Latest news with #HEALTH
The Irish Sun
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I was doing face mask when I noticed swollen eye before shock diagnosis & had to have it REMOVED
A MUM suffering with a swollen eye was forced to have it REMOVED after cancer pushed it out of the socket - leaving her with a bulging eyeball. Sara McGarvey first noticed her right eye was swollen when she did a face mask one night in January 2023. Advertisement 4 Sara McGarvey pictured with her son Michael Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 4 She was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2023 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media The senior social worker brushed it off until discussing the symptoms with concerned colleagues the next day who pushed her to visit an eye clinic. After a CT scan, MRI scan and two biopsies, Sara was diagnosed with undifferentiated round cell By that point the tumour, which was located in the top corner of her right eyelid, had caused Sara's eyeball to 'turn sideways' and bulge further and further out of her head. The mum-of-one feared 'she was going to die' and underwent five gruelling rounds of chemotherapy in a desperate attempt to shrink the cancer. Advertisement READ MORE IN HEALTH After the chemotherapy was unsuccessful, Sara had surgery to remove her right eyeball, as well as the tumour, in November 2023. To ensure that the cancer had been removed completely, Sara underwent seven weeks of proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester in February 2024. The 36-year-old rang the bell to signify the end of her treatment on April 12th 2024 and received the news that she was cancer free in May 2024. Sara credits her colleagues with 'saving her life' as they pushed her to visit the eye clinic. Advertisement Most read in Health Now cancer-free for more than a year, Sara is encouraging anyone who finds a lump or anything unusual to visit their doctor as soon as possible and not wait to get it checked. 'GRIM' Sara, from Co Down, "It got progressively worse between January and April [2023]. It didn't necessarily move out, it kind of turned. "It got progressively worse and it took six months to get an actual diagnosis. Advertisement "For sarcoma that's relatively fast - people wait years for a diagnosis and by that stage it's too late. "I remember lying there in silence in the bath one night. I turned off the taps and it was just quiet. There was no noise - I didn't put any music on. "I remember just saying 'please don't let me die, please don't let me die'. "At the time the chemo wasn't attacking the tumour, it wasn't getting smaller and it wasn't getting bigger, so they decided that surgery would be the best option." Advertisement On November 30 2023, Sara underwent surgery to have the tumour removed, along with her right eye. Sara said: "At the time I didn't care that my eye was going to be removed, I just wanted rid of the cancer. "I just needed it to be gone. "My son was two at the time so to see me one day with two eyes and then the next day with one was probably quite difficult for him, but he managed it extremely well. Advertisement "I'm very lucky, I've had my son, my husband Andrew, and my mum Mary, who's a nurse - if it wasn't for her then it would have been so much more difficult." 'INDESCRIBABLE RELIEF' Sara says that being there to see her son Michael McGarvey, now aged four, grow up was her main concern and she was 'overjoyed' when she was given the all-clear in May 2024. Sara said: "I can't even describe it. It's indescribable relief. "I think for me a lot of my fear and anxiety was around Michael. Advertisement "When I was first diagnosed, my head went to protecting him and making sure that he was impacted as little as possible by what was going to happen next. "The fact that I could just go home and hug him and kiss him and play with him and be happy and healthy and watch him grow up and go to primary school. "These are all of the things that for a period of time I didn't think I was going to be able to do. "I was overjoyed, I was excited about what the future held." Advertisement 'SAVING HER LIFE' Sara credits her colleagues with 'saving her life' - and each year on the anniversary of a diagnosis she thanks them over text for pushing her to go for the check-up. Sara said: "If my friends at work didn't make me go to be seen [at the eye clinic] things could have been so different. "The sarcoma had the potential to grow very quickly and spread very quickly and if it wasn't caught when it was caught, the outcome would have been very much worse. "Every year on the anniversary of my diagnosis I text them to say thank you. Advertisement "They did absolutely save my life, 100 per cent, it was massive." WHAT IS UNDIFFERENTIATED ROUND CELL SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA? Undifferentiated round cell soft tissue sarcoma is an extremely rare form of sarcoma. It can start almost anywhere inside the soft tissue of the body including muscles, fat, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons. The most common symptom is a lump somewhere on your body which is usually solid to the touch, painless and hard to move around under the skin. Soft tissue sarcomas are usually treated using surgery and radiotherapy. Sara, who is now in the process of seeing a specialist doctor to have a prosthetic eye fitted, is encouraging anyone else who finds a lump to go to their doctor. Sara said: "When I had the surgery to remove it I didn't want Michael to be afraid of how I looked. "They used the top eyelid to close it over but then in February it started to open, which is why I now have a big hole. Advertisement "I have my first plastics appointment next week. "Initially I was told I might not be eligible for a prosthetic but the consultant thinks they can make me one, which is exciting. "Michael starts primary school this year in September so being able to look normal for him going to school is something I'm really, really excited about. "If anyone has a lump I'd say see a doctor straight away. Don't wait because I would have waited and then it could have been so much worse." Advertisement 4 Sara is now in the process of seeing a specialist doctor to have a prosthetic eye fitted Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 4 The cancer pushed her eye out of the socket Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
West Australian
26-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Heart Health free sessions coming to Wheatbelt communities
