Latest news with #Kleenex
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Adelaide mum-of-three's message for all Australians as she faces her 50th round of chemotherapy after dismissing bowel cancer symptoms
An Adelaide mother-of-three is calling on all Australians to change the way they go about a daily habit after her own cancer symptoms were dismissed. Paediatric nurse Nina Distano was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in April 2020. Five years on, Distano is still undergoing treatment with plenty of support from her family, her husband Aaron and her three teenagers, Ben 18, Luisa 16 and Gabe 13. When she first became sick, Distano said there were other health issues that masked the start of her symptoms, including low iron from her vegetarian diet and bleeding which she thought was just previous hemorrhoids. 'The cause was put down to a combination of slightly heavier periods leading into menopause as well as a predominantly vegetarian diet.,' she told 'There had been occasional blood on the toilet paper but having had three children, I suffered from hemorrhoids as well as being prone to constipation so between the two, I dismissed that sign. 'Getting closer to diagnosis, I was having abdominal pains and weight loss but between shift work and the stress of working in the health system at that time, my eating pattern was irregular so I could also explain that away. 'It took a lot of blood in the toilet one day to get me back to my GP. This prompted a colonoscopy which led to my diagnosis.' Battling the cancer head on, Distano said her medical team were optimistic about her recovery. But sadly, the cancer returned and is now stage four. 'My best hope now is to keep it under control for as long as possible,' Distano said. 'My ongoing treatment has included two major abdominal surgeries to remove many of my internal organs and I am coming up to my 50th cycle of chemotherapy. The treatment and surgeries have left me with a multitude of health problems including a colostomy bag, surgical menopause and numbness in my hands and feet.' Distano told that she and her husband have tried to keep their life as normal as possible, with difficult conversations likely to come. She said watching other bowel cancer patients, who were also her friends, die from the disease was 'heartbreaking'. 'My husband has had to care for me when I have been recovering from surgery and when I have chemo. My kids have had to see me extremely unwell and in pain and we are constantly trying to keep away from infections,' she said. 'We have had some difficult conversations — but to be honest the worst are probably yet to come. 'I've lost so many friends along the way who I have met through the bowel cancer community and seen them say goodbye to their loved ones way too soon. It is heartbreaking.' Distano is speaking out ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness month in June, which South Australian-made toilet paper brand Kleenex is using to team up with Bowel Cancer Australia to raise awareness about one of Australia's deadliest cancer. Kleenex rolls will now encourage millions of Aussies to break the taboo and 'check their poo' for bowel cancer symptoms. For those who may not know what to look for, has been launched to help educate and raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and encourage people to take action. Distano told she wished she knew what the symptoms were earlier. 'I wish I knew the signs and symptoms. I would've pushed harder earlier if I'd known that what I was experiencing was not normal and that it is not an old man's disease,' she said. Adam Carpenter, a mill manager at Kimberly-Clark Australia (parent group of Kleenex), said he was very supportive of the campaign to help spread awareness of bowel cancer. 'We're incredibly proud to support the team at Bowel Cancer Australia, using our Kleenex loo rolls to help address some of the bathroom blind spots when it comes to bowel cancer symptom awareness,' he said. 'Thousands of Aussies already trust Kleenex in the bathroom — and this crucial initiative transforms the humble loo roll into a bowel cancer awareness game-changer that helps Aussies to break the poo taboo. 'This is a natural step and partnership for Kleenex, and we hope it contributes to driving awareness, particularly as we head into Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this June.' Australians are also reminded that not everyone will experiences symptoms, particularly in the early stages of bowel cancer. Distano told it was time to get past the taboo. 'Check your poo. Be aware that any blood in your poo is not normal,' she said. 'It might just be haemorrhoids, but the only sure-fire way to know is via a colonoscopy. 'And, the bonus is, if it is polyps or early-stage bowel cancer, then it can be stopped in its tracks — early detection is key. 'With low iron, so many woman I know have this and it is never fully investigated. Please push until the cause is found. 'Changes to bowel habit, constipation to diarrhea or vice-versa, an urge to go but unable to, skinny 'ribbon-like' poo, all needs to be investigated.' Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and the second deadliest in Australia. Nearly 15,000 Australians are told every year they have bowel cancer, with just over 5,000 people per year losing their lives to it. Common symptoms can include: Blood in your poo or rectal bleeding Bright red or very dark blood should never be ignored A recent, persistent change in bowel habit such as looser, more diarrhea-like poo, constipation, or going to the toilet more often, or trying to go — irregularity in someone whose bowel habits have previously been regular A change in shape or appearance of your poo For example, narrower poos than usual or mucus in poo Frequent gas pain, cramps A feeling of fullness or bloating in the bowel or rectum Unexplained anaemia A low red blood count causing tiredness, weakness or weight loss A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely after going to the toilet Pain or a lump in the anus or rectum Abdominal pain or swelling Those concerned about their health should consult with their medical practitioner. New research from PureProfile, which surveyed more than 1,000 Australians on their bathroom habits, also revealed a grim reality. A majority admitted to never looking for any signs of issues, with nearly three-quarters (73.6 per cent) of respondents admitting they aren't checking their poo for possible signs of bowel cancer. Whilst almost half (43.2 per cent) are unable to correctly identify three key bowel cancer symptoms. Two-in-five (38.6 per cent) respondents indicated they were uncomfortable talking about their bowel habit with their family, while more than a quarter (26.8 per cent) are uncomfortable talking about it with their doctor. CEO of Bowel Cancer Australia, Julien Wiggins said the partnership with Kleenex will raise vital awareness for the cancer. 'We are delighted to be partnering with Kleenex for this innovative campaign, raising much-needed awareness around Australia's second-deadliest cancer — bowel cancer,' he said.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sheinelle Jones supported by ‘Today' colleagues at husband's funeral
Sheinelle Jones' colleagues are continuing to support her offscreen in the wake of her husband's death. 'Today' stars Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda Kotb, and Craig Melvin were all seen attending her husband's funeral in New York on Friday, May 30, just one week after announcing his death. Uche Ojeh — full name Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh — passed away on May 23 after losing his battle with brain cancer. He was 45. 13 Sheinelle Jones outside of her husband's funeral on Friday, May 30. William Regan 13 Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, Deborah Roberts and Hoda Kotb seen exiting the funeral. William Regan Wearing a black form-fitting dress and tasteful hat, the grieving widow was photographed exiting the church with her 'Today' colleagues trailing behind. Everyone appeared emotional, with Melvin holding a Kleenex in his hand on the way out. Bush Hager stood behind him somberly, holding what appeared to be a funeral program while Kotb, Roberts and Roker were pictured behind them. Last week, Guthrie, 53, was given the difficult task of announcing Ojeh's death on air. 13 Al Roker outside the church following the funeral. William Regan 13 Savannah Guthrie leaving Uche Ojeh's funeral. William Regan 13 Uche Ojeh passed away at age 45. William Regan 'With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,' she told viewers at home. 'There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person,' Guthrie continued. 'We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle's perfect partner in life.' 13 Another shot of Al Roker after the funeral. William Regan 13 Savannah Guthrie exiting the funeral. William Regan Sources told The Post at the time that Ojeh put up a 'brave fight' and was in hospice before his passing. His death came months after Jones revealed she was stepping back from the third hour of 'Today' for an extended time, only citing a family matter. 'I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I've been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I'm taking time to deal with a family health matter,' she wrote via Instagram. 13 Sheinelle Jones with her husband Uche Ojeh. sheinelle_o/Instagram 13 The couple shared three children. Instagram/@mariashriver 13 Uche Ojeh died on May 23 after a battle with brain cancer. sheinelle_o/Instagram 'It's not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my 'Today' show family, but to also have all of you.' On Wednesday, two of Jones' co-stars revealed how they were helping her through this horrible time. 'She's such a close friend to me and I still don't have the words. I don't know what to say,' Dylan Dreyer told Us Weekly. 'I've reached out. I don't want to push too hard. There's just a lot of things that she must be juggling right now. I mean, I don't know the right words besides, 'I'm here. Whenever you need a hug, let me know. I'll be there in a second.' And, I mean, I pray for every night.' 13 Her 'Today' show hosts delivered the news of his death on air. Instagram/@mariashriver 13 Sheinelle Jones with kids Kayin and twins Clara and Uche. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images 13 The pair married in 2007. Sheinelle Jones/Instagram Roker also addressed being there for Jones. 'We tend to say, 'Oh, I know what you're going through. I know what you're feeling.' Nobody knows unless you've actually been in that,' he added. 'So, we're there. We just want to be there and pay tribute to the wonderful person that Uche was and still will be because he's going to live on in those kids and live in all our memories.' Jones and Ojeh married in 2007. They share three children: 14-year-old Kayin and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche. Jones spoke out shortly after her husband's passing, telling her followers, 'Thank you, for all of your love and support.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment send-off ceremonies
