Latest news with #FEMAIL
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
NRL cheerleader Savannah had a 'normal' life... Until she made a devastating discovery in Dolly magazine
From the outside, Savannah McKell seemed to have a picture-perfect life. But behind closed doors, the former Newcastle Knights cheerleader was secretly battling a life-shortening condition. 'People often looked at my life and saw a fairytale - I was cheerleading, modelling and taking glamorous Instagram pictures... What they didn't see was me coughing up blood between cheering, managing life-threatening lung infections, and silently battling cystic fibrosis,' Savannah told FEMAIL. When she was born, her parents were given the devastating news that she might not live past her teens - and if she did, she would likely only reach her early 20s. Her parents kept her life relatively normal, shifting the focus away from her illness so she could simply enjoy being a kid. From the age of 20, she began experiencing more frequent infections and health complications. But it wasn't until she was 24 that her condition took a terrifying turn - after she suffered an episode of hemoptysis, just hours before her engagement party. 'The day I started coughing up cups full of blood was the scariest day of my life,' Savannah recalled. 'As I was rushed to the emergency room, all I could think was I'm not going to get to say goodbye or 'I love you' to my parents or make it to my wedding and marry my husband... The party was at the back of my mind and I just went into survival mode.' Savannah has been living with the incurable disease since she was six weeks old. Growing up, she remembers having a 'beautiful' childhood, even as she navigated life with cystic fibrosis (CF) - a genetic disorder that causes an abnormal build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, airways and digestive system. 'My family kept my diagnosis very positive and almost pretended it didn't exist to me as I was so young and unable to comprehend,' she said. 'I had an amazing family, and we'd spend as many days as we could by the beach to soak up the salt, which helped my CF. I had a lot of extra hospital visits and treatment I had to do but my mum always tried to make them as enjoyable as possible.' Dolly discovery Savannah was never fazed by her diagnosis - until she came across a confronting detail in the teen magazine Dolly that revealed the soul-crushing reality of her life expectancy. 'It was devastating. I knew I was "more prone to getting a cold, cough and flu" but I didn't know my CF came with a very dire life expectancy,' she recalled. 'Finding out at 12 years old - from reading Dolly magazine - that I was nearly "halfway" through my life had a profound effect on me.' After reading the article, she made the decision to keep her condition a secret. 'I chose to keep my CF private in the early 2000s. With the life expectancy being what it was, I didn't want the stigma of being "the sick girl" or that "she was going to die soon",' she said. 'I wasn't ashamed of having CF but I never wanted it to be the talking point to my friends, peers, classmates and just everyone around me. 'Growing up is hard enough without already being labelled as 'different'. I just wanted to be Savannah, not Savannah who has CF.' Her childhood with CF was so normal that she didn't really worry about her diagnosis until she read something about the life expectancy of someone living with CF in Dolly magazine As a child, Savannah knew she was 'different' because of the number of hospital visits she had compared to her school friends and other kids her age. 'Some of them said they'd never been to hospital before, yet I was going once a month for clinics and yearly needles, and needing antibiotics all the time for a "cold",' she recalled. 'The clinic visits when I was young were very traumatic with tubes being shoved down my throat and multiple blood tests, and antibiotics... no five-year-old should have to endure stuff like that so young.' Defying odds As she got older, the life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis gradually increased to around 30 years. However, Savannah, now 29, has received promising news after defying all odds - thanks to medical advancements, research and a breakthrough prescription drug called Trikafta. 'Life expectancy has increased drastically and continues to increase every day. While it's in no way a cure, it's a big step for cystic fibrosis sufferers. It's now almost double the life expectancy to 60,' she said. What many people didn't see was that Savannah was struggling behind closed doors -coughing up blood between cheerleading and managing life-threatening lung infections How you can help make a difference May is the month of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness. Savannah is sharing her story in support of CF Together. She is hoping to help raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis research. You can donate here. 