The Wheatbelt community is invited to attend free 'Your Heart Your Health' sessions on common cardiac conditions and prevention of heart attack. Hollywood Private Hospital Cardiologist Dr Kushwin Rajamani, who has been sub-specialty trained in rhythm disorders, will be presenting his authority on the subject at six venues between June 28 and 29. 'It's an honour to be part of something that I believe will genuinely save lives,' he said. Dr Rajamani has had an extensive international training background in Europe, Australia, and the US. His presentation to raise awareness about heart disease will include a talk on the book 'In a Heartbeat' which aims to answer questions and motivate people to make healthy and sustained change. Author Rachel Cassidy, who had a critical heart attack, included inspiring survival stories in her book. 'Every heart attack is different,' she said. Her book, launched in February, contains a resource section to seek valuable contacts. Dr Rajamani, who contributed to the book, shared his own journey from Sri Lanka to Australia and his passion for improving early detection of atrial fibrillation. 'This book fills a massive void — it brings together real stories and expert context in one volume, making it relatable and accessible to patients,' he said. 'It gives people ownership over their heart health in a way that inspires sustained action.' To RSVP, text name and desired location to 0404 606 517, limited seating for 50 people. YOUR HEALTH YOUR HEART - WHEN AND WHERE Saturday, June 28 Narrogin: 9.30am to 10.30am at John Higgins Centre Kondinin: 2.30pm to 3.15am at Kondinin Country Club Merredin: 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Merredin CRC Sunday, June 29 Kellerberrin: 10am to 11am at Kellerberrin CRC Wongan Hills: 12.30pm to 1.30pm at Wongan Hills CRC Gingin: 3pm to 4pm at Gingin Recreation Centre
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Major change to childhood immunisation schedule after concern over surge in killer infection
Plus, everything you need to know about the MMR jab - from whether it's safe to what it's made from JABS UP Major change to childhood immunisation schedule after concern over surge in killer infection HEALTH chiefs have unveiled "significant" changes to the childhood vaccination schedule following a sharp rise in cases of a deadly infection. The age at which children get the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella has been brought forward from three years old to just 18 months. Advertisement 1 It comes after the UK has seen a huge spike in measles cases over the last few years, while vaccine rates have plummeted. Globally, rates of the lethal Victorian disease had doubled in the past year alone. Two doses offer up to 99 per cent protection against measles, mumps and rubella, which can lead to deadly meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy. Officals from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) hope the move with "improve uptake and provide earlier protection". Advertisement There are four other changes to the jab programme which will "optimise the overall protection of children in the UK", they added. One of the main tweaks is the introduction of a new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine, given at 18 months. This jab protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (also known as pertussis), polio, hepatitis B and Hib - short for haemophilus influenzae type b. Hib is a type of bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections like meningitis and sepsis. Advertisement The change will apply to children turning one on or after July 1, 2025, who will then be offered the extra dose when they hit 18 months. Health officials say the update is needed because the current Hib/Men C vaccine, called Menitorix, which is offered at the one-year mark, is being discontinued due to supply issues. Dr Philippa Kaye urges parents to get their children vaccinated as measles infections surge Despite this, the 12-month appointment will still include the first dose of the MMR vaccine. along with booster shots for meningitis B and pneumococcal disease. Other changes involve the second dose of the meningitis B vaccine being given earlier, at 12 weeks instead of 16. This follows a recent study showing that earlier protection could be more effective. Advertisement To balance this out and avoid too many jabs at one time, the first dose of the pneumococcal vaccine is being moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks. From January 1, 2026, children turning 18 months will be offered their second MMR jab much earlier than before - at 18 months instead of waiting until three years and four months. However, kids who are already between 18 months and three years four months on January 1, 2026, will stay on the current schedule and get their second MMR dose at the usual time. Changes to routine childhood immunisation schedule From July 2025: The Hib/Men C vaccine (Menitorix) will no longer be given to children turning one. will no longer be given to children turning one. The second meningitis B dose will be moved from 16 weeks to 12 weeks . will be moved from . The first pneumococcal (PCV) dose will be moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks . will be moved from . The monovalent hepatitis B dose given at one year (for some babies) will be stopped. From January 2026: A new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) will be introduced at 18 months . of the will be introduced at . The second MMR dose will be moved from 3 years 4 months to 18 months. Latest NHS Digital data shows that in some parts of England, up to three in ten children haven't had both MMR jabs by the time they turn five. Advertisement But the figure needs to be above 90 per cent to stop outbreaks, public health guidance says. Measles mostly produces flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, a cold, and a blotchy rash that is usually not itchy. But in some cases, it can travel to other parts of the body, like the lungs or brain, and cause serious illness. Complications include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, seizures, and death. Advertisement It is transmitted through direct contact with airborne droplets that spread when a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It's very unlikely to be measles if you've had both MMR vaccine doses or had measles before. The MMR vaccine is free to everyone on the NHS and is available from GP surgeries. 'Will save the lives of more very young babies' Professor Azeem Majeed, from Imperial College London, told GP magazine Pulse: "The changes to the NHS childhood vaccination programme have important implications for general practices and parents of children in England. Advertisement "For general practices, the guidance requires significant adjustments to vaccination schedules, increased administrative efforts, and proactive communication to ensure compliance and maintain high uptake. "For parents, the changes mean adapting to a new 18-month appointment, understanding the revised schedule based on their child's birth date, and ensuring timely vaccinations." Dr Julie Yates, from UKHSA, added: "Following a review of the latest evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a number of changes to optimise the Childhood Immunisation programme and increase overall protection of children in the UK. "With the UK close to seeing an end to Meningitis C circulating, JCVI advised that a vaccination is no longer required for infants due to the excellent population protection provided by the adolescent Meningitis ACWY programme. Advertisement "Other changes, such as the bringing forward of the Meningitis B vaccine are based on evidence that will save the lives of more very young babies."
