is a bit of a knowledge gap and we want to change that.' When does the perimenopause start? The perimenopause is a natural stage of life. In most people it will happen naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 and last for a few months to several years. It can even last a decade or more. During the perimenopause, your hormone levels change and your ovaries start to produce fewer eggs. Once you haven't had a period for 12 months or more, you've officially reached the menopause. Some people start experiencing the perimenopause before they are 40. This can be as a result of medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries, but sometimes there's no cause. If you think you're experiencing the perimenopause before you're 40 then you must speak to your doctor. Source: Bupa
