
Inflatable 'mega lungs' promote cancer screening in Cambridge
About 2,000 people had benefited from the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme since it launched in Peterborough and Huntingdon in February.
'Save your life'
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. There are often no signs or symptoms of the disease at an early stage.The hospital trust added that individuals would receive an invitation if they were eligible for the screening.As part of the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme, all eligible people were expected to receive an invitation for a lung health check by 2029. Robert Rintoul, Professor of Thoracic Oncology in the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge, said: "I would urge that if you are aged 55 to 74 and have ever smoked, to please make sure your GP records show this, and if you receive an invitation for screening, please do not ignore it as it could save your life."Paula Chadwick, chief executive officer of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: "We are delighted to be working with the NHS team in Cambridge to promote the importance of screening."If you have any questions about lung cancer or the screening programme, please come down to Parker's Piece on 15 August and talk to our team. It could save your life," she added.The trust said people would receive a phone assessment to talk through health and smoking history before they were offered a follow-up assessment and scan on a mobile unit.
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The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
I lost 18st without fat jabs – I didn't cheat my way to a new body by secretly using Ozempic, I put the effort in
OPENING my 10th can of cola of the day and gorging on a Chinese takeaway, I felt utterly miserable. Weighing 29st and a size 32, I was practically housebound and struggling to care for my children. It was a conversation with my husband in early 2023 that would shock me into finally losing weight, after years of it spiralling out of control. 5 5 Today, I'm more than 18st lighter, but to my frustration, there are people who don't believe I lost the weight through diet and exercise. They accuse me of secretly using fat jabs and say I cheated my way to a new body. When my husband Dan told me that day that he was scared I was going to die, I knew his fears were justified. At 38, I was pre-diabetic and could barely walk, with aching joints and breathlessness. I agreed to join a slimming club, but had no idea how I'd lose the excess weight. All my life, I've been big. At 10, I weighed 9st, the weight of an adult woman, because I had a big appetite. BIG APPETITE As a teenager, when I had more independence and money to spend, I'd buy crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks. I did try a few times to lose weight in my 20s, but always gave up and put it back on, and more. When I met Dan online in 2013, after having my first child in a previous relationship, I was a size 24. He didn't care, though, and saw past my weight. He loved me as I was, and we got married in 2016. I treated food like an emotional crutch. No matter how I was feeling, I turned to it. I look back with horror at what I'd consume daily – litres of fizzy drink, greasy takeaways, piles of buttered toast and chocolate. By the time Dan had that emotional conversation with me, I was only leaving the house once a week to go to the supermarket, and I slept downstairs because getting up to our bedroom was too hard for me. He had to take on more than his share, and I could never take the kids to the park or on a day trip. Had Dan not confided his fears in me, I'm not sure if I'd have ever given myself that push to lose weight. Stepping on to the scales at my first slimming club meeting in February 2023, I felt mortified. At 29st 4.5lb, I was by far the biggest person there. But for Dan and my children's sake, I knew I needed to try. So, using the club's plan as a starting point, I began learning about nutrition. I started having fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, a wrap with salad for lunch, and chicken with veg for dinner. I stopped having takeaways and gradually weaned myself off sugary drinks. Attending a weekly meeting and being weighed kept me accountable, and as I started to see the number on the scales go down, I felt motivated to keep going. I began to introduce walking, too. At first, even short distances left me with sore joints and out of breath, but I persevered and it became more enjoyable. 5 5 5 Dan was so supportive and relieved I was taking care of myself. By April 2024, I'd lost 17st. I decided to keep going and now weigh 10st 13lb. I don't plan to lose any more, but still attend my weekly club meetings. It's surreal when I walk into a clothes shop and can pick out size-12 dresses. People I haven't seen in a while have walked past, not recognising me, and there was even a rumour in our area Dan was having an affair, because he was spotted with another woman. But that was me! What frustrates me is, after all the effort I've put in, I've been accused of secretly using weight-loss jabs. I've seen it happen online to celebrities, such as TV presenter Alison Hammond, who's lost 11st without jabs, too. Personally, I think it's cheating to use them to lose weight. I put the pounds on and it was up to me to lose them, not rely on pharmaceuticals. When I look back at old photos, I don't recognise that unhealthy, unhappy woman. I've saved my life and am the active, happy wife and mum I always dreamed of being. And I did it all by myself.' The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes - most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss. But burning fat can be easy and mostly free. In fact, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all... Don't skip breakfast Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry. Eat regular meals Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. Eat plenty of fruit and veg Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. Get more active Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone. Drink lots of water People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need. Eat high fibre foods Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. Read food labels Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. Use a smaller plate Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. Don't ban foods Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. Don't stock junk food To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. Cut down on alcohol A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain. Plan your meals Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.