'Trikafta has completely changed my life. I can now go months, if not years between antibiotics, IVs, hospital stays and clinic visits. Something that used to occur monthly. 'I'm not constantly clearing my throat or coughing up thick mucus, I can now take deep breaths and have clear lungs. It also allowed me to fall pregnant naturally which never happened before Trikafta.' Before discovering the life-extending drug, Savannah experienced fertility issues while trying to get pregnant - likely due to her condition. Baby joy She and her husband conceived their first son Elijah via IVF. 'Carrying a pregnancy was the hardest challenge physically, as the strain on my body and health was incredibly hard,' the young mum said. 'The only thing that got me through was the beautiful baby boy I was fighting so hard for.' Three months postpartum, Savannah contracted an infection called B. cepacia, often referred to as a 'death sentence' for people with cystic fibrosis. This scare prompted her to start Trikafta after a year of hesitation. Savannah kept her CF a secret from most people for many years due to stigma and a desire to be seen as 'normal' but she has become more open about her condition - especially after having her son 'The thinning of mucus from Trikafta not only cleared my lungs but cervical mucus too, allowing to conceive naturally, something we had tried for many years with no success without IVF,' she said. Thanks to advocacy by CF Together, she now has access to the life-saving medication - something she attributes to giving her the best years of her adult life. Highs and lows Savannah said her condition is now 'very stable'. 'I live 99 per cent of the time a somewhat normal life minus the pills every day and extra precautionary clinic visits. My new life expectancy is promising and I can look to the future without as much fear,' she said. Despite thriving at 29 with a second baby on the way after conceiving naturally, she still struggles with the 'constant mental noise and fear of decline'. 'While we have advancements and fancy new drugs, it still only takes catching one bad bug to completely bring your whole body and life down, as well as the mental side,' she explained. 'CF means taking pills every day, with every meal, since the day I was born - and that hasn't stopped.' What is cystic fibrosis carrier testing? Cystic fibrosis carrier testing is a genetic test that will help to identify if you have changes to the CF gene. The test involves providing a blood or saliva sample and requires a referral from your GP, obstetrician, geneticist, or gynaecologist. There are around 2,000 gene changes that cause CF, and a typical CF screening will identify the most common CF gene changes in Australia. However, there is still a small risk that you may be a carrier of a rare CF gene change. If you have a family history of CF, it is important to tell your GP, obstetrician or gynaecologist before providing your sample for screening. This will ensure that you are being tested for the most common CF gene changes as well as the specific gene change relevant to your family. Making the decision to know your CF carrier status through genetic testing is a choice only you can make. Knowing whether you are a carrier can help inform you of your reproductive options. You can discuss your CF carrier screening options with your GP, obstetrician or a genetic counsellor. On November 1, 2023, reproductive carrier testing for cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome and spinal muscular atrophy was made available for every eligible Australian, thanks to two new Medicare item numbers, allowing people to make more informed choices regarding family planning. The test can be ordered before pregnancy or early in pregnancy. Savannah said she's now enjoying living a 'slow, nature-filled life'. 'I'm raising my family without any fear for the future. Something as small as going for a swim at the beach is such a blessing for me and I want to spend the rest of my life just appreciating every second,' she said. For couples looking to start a family, Savannah urges them to get a genetic blood test before trying to conceive. 'CF is genetic but I advise couples looking to start a family to please do a genetic blood test before falling pregnant. My parents had no idea they were carriers and it's surprisingly more common in Australia than you think to be a carrier,' she said. By sharing her story, Savannah wants every young person living with cystic fibrosis to know that their diagnosis does not define them. 'It should never stop you from chasing the life you dream of. Never listen to any one that doubt you or wrap you in cotton wool because of your disease,' Savannah said. 'I chose to keep my illness private growing up, but I've learned that strength doesn't come from pretending everything's ok... it's from being honest and proving people you can do all of this while fighting something so horrific. 