Latest news with #healthAwareness
Arab News
2 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Deputy governor of Qassim launches ‘World No Smoking Day' events
BURAIDAH: Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Faisal bin Saad, deputy governor of the Al-Qassim region, launched the 'World No Smoking Day' events on Thursday. Organized by Tadarak, an anti-smoking association, the events were launched during a visit by Ayman Al-Raqiba, director general at the Health Ministry in Qassim, to the deputy governor's office. During the meeting, Prince Fahd was briefed on the association's awareness efforts in collaboration with health authorities. These efforts include high-quality programs focused on smoking prevention, treatment and education, aimed at enhancing quality of life and aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Australia sets grim new world's worst cancer rate - as the possible reasons for the surge in cases are revealed
Young Aussies have been warned they are facing a 'stark reality' and to be vigilant for symptoms as cases of a serious form of cancer surge. New research from the University of Melbourne unveiled this week revealed that bowel cancer diagnoses have more than doubled for Australians below the age of 50 over the last three decades. The study found that more than 28,265 Aussies aged 20-49 were diagnosed with 49 early-onset bowel cancer between 1990 and 2020. The authors suggested that, during the same period, there has been an increase in cases which resulted in an additional 4347 diagnosed with the early-onset condition. Bowel Cancer Australia advocate Stephanie Bansemer-Brown was 42 when she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in 2012. 'The GP dismissed my symptoms as haemorrhoids and put my tiredness down to being a busy mother of a toddler,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'I knew something wasn't right with my body so eventually I insisted on a colonoscopy.' Ms Bansemer-Brown was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer and had extensive surgery followed by chemotherapy. 'I am lucky I pushed for further investigation otherwise my now-teenage son would have been without a mother. That is the stark reality,' she said. Earlier this year, a global study published in The Lancet found Australia has the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer in the world, with a faster surge in cases found among women. But Professor Mark Jenkins from University of Melbourne's colorectal cancer unit has warned the cause of the increasing number of cases remains unclear. 'More and more people are diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer each year and we don't know why,' he told ABC Radio National. 'Probably the strongest theory at the moment is it's something to do with the bacteria in our gut, which we call the microbiome... Maybe they've become more toxic.' Professor Jenkins and his colleagues have also looked at theories centred on trends of increasing obesity and decreasing physical activity among Australians. He also suggested there are theories focused on the decline in aspirin use during childhood, which protects people from the cancer, and the presence of microplastics in food. 'But it could be something else completely. It could be an unknown factor that we haven't thought of,' he said. Professor Jenkins and other advocates have urged Aussies to be aware of 'red flags' ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in June. Those aged 45-49 are eligible for the national bowel cancer screening program which helps with diagnosing cases. Younger Aussies are also urged to be vigilant for symptoms including blood in stool, changes to bowel habits and unexplained or unexpected weight loss or tiredness. Twelve years since her diagnosis, Ms Bansemer-Brown shared her story to raise awareness. 'You are never too young for bowel cancer and I encourage everyone to recognise the signs and symptoms,' she said. 'You must be a champion for your own health and if you are not happy with the response then seek another opinion. 'You know your body better than anyone.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
What are the early signs of bowel cancer? And how can young Australians get tested for it?
