Latest news with #treatment
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Manx patients warned of England resident doctor strike impact
Manx patients intending to travel to England for treatment have been warned to expect cancellations when resident doctor strikes begin on Friday. On Tuesday, the British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed a five-day strike by resident doctors - the new name for junior doctors - would go ahead, with consultant doctors asked to cover duties over the strike Care said151 patients were booked to travel to England for appointments on strike days, and about 75% - an estimated 113 procedures - would be cancelled, adding patients would be contacted directly if the appointments needed to be appointments, such as cancer treatment, would continue, the health body said. Patients who are not contacted should "assume" their appointment is still going ahead, Manx Care the announcement, NHS England has ordered hospitals only to cancel non-urgent care, such as hip and knee operations, in exceptional circumstances. But the BMA believes plans to limit the number of routine treatments being cancelled will stretch senior doctors too thinly and could "lead to harm" for England, resident doctors were awarded an average 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two the union says wages are still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008 and are demanding "pay restoration".The UK's Health Secretary Wes Streeting said resident doctors had had the most-generous pay rises in the public sector for two years running, calling strike action "completely unjustified".Talks had been taking place between the UK government and the BMA, with a focus on improving working conditions for resident doctors, before the union reaffirmed the industrial action. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hospitals should BAN all attention seeking selfies
I was lying in an uncomfortable hospital bed with a drip in one arm and a pulse monitor on my finger, trying to sleep as midnight crept ever closer. As a machine bleeped at my side, I wondered if I was imagining the flashing lights I kept seeing all around me on the ward, still woozy from the anaesthetic.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Fast Five Quiz: Appendicitis
Although the hallmark signs of appendicitis are well known, diagnosis and management evolve. Factors such as the patient's sex, season of presentation, and preceding procedures can influence clinical decision-making and complicate the diagnostic picture. Meanwhile, discussions abound around new treatment options such as nonoperative management with antibiotics and surgical options, including open vs laparoscopic appendectomy. How much do you know about the diagnostic strategies, treatment approaches, and postoperative complications associated with appendicitis? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz. In a patient presenting with signs suggestive of appendicitis after undergoing a colonoscopy, the preferred imaging tool is CT. CT is highly effective at detecting appendiceal inflammation and can help rule out other potential colonoscopy complications (eg, bowel perforation). Although ultrasonography might assist in diagnosing appendicitis, its lower sensitivity and operator dependence limit its reliability, especially in post-colonoscopy cases. Radiography lacks the detail needed to visualize the appendix or diagnose appendicitis reliably, making it unsuitable for this purpose. MRI, although capable of detecting appendicitis, is not typically used in acute-care settings due to its cost, limited availability, and longer acquisition time. Learn more about CT scanning. Surgical approaches tend to differ by sex, with women more commonly receiving minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopic), whereas men more often undergo open surgeries. However, women have a higher chance of developing surgical complications. No significant difference in overall analgesia administration is found between men and women. Although antibiotics are sometimes used to treat appendicitis nonsurgically, limited evidence supports significant sex-based preference for this method, and it is not widely practiced as a standard alternative to surgery. Learn more about laparoscopic appendectomy. Appendicitis tends to occur more frequently during the summer months, as shown in research examining seasonal fluctuations in diagnosis rates. This pattern has been seen in both males and females, with a notable rise in cases during warmer weather, although the exact reason for this increase remains uncertain. Spring and winter do not show as strong a correlation as summer. Fall has not been linked with a noticeable rise in appendicitis cases. Learn more about appendicitis. After an appendectomy, the most frequent issue facing patients is infection at the site of the surgical incision. This complication remains the leading postoperative concern regardless of the surgical technique used. Hernia is not commonly seen after an appendectomy and tends to develop later, often related to improper wound healing or incisional stress. Septicemia and intestinal obstruction are common complications after appendectomy, although they occur less frequently than wound infection. Learn more about hernias. Appendectomy remains the preferred treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis, as it consistently offers reliable results and a lower risk for recurrence compared to antibiotics. Although antibiotic therapy can be a safe option for selected patients, especially those aiming to avoid surgery, it carries the potential for treatment failure and future recurrence. Antibiotics are typically the treatment of choice for delayed presentations of appendicitis that are associated with phlegmon formation. Patients who initially receive antibiotics and later need surgery do not appear to have a higher rate of perforation than those who undergo surgery from the outset. Learn more about appendectomies.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Fit and healthy' dad who smelt caramel ended up with aggressive brain cancer