'I share my story now because I wish, as a little girl, I had seen someone like me thriving despite their diagnosis. Appearances don't always reflect reality. 'You truly never know what someone is going through behind the scenes. You should always prioritise your health for those who weren't as blessed.' According to CF Together, nine out of 10 children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis are born into families without any prior history of the condition. In cases where there is no family history, both parents of the child who is born with CF must be carriers of the gene change that causes CF. One in 25 people are estimated to carry the gene changes that can cause CF, and most people are completely unaware they are a carrier. CF carrier screening testing is available to help you and your partner find out whether you are among the one million Australians who carry the CF gene change.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
How to identify if you have 'stage 0' cancer BEFORE any symptoms appear
There's a myriad of reasons – and excuses – people will use to skip a cancer health check screening. Life can get busy, attending an appointment can be complicated and let's face it, there's far more enjoyable things to do with your time. But sticking to the recommended health check screening schedules could potentially be the difference when it comes to early detection of cancer or potentially cancerous cells, also known as Stage 0 cancer. Catching cancer risk sooner than later is the reason why doctors and organisations like Cancer Council Australia continuously spruik the message: 'Early detection saves lives'. The Screening and Immunisation Committee Chair Karen Canfell explained to FEMAIL that the aim of the national cancer screening programs is 'to find and treat cancers in healthy individuals as early as possible or, even better, in a precancerous stage'. The role that regular scheduled screening programs have in this early detection process ties into Stage 0 cancer – and how screenings offer a rare chance to assist with catching cancer risk at an extremely early stage. Understanding Stage 0 cancer and symptoms In cancer diagnoses, staging is used by medical practitioners as a measure of how far a cancer has spread in the body. In its simplest form, Karen explained: 'Stage 1 is a cancer contained in its primary site, Stage 2 cancer has spread to local lymph nodes, Stage 3 to tissue beyond local lymph nodes and Stage 4 cancers have metastasised to other organs and distant parts of the body.' 'Diagnostic tests and examinations will help show if you have cancer, the size of the tumour, if it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body, and whether lymph nodes are affected. These factors are combined to determine which stage a cancer is in, from Stage 1 to 4.' Sitting outside this scale is Stage 0 cancer, also 'referred to as in situ', which is a precursor to all the above stages. 'A collection of abnormal cells that has not yet spread or become invasive is assigned Stage 0, or referred to as in situ, as it is an early form of cancer,' Karen explained. Common cancer symptoms like lumps are rarely associated with a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis – meaning they're almost exclusively detected after participating in a screening program or a self-initiated health check. 'This is why cancer screening is important, as screening programs can identify early-stage cancers and precancerous conditions through signs that might otherwise go unnoticed,' the spokesperson confirmed. 'Often, precancerous or abnormal cell development, like the changes that precede cervical cancer, won't cause symptoms. 'It's also important to know that some cancers, such as breast and bowel cancer, may show no symptoms at any stage of tumour growth.' Karen explained that the cancers most commonly detected at Stage 0 'include breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma' – which are also among 'the most common cancers in Australia at all stages of diagnosis combined'. The absence of symptoms accompanying a Stage 0 diagnosis circles back to the importance of stringently adhering to the recommended schedule times from health cancer screenings as an absolute minimum. 'For most cancers, clinical outcomes are better if they are detected and treated at early stage.' Screening programs that could assist in Stage 0 cancer detection At present in Australia, there are organised screening programs available for bowel, cervical and breast cancers, with a lung cancer screening program being introduced in Australia from July. Using the example of National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the Cancer Council chair explained that when 'detected early, over 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated'. 'Between 2021 – 2022, only 40 per cent of eligible Australians participated in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program,' she said. 