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa –Thousands are gathering this week at community send-offs for Iowa National Guard soldiers. 1,800 soldiers from Iowa will be deploying to the Middle East to partake in Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission to defeat ISIS. This is Iowa's largest deployment since 2010. The ceremony at West Des Moines Readiness Center Thursday afternoon had 214 troops who were honored before heading out on this 12-month assignment. This send-off is just one of 24 happening this week across the state. The crowds were full of friends and family, including many Blue Star Mothers of America Iowa. The group is made up of moms, grandmas, parent figures, etc. This support group has been crucial for many loved ones, because the sendoff, and thereafter, is never easy. Construction is halfway complete on new Des Moines airport terminal 'I think the hardest one for me was when you could hear the children in the crowd going, oh, there's my dad. Not fully understanding that at the end of the ceremony you're getting in the car and dad isn't,' Blue Star Mothers Iowa spokesperson April Conway said. 'And all of these ceremonies all across the state, we are trying to make sure that Blue Star Moms will be there to offer a hug. We've ordered 400 packages of Kleenex to bring with us because we know what it's like, but we also know what it's going to be like when you go home. I want every spouse and child and mother and friend and sister to know that when you get home, it's okay to cry. Fear is a natural thing that comes with deployment. Just keep in mind the joy that you're going to feel when that coming home ceremony gets here. And we'll be there for that one, too.' This year, Blue Star Mothers Iowa will be sending 2,500 care packages to every single Iowan that is deployed later this year for the holidays. If you'd like to donate or want more information, you can visit their website. They also want you to know, if you need support, you can message them on Facebook and a mother will answer within an hour. 'It takes a village. And even though these deploying soldiers are not our own flesh and blood, they're our Iowa family,' Conway said. 'While they're gone, we want to be able to stand in the gap for their families that are left behind. Because, you know, in a week, life does go on. And the community, they will move on with their own lives. But for these family members left behind, the next 12 months are going to feel a lot longer than 12 months, and we're going to be there for them to help carry them through it.' Iowa News: Forecast: Thursday raindrops, then heat Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill aimed at growing rural hospital workforces Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment send-off ceremonies Funnel clouds reported in Iowa today Pella Middle School teacher earns Golden Apple Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Australia now has the world's highest rate of bowel cancer for people under 50
Australia now holds a grim record — the highest rate of bowel cancer in people under the age of 50 anywhere in the world. Once considered an 'old person's disease,' it is now the deadliest form of cancer for men under the age of 50, and second deadliest for women under 50. The surge in early-onset cases has prompted health experts and advocacy groups to issue an urgent call to know the signs and push for screening earlier. Andrew Saliba, a father-of-two, was just 36 years old when he noticed something wasn't right. His wife urged him to see a doctor but was told he was too young to be anything serious: 'My wife nagged me to go to the doctor,' Saliba told 7NEWS. 'The doctor said you've probably got haemorrhoids. I got treated for that, and it was still happening. So I went to a second GP, and I pushed for a colonoscopy. 'Once I woke up from that, he informed me that he found something and I had cancer.' The colonoscopy revealed he had stage three bowel cancer. Andrew Saliba's story is becoming more common. Since 2000, bowel cancer diagnoses in Australians under 40 have more than doubled. No one knows exactly why, but experts are sounding the alarm. The research also reveals 28,265 cases of aggressive types of early-onset bowel cancer over the past 30 years, including an estimated 4,347 additional early-onset bowel cancer cases attributable to the rising rates of the disease. 'We don't know why rates are rising,' said Julien Wiggins, CEO of Bowel Cancer Australia. 'Research is very important to address the issue, lowering the screening age is also extremely important.' Currently, Australians over 50 receive free bowel cancer screening kits by mail every two years. However, anyone over 45 can now request a kit through their GP. For many, that earlier option could be life-saving. 