
King writes privately to Joe Biden to share his support after former president diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
KING Charles has written to former US President Joe Biden following his diagnosis with prostate cancer, the palace has said.
The King, who is still undergoing his own treatment for an undisclosed cancer, expressed his support and sent his best wishes to Biden privately.
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The King hosted the then-American leader for tea and talks at Windsor in July 2023, with a spokesman for the monarch saying the relationship between the pair had been "extremely cordial".
The monarch has been treated for cancer every week for more than a year, and recently penned an optimistic message saying "cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support".
He said those behind cancer research breakthroughs "have my whole family's deepest admiration and gratitude".
Biden also attended Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
In 2021, he and Charles, then the Prince of Wales, held a bilateral meeting during the Cop-26 summit in Glasgow.
Biden was diagnosed on Friday, with tests revealing the cancer had spread to his bones.
The 82-year-old later wrote on X: "Cancer touches us all," sharing a picture of himself with his wife and their cat.
"Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.
"Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."
Biden's health update came after he was experiencing urinary symptoms.
During a medical exam, a prostate nodule was detected.
Biden's team said the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, meaning there's a prospect it could be "effectively managed."
The president and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his doctors.
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Breast transplanted to replace cancerous one in 'world first' operation
Five months into a pregnancy for a much wanted second child in 2024, Nicola Purdie found a lump in her right is a nightmare scenario for anyone. But for Nicola this was not a new had already had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction after being diagnosed with cancer in a radical idea which she suggested to her surgeon has led to what is believed to be a pioneering world first procedure - transplanting a healthy reconstructed breast to replace a cancerous one. In September 2020, Nicola had just finished with breastfeeding her first child and was returning to work as a geography teacher in her home town of Swansea when she found a October it was diagnosed as cancer and she started five months of chemotherapy at Singleton Hospital, followed by the double now 38, said: "Even though I only had cancer in the one breast, my maternal aunty and maternal grandmother also had had breast cancer previously. I thought 'I'm young, let's just get rid of everything and do as much as we can'."She had reconstructive surgery using skin and tissue from her abdomen in a procedure known as a DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap. "It meant I had natural breasts which would grow and shrink with my bodyweight over time and I wouldn't need implants that would need changing in 10 or 15 years," she the cancer was oestrogen-fuelled, she was placed on hormone suppression therapy for at least two years. 'This is not a coincidence. This is cancer' "We knew at the time I was diagnosed that we wanted to have another baby eventually, so we waited for two-and-a-half years actually."All the oncologists we saw were of the same opinion that I was at no increased risk, because I'd had a complete pathological response [no sign of cancer post-treatment]."Then lump number two appeared. Nicola explained: "This time it was in the skin of the breast because that was the only tissue that was remaining really from the first surgery. There must have been some cancer cells there."I knew straight away as soon as I found the lump, this is not a coincidence. This is cancer again." Apart from family and a close friend, Nicola did not tell anyone about the cancer this time. Partly it was to shield her daughter from knowing but she had another reason."I wanted to protect the baby. I wanted him to come into the world and it to be all about him. I didn't want it to be focusing on 'oh gosh Nicky, you OK?'."She attributes this mindset to helping her "shut the door" on thinking about it until her son was of pregnancy, she could not begin chemotherapy, or have the usual scans to establish if the cancer had had some chest X-rays and an ultrasound of her stomach and liver, which gave a degree of certainty, although not "100%", that it remained contained in the breast. She also had a lumpectomy to remove the lump from the breast skin. The plan was to deliver the baby at 32 weeks, at the end of August, but even in the midst of the urgency for treatment, she had an eye to her son's future."I think it was 26 August and I said 'can I put my teacher's hat on now and push it to the week after'. "My husband was like 'what?' But I said 'I've got to give him the best chance'. "So we waited until the first Monday in September and he was born at 32 weeks and six days."Fraser was in the neonatal unit for three weeks. "He went from strength to strength and that made things easier as well because of what I was dealing with. "I don't know how I would have been if he was poorly as well."Nicola started chemotherapy two weeks after giving birth and would go from the baby unit upstairs to have her treatment and then straight back down to her had 16 rounds of chemo which took her all the way through to the beginning of February. Initially the oncology team had not been sure what operation to suggest as Nicola had multiple cancer sites in the right breast area and a tumour in one lymph node. The most likely option was removal and an LD (latissimus dorsi) flap, which involves swinging a muscle and skin from the back to cover the area left behind by the removed breast, but leaving the area flat in her using an implant on the