'We know, through modelling, that if this figure increased to 60 per cent, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.' 'The key is, if you are eligible for a cancer screening program, participate – it could save your life, whether that's through detection of a precancerous condition or an early-stage cancer that would have spread if not detected through screening.' So how often should those who are eligible be participating in these screenings? The health expert confirmed that the requirements vary between the screening programs. 'The BreastScreen Australia Program invites women aged 50 – 74 to have a free mammogram every 2 years,' said Karen. The expert explained that women aged 40 - 49 and those aged over 74 are also eligible to receive free mammograms, but will not receive a direct reminder notification. 'To participate in the program, you need to book in for an appointment at a BreastScreen Australia clinic,' Karen added. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is an at-home test called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which is mailed to people aged 50-74 every two years. Additionally, people aged 45 – 49 can also request to be sent a kit through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register. 'This test looks for traces of blood in the poo which you collect two samples of and mail it to a pathology lab for analysis,' Karen explained. 'If your result is positive, follow-up tests, like a colonoscopy, are recommended to determine the origin and cause of the blood.' The National Cervical Screening Program is open to women aged between 25-75, and they're invited to screen every five years. 'The test looks for signs of HPV, which causes 93 per cent of cervical cancers, and other pre-cancerous abnormalities, which if left untreated may progress to cervical cancer,' Karen said. 'The program offers two screening options – self-collection or clinical-collection.' You can find out more about your eligibility for the National Breast, Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs HERE. The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program starting in July is for Australians aged 50 -70 as well as those who currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years and have a heavy smoking history. Australians will need to speak to their GP to be referred to the screening program. 'The test involves undergoing a low-dose CT scan, which takes around 10-15 minutes,' Karen explained. Staying on screening track If you have gone longer than the recommended amount of time between screening appointments, the health expert suggests doing it sooner than later. 'If you're eligible for one of these screening programs and you've put off or missed participating in one, it's important to make sure you catch up.' The health expert adds that it's important to remember that 'most screening tests are not diagnostic tests – and are most often used to look for 'early indicators of cancer', which are then subsequently 'used alongside other tests to determine cancer diagnosis'. 'That's why it's also important to get to know your own body and keep an eye out for any unusual changes,' she said. 'If you notice any changes, such as a lump in your breast or a spot growing on your skin, it's important to see your doctor for further investigations.' Next steps: what happens after a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis If a screening followed by further diagnostics returns a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen said the upside is that most cancers diagnosed at Stage 0 'will have a good treatment outcome'. 'Outcomes can, however, vary, given there are more than 200 cancer types and subtypes,' she added. Following a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen explained that your doctor will advise the best suited treatment plan for your situation and cancer type. Some of the common cancer treatment options 'include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy'. But in the case of a Stage 0 diagnosis, Karen noted that none of these measures may be initially necessary. 'Your doctor may also advise that you need routine monitoring, but do not need active treatment.' There's never a good time to find out you have cancer. But if you do, finding out that it's at Stage 0, or cancer in situ, increases the amount of time for investigation and treatment options to be fully explored. Beyond adhering closely to the national schedule screenings and being vigilant about health self-checks, Karen also suggests some other simple lifestyle measures. 'For all cancers, the keys for prevention are aiming to lead a cancer-smart lifestyle,' she explained. 'Not smoking, protecting yourself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, having a healthy diet and exercise, moderating alcohol use – and screening for cancer if eligible and having regular health checks.'