Australia is in the unenviable position of having the highest rates of bowel cancer in people under 50 in the world. The perception it is an 'older person's disease' is being overturned. Rates in those over 50 have declined in Australia, while early-onset cases in people under 50 are rising by up to 8% a year. It is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 44, and the risk of being diagnosed in Australia under the age of 40 has more than doubled since 2000. Experts say they still do not know what has prompted Australians born in the 1990s to be diagnosed at three times the rate of those born in the 1950s. Nevertheless, they say it's important to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms among young people which are often easily dismissed. The most common signs and symptoms of early-onset bowel cancer are blood in the stool, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits and unexplained weight loss. Bowel Cancer Australia says people should not delay talking to their GP if they are experiencing any of these symptoms for two weeks or more – when diagnosed early, almost 99% of cases can be successfully treated. Although many of the symptoms are common to multiple health concerns, Bowel Cancer Australia urges people not to accept 'you're too young to have bowel cancer' as an explanation for symptoms, and to ask for further investigations. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email A colorectal surgeon and Bowel Cancer Australia's medical director, Associate Prof Graham Newstead, says some people experience no symptoms. The most obvious symptoms tend to emerge as the growth in the bowel from polyp to cancer becomes large enough to partially block the bowel. Thisresults in a change in bowel habit 'that's more than the dinner you ate last night upsetting you'. There are key barriers to early detection – a lack of symptom awareness and stigma among them. Bowel Cancer Australia's chief executive, Julien Wiggins, says the organisation has tried to overcome people's 'taboo around checking their poo'by partnering with Kleenex to create a roll that reminds them to do so. Screening is able to detect small amounts of blood in the stool which has leaked from growths in the bowel – even if you can't see it yourself. The government's national screening program sends at-home test kits to in the mail to every Australian every two years starting from age 50. That runs up until age 74. Since July 2024, 45- to 49-year-olds can opt in to request the test for free, and then will start receiving it every two years. People aged 40 to 44 can go to their GP and request a test. For people under 40, tests have to be bought out of pocket but Bowel Cancer Australia is advocating for lowering the screening age in response to the increasing rates of bowel cancer in younger people. If a test comes back positive, or people notice any other symptoms such as a lump or swelling in the abdomen or extreme tiredness for no reason, they should follow up with a GP who can refer them to get a colonoscopy. Age, family history, hereditary conditions and personal health history can all influence bowel cancer risk – they're known as 'non-modifiable' risk factors because they cannot be changed. There are also modifiable risk factors which can be controlled, including diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance. Alcohol, smoking, eating too much red meat or processed meats and having increased body fat are known to increase risk. One study of more than 540,000 women has found that each 20g of alcohol a day – about the amount found in a large glass of wine – was linked to a 15% higher risk of bowel cancer, while each 30g of red and processed meat a day was linked to an 8% increase in risk of the disease. That same study found each daily 300mg of calcium, about the amount found in half a pint of milk, was associated with a 17% lower risk of bowel cancer – the same decrease Bowel Cancer Australia says is associated with eating at least 90g of wholegrains a day, such as brown rice or wholemeal bread. Recreational physical activity can reduce risk of colon (not rectal) cancer by 16%. Bowel Cancer Australia recommends including dairy products such as low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese in your daily diet, or considering calcium supplements if you are lactose-intolerant, as well as filling two-thirds or more of your plate with wholegrains, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts to get more dietary fibre.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Australians urged to ‘check their poo' amid ‘deadly' cancer rise
A mum-of-two has detailed how a change in her toilet habits revealed she had developed a 'deadly' cancer that is on the rise in Australia. Natalie Hunter, 45, started having stomach issues four years ago, but didn't think much of it. Eventually, the situation worsened, so she went to visit a doctor and was diagnosed with diverticulitis, a condition where pouches in the colon become inflamed. A year on, she had a plethora of blood tests done where it was discovered she had low iron levels — again, she didn't think it was anything to worry about. But, six months later she began to notice a change in her bathroom habits. 'My stools had started to thin out, and had gone really dark — this was around Christmas time,' she told 'It was late in the year, and I was celebrating more and eating extra things so I thought my tummy just wasn't happy. 'But after being constipated for about five days, I went to the GP and he gave me a medication they use for colonoscopies.' The Sunshine Coast woman said the medication made her stomach feel like it was shifting, but didn't result in her being able to go to the toilet, so, she went to the GP where the same thing happened again. By this point, she was 'beside herself' in pain, and it landed her in the emergency room where a scan was performed and a tumour that was blocking her bowel was discovered. Doctors diagnosed her with stage four bowel cancer, explaining that the tumours had spread to her liver, and one was size of her palm. In a split second, the mum-of-two's life completely changed. While the disease, also known as colorectal, colon and rectal cancer, is more common in older people, new data shows that Australia has the highest rates of bowel cancer in people aged under 50 in the world. The spike in those aged 25–49 developing the condition has been described as 'alarming' by experts, with people in that age group warned to pay attention to their bodies. For Ms Hunter, the thinning and the darkness in her stool was an indicator that her bowel was narrowing and bleeding, she said. But common signs include blood in stools, changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, and unexplained tiredness. Not even 24 hours into being in hospital, Ms Hunter was fitted with a stoma bag so she could go to the bathroom, which helped relieve her pain. Her kids, who were 11 and 14 at the time, were unaware of what was going on as she wanted to make sure she first had a clear treatment path. 