'If I waited until the age of 45, it would have been too late for me,' Saliba reflected. Recent findings from Australian researchers show that people born in 1990 are three times more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer than those born in 1950. The reasons remain unclear, but several factors are under investigation including diet, obesity and gut health. 'We're looking closely at things like diet, weight gain, and changes to the gut microbiome,' Professor Mark Jenkins, a leading researcher in the field, told 7NEWS. With no definitive cause identified, awareness is the most powerful tool currently available. Kleenex has now partnered with Bowel Cancer Australia to help raise awareness by printing signs and messages on toilet paper rolls. The campaign aims to prompt Australians to think twice about their symptoms and talk to their doctors. Signs of bowel cancer can include
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
A slap or a love tap? Why a private moment for France's first couple is public fodder
PARIS—What happens in Vietnam does not stay in Vietnam, as French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, learned Monday morning. France's most talked-about couple were caught in the act when the door to his presidential airplane opened just as Macron appears to have been roughed up by his wife. Just what that act was is the subject of debate. Some media reported it as a slap, while others described it as a shove. In jest or in anger, the 47-year-old politician clearly took it on the chin from his 72-year-old spouse. And it has been followed by a digital pile on from social media users, who are now accusing Macron and his aides of intentionally lying about what occurred. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW They were just 'playfighting.' That was French President Emmanuel Macron's explanation Monday for video images that showed show his wife, Brigitte, pushing her husband away with both hands on his face before they disembarked from their plane to start a tour of southeast Asia this weekend. (AP Video / May 26, 2025) The uncomfortable moment adds another page to the tales of intrigue that all-too-often envelope France's most powerful politicians. Macron, whose second presidential term ends in 2027 is far from being the first leader whose private life has made public ripples. Reporters accompanying him on an Asian tour reported that an aide had described what the cameras witnessed as the result of a 'squabble' and 'tussle' between the couple. Macron later said that he was simply kidding around with his spouse. 'Everyone should calm down and worry about what's really going on in the world,' he told reporters in Hanoi Monday. He added that internet-conspiracy theorists in recent weeks have taken too many liberties with the truth. In one instance, a video that showed him snatching a used tissue paper off of a table following a meeting with the president of Germany and the British prime minister provoked rumours that the item in question was not a Kleenex but a bag of cocaine. But Macron's behaviour in the moments after Monday's caught-on-camera exchange upon arrival in Vietnam suggests something more than the exchange of a love tap. From the door of the airplane, the polished-in-public leader waved quickly and awkwardly to the press and dignitaries waiting on the tarmac down below. A few moments later, he was joined by his wife, who ignored his offer of an escort down the stairs. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It was a private moment that will surely give fresh breath to the chatter about France's most famous May-December marriage. Macron was just 17 years old when he fell for his then-teacher, who was married with three children. He recounted the beginnings of their relationship in his book 'Revolution', which was released ahead of his ascension to the French presidency in 2017. He described it as an intellectual union that led them to a complicated and transgressive romance. 'The real courage came from her. She had three children and a husband. I was nothing more than a student. She didn't love me for what I had, for the comfort and security I brought her. She gave all of that up for me,' he wrote. The relationship was put on hold while Macron moved to Paris to study, but their emotions for one another survived the time and distance apart. They married in 2007. Macron was elected to a five-year term as president in 2017. He was re-elected in 2022. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW French presidents have a long history of having their private lives going public. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy divorced shortly after he was elected president in 2007. His wife left him for another man and moved to the United States. A few months later, in February 2008, Sarkozy married the French-Italian model and singer Carla Bruni after a highly publicized whirlwind romance. In 2014, the socialist François Hollande was caught by a paparazzi photographer slipping away from his presidential palace incognito on a scooter with a helmet to meet his lover, the French actress Julie Gayet. And Jacques Chirac betrayed his wife of six decades, Bernadette, on numerous occasions, including a 10-year relationship he started with a young journalist who reported on him when he was mayor of Paris, a relationship that ended abruptly when Chirac was elected president.