Chip shop owner Costa Fantis received a devastating diagnosis after starting to smell a sweet "caramel" aroma from time to time. After multiple examinations, the dad-of-four received the devastating news he had stage 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. Since receiving his diagnosis, the 57-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, has received radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the only treatment options offered through the NHS for his type of cancer. The NHS identifies surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted medications as conventional treatments for glioblastoma. In 2005, you were on MySpace. Scrolling through your iPod. Watching the first videos on YouTube. 👾 That was also the last time glioblastoma treatment saw a major breakthrough. Soon, that changes. We're ushering in a new era of genomic testing designed just for glioblastoma —… — Glioblastoma Foundation (@glioblastf) July 16, 2025 Currently, his relatives are trying to raise £350,000 for a potentially life-extending treatment in Germany, with total costs expected to reach approximately £464,000. Antonio, Costa's 27-year-old son who works as a quantity surveyor in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "All of our lives have just been flipped upside down. His sense of smell changed and he kept getting this strange, sweet caramel smell. We didn't think much of it. We definitely didn't know it was a symptom of something so serious." The alteration in Costa's sense of smell remained the only sign anything was wrong. Antonio continued: "It's really bizarre because symptoms-wise, he didn't have much at all. On the odd occasion, he would have a caramel smell, a sweet smell. But it would happen very quickly and once a month or so." "From what we now know they define them as mini seizures; they last seconds; nothing happens to you while you do it." Costa initially suspected he might be dealing with epilepsy, something he had experienced earlier in life. Antonio said that, as a family, they didn't really look into it but advised his dad to get a scan, thinking it was likely linked to his past epilepsy. "We weren't really thinking anything of it at all as he was a really fit and healthy man" However, in April, the family faced a horrible truth - Costa was found to have stage 4 brain cancer. Antonio said: "We were shellshocked. We didn't really know how to take it. "We were worried, scared, nervous, but then still trying to get to grips with the situation and what was going on because he had no symptoms. It just kind of proves that you can be a fit and healthy man, yet still have something wrong with you." Antonio continued: "My dad is a fighter. He's always fought all of his life. His nickname has been Rambo all of his life, because he's just known to get through any battle he's had to face. "He was shocked. He was taken aback. He was stunned. He didn't know how to react and I still don't think he knows how to react. The only things the NHS offer, which is the massive problem and why we're doing the fundraising, is a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In the last 20 years the treatments haven't changed for glioblastomas in the UK. "So it's quite a scary thing to be diagnosed with, knowing that there's not much the NHS can do. Put it this way, they're telling us in the consultancy meetings not to cut back on anything and just enjoy your life, in the most harrowing way possible." The family refuses to give up hope. Inspired by success stories, they are exploring alternative therapies abroad, such as DC vaccine therapy in Munich, oncothermia as part of a clinical trial in London, a three-phase immunotherapy programme at the IZOK Clinic in Cologne, and peptide vaccine treatment from a specialist lab in Tübingen. The family needs to raise around £464,000 for these treatments, and have already managed to fundraise more than £260,000. If you want the link to his GoFundMe, follow this link. Costa has recently completed his radiotherapy and chemotherapy courses and has demonstrated an encouraging response, although it remains too early to assess the complete impact of these treatments. Antonio said: "It's harrowing what's going on with treatments for GMBs and the progress they've made over the last 20 years, not just for my dad but for every other patient who is suffering with the same thing. "It's almost like you get this and 'bye-bye', because the diagnosis is a grade four brain tumour glioblastoma, that is unmethylated and it's IDH wild type. Those two things mean it's the worst type of brain cancer you can get. But in reality there is so much that can be offered." Recommended reading: 'Breakthrough' for hay fever sufferers as new drug offers 'improved life' Can cyclists be fined for speeding on UK roads? Here is all you need to know John Torode and Gregg Wallace 'off with each other' and 'were never friends' The overwhelming wave of solidarity from their community has profoundly touched the family. Antonio continued: "My dad is a hard-working, typical father figure. Raised three kids, he's got his grandkids. He's loving, he's generous, he'll do anything for anybody. "He's very giving, which is why I think he's reaped the rewards now in terms of people giving back and the GoFundMe. He loves rugby, he used to coach the local football and rugby team when I was growing up. "He's so down to earth, always looking to help people - good morals, good values - but he's a hard worker and he'll fight this just like any battle he has faced before. And he's faced some battles. So this is just going to be another one, it's the toughest test yet."
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Methotrexate Success Varies in Ectopic Pregnancy Types
TOPLINE: Overall success rates for intramuscular (IM) methotrexate were comparable between recurrent and primary ectopic pregnancy cases, but single-dose treatment was less effective in recurrent cases. Analysis of 3944 patients revealed that multidose regimens achieved similar success rates in both groups, suggesting a potential benefit of routine multidose treatment for recurrent cases. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases through February 2025, following PRISMA guidelines for meta-analysis. Analysis included 3944 patients (502 with recurrent and 3442 with primary ectopic pregnancy) from 15 observational studies, with patients aged ≥ 18 years receiving IM methotrexate treatment. The primary outcome measure was treatment success, defined as complete resolution of ectopic pregnancy without requiring further intervention. TAKEAWAY: Single-dose IM methotrexate had lower success rates in patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancy than in those with a primary ectopic pregnancy (relative risk [RR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-1.00; P = .050). Multidose IM methotrexate treatment showed no significant difference in success rates between recurrent and primary ectopic pregnancy groups (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.71-1.84; P = .590). Substantial heterogeneity was observed among studies analyzing single-dose (I² = 73.0%) and multidose (I² = 64.0%) treatment outcomes. IN PRACTICE: 'Current observational data suggest that patients with recurrent ectopic pregnancy should be considered for multidose IM methotrexate to achieve similar rates of success compared with primary ectopic pregnancy,' wrote the authors of the study. SOURCE: The study was led by Shreya Bhat, MBChB, PGDipOMG, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Palmerston North Hospital, Te Whatu Ora MidCentral in Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand. It was published online in Obstetrics & Gynecology. LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, substantial heterogeneity in outcome definitions and baseline cohort characteristics between studies affected the analysis. Most studies were retrospective cohort designs, introducing potential selection bias and confounding factors. The researchers noted that over 50% of studies failed to identify relevant confounding variables, which likely contributed to the large observed CIs for effect estimates. DISCLOSURES: The authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