right side instead would not have been possible as so much skin had to be removed, there would not be enough to cover it, or to withstand damage from subsequent radiation Nicola's aunt had had the LD flap operation and she knew it came with an arduous recovery process and possibly reduced range of movement - not an option for her as the mother of two small also knew she wanted "symmetry" - either two breasts or was while talking to her sisters she initially had the idea that, if she did end up having both breasts removed, why not use the skin from the healthy left breast to cover the larger affected area on the it was only once she was in the consulting room with consultant plastic, reconstructive and breast surgeon Reza Arya, that the idea of moving the whole breast intact dawned. She realised it would allow her to create a right breast and have reconstructive surgery on the left side using an implant because there was enough skin left in situ from the first operation in she put this to Reza - "could we rob Peter to pay Paul?" - she "could literally see the cogs whirring" in his recalled being speechless at the idea. "I had never seen or heard of such a procedure being talked about or published. "I wasn't even sure at that stage whether I would be adding to Nicola's care or taking away from it."Reza said it was very unusual to have a patient come up with such a radical idea."Kudos to Nicola because she's amazing. "I had extensive discussions with colleagues all over the UK who are all experts in flap reconstruction from the abdomen. The conclusion was maybe it is possible and just go ahead with it."This is not run of the mill mastectomy we're talking about," he said. "We're removing the whole of the footprint of the breast [on the right]. It is a very, very large area of skin and to be able to close it you have to borrow from somewhere, some skin and tissue, that can withstand future radiotherapy."Left is a side that's easy to reconstruct in future, because it's not subject to radiotherapy and all other treatments, and the cancer itself." When Nicola went into the surgery, she knew she could wake up to very different outcomes - a successful left to right transplant, or an LD flap reconstruction on her right side after all if he decided the transfer would not work, with the left breast removed anyway at her gave Reza her blessing for any outcome. And her outrageous gamble paid off."What makes it a world first is that the tissue has been ported to two different sites," she said. "We didn't know if that would be possible or probable, the microsurgery of actually sewing the vessels together - if it would work or if it would be so scarred that it would be completely impossible."She is starting a few weeks of radiotherapy, and around Christmas time will have reconstructive surgery on the left side using a saline implant. She will be on hormone therapy for the next 10 years to manage the risks of recurrence but has been given the all-clear in terms of this treatment someone who has been through such gruelling experiences, she is remarkably upbeat. How does she stay positive?"If I am having those moments when I feel 'oh my god this is awful, why has this happened to us?' "I let myself think about it for a minute and then move on to the next thing. If you don't allow yourself to think about it, it won't get you down."I have to sit back and think 'this is life. Worse things can happen'. I'm lucky that I've had incredible treatment from the word go, and an amazing team who I trust."She added: "Both the kids were just the best distraction ever. It's hope isn't it? When you see little children. You think there's hope for the future."


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I invented the 'Death Clock'... and was horrified when it confirmed my worst fears about my own health
Brent Franson wasn't afraid of dying. He was afraid of dying from Alzheimer's disease. He remembers seeing sufferers on TV growing up, with their listless expressions and inability to walk. It left him certain he did not want to develop the devastating condition. His worst fear was revealed when he used the Death Clock - an artificial intelligence that predicts - down to the minute - when and how a person will die. Franson invented the app, which analyzes a person's body metrics and lifestyle, and input his own information. The 43-year-old was shocked when the Death Clock projected his demise at 76 years old. Among possible causes of his death: Alzheimer's. It made sense, Franson thought. In his 20s, he had become addicted to anti depressants and sedatives, which left him unable to sleep properly for a decade - a risk factor for neurological decline - and he had a gene that predisposed him to dementia. Franson was also working late, eating large late-night dinners and balancing his role as husband and father-of-three. Determined to change his fate, however, Franson made major lifestyle changes - becoming what he called a 'sleep athlete.' He fine-tuned his schedule to make time for rest and exercise and to create a better work-life balance. One year later, he ran his information through the Death Clock again and it revised its estimate — adding an extra nine years to his life expectancy. The most likely cause of death? Alzheimer's was still a possibility, but so were cardiovascular diseases and cancer. 'Something does have to kill you eventually,' Franson told He added: 'My biggest fear in life, it's not death. It's Alzheimer's. Just the thought of having to live with Alzheimer's — so this was really a wake-up call for me.' As the aging population of the US continues to grow, so will the rates of dementia. Currently, an estimated 6.8million Americans have Alzheimer's disease - the most common form of dementia - the vast majority of whom are over 65 years old. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million. A lack of sleep - especially a lack of deep sleep - has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's in numerous studies. Experts say it stops the body from clearing out waste products from the brain — raising the risk of dangerous amyloid beta protein clumps forming that raise someone's risk of the disease. More than one in three adults — 50 to 70million people — regularly do not meet the CDC's recommendation of at least seven hours of sleep every night. One study has suggested sleeping six or fewer hours per night before age 70 is linked to a 30 percent increased risk of dementia compared to people getting seven hours or more. It can also drive other unhealthy behaviors, like exercising less or eating more sugary treats, which can also raise risk. To boost his sleep, and slash his risk of Alzheimer's, Franson began by banning all mobile phones from the bedroom. He set a consistent bedtime of 9.30pm, and made sure to have his last meal at 5.30pm every night. Scientists say a consistent bedtime helps the body's circadian rhythm while eating too close to bedtime means the body is still digesting, disrupting sleep. Some suggest it can take three to four hours for a meal to transit into the intestines. He also lowered the bedroom temperature to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). Experts recommend sleeping at temperatures between 60 and 67 degrees to reduce the body's internal temperature and ensure a restful night's sleep. He had two sets of blackout blinds installed in his bedroom, as well. One that descends horizontally from the ceiling, and another that moves vertically across the window, to block out all light while he sleeps. Another lifestyle change was cutting out alcohol. Alcohol has also been linked to sleep disruption, reducing the amount of time spent in REM sleep — a stage for memory consolidation — disrupting the sleep cycle. The Alzheimer's Society says drinking alcohol also reduces the volume of the brain's white matter, which helps the brain transmit signals between different regions. This can lead to issues with the way the brain functions. Alcohol can also shrink the parts of the brain involved in memory. Franson also makes sure to exercise during the day, saying he alternates between weight lifting, cardio exercises and yoga. A July 2022 study published in the journal Neurology analyzed the health information of 501,400 people from a British health database over 11 years. Researchers found people who engaged in consistent vigorous activity — sports or working out — had a 35 percent reduced risk of developing dementia. Even people who reported completing household chores saw a benefit and had a 21 percent lower risk of dementia. A separate October 2022 meta-analysis of 38 international studies found people who engaged in activities like regularly walking, running, dancing, playing sports or swimming had a 17 percent reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those who did not. And while there is plenty of fancy and expensive health tech, Franson said sleep, diet and exercise are more than 90 percent of the puzzle of longevity. He added that nine percent was cancer screenings and about one percent was 'all this crazy stuff that people like to talk about.' Franson added: 'The discussion in the longevity space is often focused on the wrong thing. 'People devote a lot of time talking about things like Ashwaganda or full-body scans when, compared to sleep, diet and exercise, these are going to make only tiny incremental differences.'


The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Teen, 19, dies after viral TikTok ‘dusting' challenge went wrong leaving family ‘utterly devastated'
A TEEN, 19, has died after taking part in the viral TikTok "dusting" challenge that went wrong, leaving her family "utterly devastated". Renna O'Rourke, from Arizona, tragically passed on Sunday after being in an intensive care unit for a week. 4 4 4 Dusting involves young people inhaling aerosols like spray deodorant, paint thinner or keyboard cleaners. Renna went into cardiac arrest before later being declared brain dead after using a cleaning product to take part in the deadly challenge. The teen's heartbroken dad Aaron O'Rouke described how his daughter dreamed of fame. He told AZFamily:"She always said, 'I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous', and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances." Aaron and his wife Dana shared their daughter's tragic story to raise awareness of the social media challenge. Dana said: "There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. "They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test." The mom explained how Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to have the cleaning agent delivered to their door. She told 12news:"[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. "We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can." Pheobe Bishop cops arrest 34-year-old flatmate who was last to see missing Aussie teen on explosive journey to airport Dr. Randy Weisman, from the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, explained how inhaling aerosols can make users feel drunk or euphoric for a few minutes. But such use can result in liver failure, heart failure and lung disease among other irreversible issues - or death. He told AZFamily: "This is extremely concerning. "When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body." Renna's parents said that the only light to come from her passing is that her organs have gone on to save at least six other people. Mom Dana said: "Through that we're finding strength and purpose. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now." A post on the GoFundMe set up for Renna read: "On Sunday, June 1st at 1:30pm, our wonderful daughter, after 4 days in the ICU, was pronounced brain dead. "She was the light in every room she walked into, and the pain that her family and friends feel is simply immeasurable. "We want to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to cover the extensive medical bills, burial costs, therapy costs, and to spread awareness about the dangers of Huffing/Dusting, the practice of inhaling keyboard cleaner or similar."