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie shoppers 'mind blown' over surprising discovery about a popular supermarket item: 'Omg I feel lied to'
A shopper has made a surprising discovery about a popular supermarket snack - leaving hundreds stunned by the little-known revelation. Nikki said she has been eating the Harvest Snaps Baked Pea Crisps for years and loved them for what she thought was 'dehydrated' peas. However, she dropped a bombshell on social media after discovering what the snacks were actually made of. 'I've been eating these yummy snacks... these green bean goodness for years. It wasn't until last year I found out that these aren't dehydrated peas,' she said in a now-viral video. 'They're just shaped like peas. Does this not look like a dried pea?' Nikki called on Harvest Snaps to answer her amusing question: 'How many times a day do you get people realising this because you had me duped for years that these were dehydrated green peas?' The snack brand weighed in on the discussion, confirming: 'Happy to share the process of how we make our snacks. 'We start with whole green peas (we mill it in house), then we form them into fun pod shapes and bake it for the perfect crunch. You'll find that veggies are listed as our very first ingredient.' Speaking to FEMAIL, Nikki said: 'I told my colleagues and even they were mind blown that they aren't dehydrated peas. I didn't realise I wasn't the only one.' Her video, which has been watched more than 290,000 times, was flooded with responses from stunned fans who had made the same assumption. 'Wait… are they not? I totally thought so too!' read one reply. 'HUH I thought I was eating VEGETABLES,' added a second. 'I consider myself to be relatively intelligent, and I too just thought they were dehydrated peas for soooo long,' added another. 'Omg I feel lied to I thought it was a pea-pod,' chimed in another commenter. One parent complained they felt fooled about what they'd been giving their kids. 'I sent these with my kids to school smug AF thinking I had cracked some smug healthy parent code,' they wrote. 'Instead I was just sending them with chips, like damn Pringles.' On the other end of the spectrum, many Harvest Peas fans were stunned that Nikki could mistake the baked pea crisps for actual peas. 'Girl have you ever had fresh peas before? They look nothing like that,' one said 'It hadn't even occurred to me people might think these are dried pea pods, not pea pod shaped chips,' replied another. 'Babe, you can see the seam on the end where it's come out of the machine,' added a third. One commenter conceded that although they were aware it wasn't a dehydrated pea, they understood how the error could be made. 'To be fair, they did shape them like that in the hopes you wouldn't think much further.' Another noted that the packet literally 'has a picture of a pea on it'. Nikki subsequently posted a longer follow-up video the next day, going into greater detail about what the snack is made of and how she believed it was produced.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Coles shoppers discover meaning behind little-known code on bakery items: 'We love a mystery'
Eagle-eyed Aussie shoppers have noticed an interesting detail printed on the barcode sticker of certain Coles baked goods - sparking speculation about the inclusion of the mysterious letters 'SC' on the label. The letters are in fact a little-known internal code, which also provide insight into how the product is made. One observant customer spotted the letters - printed in brackets - on a Custard Pull Apart loaf they recently purchased from the Coles Bakery section. 'What does SC on bakery items mean?' the shopper wrote in a Reddit thread. The question prompted a discussion, which eventually uncovered the meaning behind the 'SC' on the package. A person claiming to be a Coles employee shared their explanation that the letters 'SC' are in fact a shortening of the word 'scratch'. 'SC means scratch and indicates products made and baked from flour in store,' the worker suggested. FEMAIL asked a Coles spokesperson to clarify whether anyone in the Reddit community had cracked the case of the baked goods mystery code. 'If there is one thing we all love, it's a reddit mystery. Those Reddit-sleuths in the comments had it half right - the 'SC' is simply an internal code for our team which means it's baked in store,' the Coles spokesperson told FEMAIL. 'But here's a fun twist: just because a product doesn't have a code, doesn't mean it's not baked in store.' The Coles spokesperson further explained that while some in-store baked goods featured the 'SC' letters on the packaging, other items also made in-store did not necessarily feature the code. 'We have some bakery products that are only made from scratch in-store, so there is no need for the 'SC' code,' the spokesperson said. 'We only use the 'SC' code on those products which could be baked in store OR parbaked before being delivered to the store before its final bake. 