'It just threw everything in turmoil. Work-wise, I ran my own business, and I had to cancel clients for like a year out because we didn't know how long it was going to take,' she said. Her treatment started three weeks after she was diagnosed, with chemotherapy being used in order to shrink the tumours so doctors could operate. Then she had her first liver resection, a procedure where part of the liver is moved to prevent the cancer from spreading, but she had to wait for it to grow back to have the same procedure again. 'All up they had removed 70 per cent of my liver and I ended up being really sick for months afterwards,' she said. 'I was in and out of hospital every other day and having to do weekly stays because I kept getting infections. 'My body was just really struggling and then all of a sudden I turned a corner.' But the good news didn't last long for the Bowel Cancer Australia advocate, who started getting bowel obstructions yet again, but this time it was due to the scar tissue. Then, during a routine follow up scan in September 2024, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her lungs. Now, she's currently on a course of 'heavy duty' chemotherapy. Ms Hunter is sharing her story to make other Australians aware of the symptoms — such as fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss and changes in bowel habits — as she herself had no clue, or any family history of the illness. She also wants to show that bowel cancer isn't something that only impacts older people. As part of her advocacy work, Ms Hunter is taking part in a campaign with Kleenex and Bowel Cancer Australia to help Australians learn more about symptoms of the potentially deadly disease. It encourages Aussies to 'check their poo'. The products will feature a link to find more information about it and support. Adam Carpenter, mill manager at Kimberley-Clark Australia, said: 'Bowel cancer is the country's second-deadliest and most deadly cancer for Australians aged 25-54, but is 99 per cent treatable if detected in the earliest stage. 'Knowing the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer is key to early detection, including noticeable changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or tiredness, and blood in the stool. 'However a lack of symptom awareness and the stigma and taboos around checking your poo are a major barrier in catching the disease early.' Ms Hunter said many people are embarrassed to bring up what happens in their bathroom, but it's 'as normal as breathing'. 'We have to check our poos,' she said.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling reveals excruciating symptoms she ignored before her shock cancer diagnosis
Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling has revealed the excruciating symptoms she ignored prior to her bowel cancer diagnosis in December 2023. The relationship expert, 53, said she was experiencing significant pain before doctors discovered a 5cm tumour in her ascending colon. 'I had extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, complete loss of appetite, prolonged constipation and eventually, the most extreme abdominal pain,' she told 9Entertainment. 'Looking back, it was on par with contractions during childbirth. I put it all down to a big, busy year and thought I just needed a rest.' Mel has now partnered with Bowel Cancer Australia and Kleenex Australia and launched a campaign urging Aussie to take the uncomfortable step of inspecting their bowel movements for signs of illness. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'The biggest lesson I've learned is that if I'd listened to my body, if I'd paid attention to the signs, I could have avoided so much pain and suffering,' she wrote on social media. Mel urged Australians to look out for the following symptoms - Blood in stools and change in bowel habit, weight loss you can't explain, extreme tiredness for no reason and lump or swelling in your abdomen. The Australian-born reality star said she aims to remove the taboo about openly about the embarrassing topic to raise cancer awareness. 'Perhaps the biggest issue is we are too uncomfortable to talk about our poo. Come on people, we're AUSSIES! Surely, if we can talk openly about sex and money, we can chat about a little poo? Yes?' she wrote. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia back in January, Mel opened up about her health journey. Mel, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer during a busy period of travel between London and Sydney, described how the diagnosis completely shifted her perspective on life. 'I wasn't listening to my body,' she admitted. 'I thought the symptoms—feeling bloated, not sleeping well, and having no appetite—were just jet lag. To find out it was a tumour was such a surprise.' Fortunately, Mel's is on the mend and is still in remission. 'I feel really strong. I've got my energy back, my spunk back—the spring in my step. There's no stopping me now!' she said at the time. Mel also revealed the pivotal role her daughter Maddie, 10, played in her recovery. 'She became my little cheerleader. When I couldn't get out of bed, she'd put on shows for me, singing and dancing. That was her way of coping. It lifted me up so much,' she added. Since going public with her diagnosis, Mel has made it her mission to raise awareness about bowel cancer, particularly for younger people. Having relocated to the UK, Mel confirmed she now calls London home, with her husband Gareth Brisbane, and daughter Maddie settling into school and thriving.