The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
British man dies after hair transplant operation in Turkey
A former assistant head teacher from Milton Keynes has died after getting a hair transplant operation in Istanbul. Martyn Latchman, 38, who left a 16-year career in teaching last year to become a defence contractor, died last week after becoming unwell during the preparatory phase of the £1,500 procedure. The clinic involved, Dr Cinik in the Besikitas area of the city, whose former clients included the former England and Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand, said it was not known why Latchman fell ill. He was transferred to an intensive care ward in a nearby university hospital but died later that day, the clinic confirmed. Turkish media said police had launched an investigation. Latchman's body has since been flown to the UK. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.' Until last December, Latchman, originally from Bridgend in south Wales, had been the assistant headteacher at Goldington academy in Bedford, where he was also head of computer science, according to his LinkedIn profile. His online posts suggest he regularly ran and worked out at gyms. Latchman's family and friends paid tribute to him on social media. Yashley Latchman posted a photograph of him working out with Martyn with the caption 'Rest in Peace my brother.' He wrote: 'You will forever be my source of inspiration and motivation. Thanks for everything. Will miss u loads.' Alain Latchman commented: 'Yes Yashley very sad. Too young.' Dr Cinik's website claims it has conducted more than 50,000 successful transplants. Its best known clients are international footballers. As well as Ferdinand, other former patients included the Croatian World Cup finalist Ivan Rakitić, the former France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé and the Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo. In a statement, the clinic said it was 'deeply saddened' by Latchman's death. It pointed out that he had a successful hair transplant last summer and had returned this year for a second procedure. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The statement said: 'Prior to the second operation, all necessary medical evaluations and tests (including blood work, chest X-ray, ECG, etc) were carried out thoroughly and without omission, just as they were during the first procedure. 'These assessments were conducted under the supervision of an anaesthesiologist, and the patient was cleared for surgery. 'However, before the hair transplant procedure began and during the preparatory phase, the patient unexpectedly became unwell for reasons that are still unknown. 'Immediate medical intervention was provided, and he was urgently transferred to a fully equipped university hospital. Despite ongoing intensive care treatment throughout the day, the patient sadly passed away later that evening.' The statement added: 'Our clinic is an experienced medical institution that has performed over 70,000 hair transplant procedures to date. 'All relevant medical documentation related to this incident has been submitted to the appropriate authorities, and the matter is currently being investigated by judicial bodies.' It also denied reports in the Turkish media last week that Latchman died during the procedure or that the operation was interrupted. It added: 'The incident occurred before the hair transplant procedure had begun. Due to the ongoing legal process and out of respect for the family's privacy, no further details will be disclosed at this time.'


Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The woman who says you can spot a psychopath at three years old
There is little Prof Viding, 50, hasn't seen in the 25 years she has been researching psychopathy and young people's mental health, and she spent two years conducting studies on inmates at Wormwood Scrubs prison and Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital. 'It struck me that when you read prisoners' case histories, there were warning signs that had been there long before they committed their crimes,' she recalls. Ted Bundy, the notorious American serial killer, was a prime example of this: as a child he liked to dig holes in the ground, laced with spikes, for passers-by to fall in and hurt themselves. He also used to buy mice at the pet shop and pull them apart. Over the years, there have been even more alarming reports: babies who repeatedly bite their mother's breasts; toddlers who pretend to hug their parents and headbutt them instead. One of Prof Viding's studies looked at the genetic predisposition to psychopathy in seven-year-old twins, finding that CU traits have a 'strong genetic influence'. In other words, some children are born more likely to develop personality features that could be red flags. 'No one is born a psychopath' 'You see families where there are concentrations of these traits,' Prof Viding explains. 'No one is born a psychopath and the genes are not a blueprint, but there are people whose genetic makeup means that they are at higher risk than others.' Our genes and our early social environment shape how the brain processes emotional and social information – and the brains of children at risk of developing psychopathy are different from those of other children, showing little response to emotional stimuli that would normally induce fear. They also tend to have a low resting heart rate, typically associated with stress resilience. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in 2021 found that children whose hearts beat faster at the age of eight were at lower risk of developing adult psychopathy, despite having adverse childhood experiences. 'Children with conduct problems and CU traits, and adults with psychopathy, are poor at feeling what others are feeling, known as emotional empathy,' Prof Viding adds. 'On a conceptual level, they understand it, but that is not the same as feeling it. 'They are better at cognitive empathy, so they can work out what makes someone tick, but they don't care if they make others distressed. This combination makes for a powerful tool for manipulation.' The latter will chime with most parents – my three-year-old certainly has me wrapped around his little finger – but, if anything, my kids feel too many big emotions, not too few. 'Interventions can work' It's not all bad news, however, even if a child displays these traits from a young age. Several studies around adoption show that children at risk of developing worrying behaviours because of their biological family history, if they go on to be adopted by warm, loving parents, are less likely to see those behaviours worsen as they get older. Treatment, Prof Viding says, is effective, such as adapting parenting styles, learning how to help a child regulate their differing reactions, and seeking ongoing professional help in which a therapist works with both child and parents. 'With any behaviour, the more rooted it gets, the more difficult it becomes to intervene. But we know that interventions in adolescents and adults can also work, so the message should not be that if you don't get there in the first five years, it's useless.' Unfortunately, she adds, getting help to the children who need it is easier said than done, as those who exhibit these tendencies often come from families where their parents have complex issues of their own (such as addiction, mental-health difficulties or problems with the law). 'It is harder to elicit sympathy for children who don't play by the rules and behave in ways that can be unpleasant or downright dangerous,' she says. 'It is an uphill battle to get funding to help these children, even though it would be in society's interest.' A mother herself, to two teenagers aged 15 and 17, Prof Viding understands only too well the parenting rollercoaster – and how difficult dealing with an unruly child, let alone one showing worryingly abnormal personality traits, can be. 'I get emails on a weekly basis from parents who are concerned and don't know where to turn,' she admits. 'It's heartbreaking. 'At the moment in the UK, the health service is incredibly reluctant to diagnose conduct disorder, so the parents often have to wait until things are so bad they can no longer cope or their child is in trouble with the law.' But, she insists, no child is beyond reprieve – nor is anyone's little darling 'destined' to become a psychopath. Cue a collective parental sigh of relief.