'Regardless of whether it's baked from scratch in-store, or parbaked ahead of time, you can rest assured that our behind-the-scenes bakers have spent hours making sure to get the recipes just right.' Before the mystery was solved, some suggested the code could be an acronym or abbreviation for 'store cooked', 'soooo custardy' and 'single coated'. However, the real answer to the Reddit mystery delighted many regular Coles shoppers - some of whom had no idea there were hidden titbit of information on the barcode labels. Meanwhile, one shopper revealed: 'I always look for the hot cross buns with the SC code at my store around Easter, they're so much better.' Other observant shoppers asked the Coles employee responder on Reddit if they could also explain some other codes they'd seen printed on baked goods items, like 'PB' and 'FZ'. 'PB means par bake and is baked to 85 per cent cooked at a remote bakery, snap frozen and sent frozen to a store to be baked the last 15 per cent,' the employee said. 'This is all of the Laurent and Coles finest sourdough range, and some rolls in some stores (if they are facing baker shortages, or are just a PB bakery). Sometimes but not always labelled.' The response continued by explaining that the codes FZ or FD usually refer to 'frozen dough that is shaped from a remote bakery and frozen raw to be fully cooked at your bakery. The person claimed the code was sometimes seen on Danish and crown pastries. It certainly seems that shoppers in the know are keeping an eye out for these secret codes while browsing the Coles Bakery section.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I'm a pharmacist and I've just discovered the most underrated product at Chemist Warehouse
Australian TikTok users are no strangers to viral beauty hacks, but this one is coming straight from a qualified pharmacist and skincare enthusiast are calling it the best-kept secret on Chemist Warehouse shelves. Betul Altun, a pharmacist based in Victoria, has sent skincare lovers into a frenzy with a now-viral video that has racked up over 453,000 views and hundreds of glowing comments. In the video, Betul raves about one of the best under the radar skincare ingredients hiding in plain sight at Chemist Warehouse. 'I'm gonna show you the most underrated product that is clinically proven to treat acne, blackheads, pigmentation and rosacea - that you can get over the counter for less than $20,' she said in the clip that has now been saved by 14.5 thousand people. The mystery ingredient? Azelaic Acid - an active that's enjoying a new wave of fame for being the one ingredient that can treat multiple concerns, without triggering a skin freak-out. 'As a pharmacist, we are trained to recommend clinical proven medicines that have scientific research backing any claims and therapeutic benefits,' Betul told FEMAIL. 'Azelaic acid has been proven to have multiple uses in dermatology given its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and mild exfoliant properties, hence works fantastically to treat a variety of skin conditions including acne and rosacea.' She also added that the potent ingredient also inhibits tyrosinase which is an enzyme that produces melanin in the skin. For this reason it works wonders for those who supper from hyperpigmentation and melasma too. The clip sparked a wave of interest from beauty lovers who couldn't believe a product this effective was both budget-friendly and available without a prescription. 'So good! This also fixes perioral dermatitis I get around my nose,' one use commented. 'I use it 2-3 times a week otherwise it's too drying for me but holy wow it works,' another added. FEMAIL asked celebrity facialist and skincare founder James Vivian, on his opinion of the multi-tasking skincare essential that customers are rushing to buy - and although he's a fan, he did have some great advice for beginners. 'Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties,' he told us. 'This active can be used once or twice a day, ideally in the morning and evening after cleansing. Start with a few applications per week and gradually increase frequency.' He also warned that this type of active (especially the strong 20% concentration available at Chemist Warehouse) can increase sun sensitivity, so following with a moisturiser and SPF 50+ every day was important. In even better news, James said Azelaic acid is good for every skin type and can be used alongside your favourite retinol and vitamin C too, however, it's crucial to introduce these ingredients gradually. 'Pay attention to how your skin reacts, especially if you have sensitive skin. You might find you use it more like a spot treatment to target specific areas of breakouts and redness when things flare up or to control ongoing issues.' And for those new to the ingredient, he recommends patch testing first and keeping the rest of your routine simple while your skin adjusts. Common side effects can include tingling, dryness, or mild redness, but these typically ease with consistent use. Between its under $20 price tag, high concentration, and clinical backing, azelaic acid has officially risen from under-the-radar to over-the-top viral. And while TikTok is no stranger to fleeting skincare trends, this is one product both a qualified pharmacist and a celebrity facialist agree is worth the hype. 'A very potent concentration of 20% is readily available for such a great cost is amazing and so convenient,' said Batul. '[A] simple to use, versatile product that could be used even in sensitive skin types is why this is such a favourite of mine personally and one I feel very comfortable recommending to a variety of patients.'
