Sir Chris Hoy backs calls for overhaul of prostate cancer screenings

Sir Chris Hoy, 49, revealed he was diagnosed with terminal stage four prostate cancer in 2023, with the disease having spread to his bones.
Diagnosed at 47, below the typical NHS high-risk age of 50, he is advocating for systemic change to prostate cancer testing protocols.
Hoy urges earlier screening, specifically for high-risk men like those with a family history or Black men, starting from age 45.
His advocacy aims to prevent late diagnoses, emphasizing that earlier detection makes the disease easier to treat.
Prostate Cancer UK supports his call for an overhaul of NHS guidelines to empower GPs to proactively discuss testing with high-risk men.

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The Herald Scotland

17 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

Blair 'helping' Scottish Labour with SNP election battle

It is expected to be a large part of Labour's campaigning next May as it seeks to make the problems in the NHS a central issue. It reportedly working on how to improve access to GPs and use technology to drive down waiting lists. There is no fee involved in the work. READ MORE: The former PM is a controversial figure inside and outwith Labour despite being the only person to lead the party to consecutive election wins. Mr Blair led Labour between 1995 and 2007. He was Prime Minister from 1997 for 10 years, winning three general elections. Scotland's NHS is facing huge problems, with one in six Scots on a waiting list for treatment. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, told The Times: 'Our NHS is stretched to breaking point and technology is a way to ease that pressure — but the SNP is squandering the opportunity. "From GP practices using fax machines to doctors relying on pagers, the SNP is running an analogue health service in a digital age. GPs have been sounding the alarm about how a woeful lack of basic IT is holding them back — it's time we have a government that will listen. 'A Scottish Labour government will put Scotland on the cutting edge of medical innovation and modernise our NHS so it is fit for the future.' A Tony Blair Institute spokesman said: 'We are always happy to talk to any and all political parties who are interested in our work, all of which is published and publicly available." SNP MSP Clare Haughey said: 'That Anas Sarwar is taking advice on health from an organisation which has previously called for the selling of NHS patient's data for money is truly beyond belief. 'It is unbelievable that Scottish Labour are looking to the man that led us into the disastrous Iraq war to tell them what is best for Scotland. "Labour have nothing positive to offer Scotland - rather than listening to the people of Scotland, Labour are relying on the advice of has-beens like Tony Blair. "The SNP is the only party with a clear plan to build a better future for Scotland - improving our NHS, supporting families and workers through the cost-of-living crisis and creating new opportunities with the powers of independence."

Wales Online

20 minutes ago

• Wales Online

I took Mounjaro and the results changed my life

I took Mounjaro and the results changed my life Jess always struggled to manage her weight, however a year after using the controversial Mounjaro vaccine, she has now lost 100 pounds Jessica shared the moment where she was able to travel abroad - without using a belt extender (Image: Jessica Miles ) For Jess Miles, a 37-year-old secretary from Newcastle Emlyn, weight had always been a shadow in her life. It was a battle that stretched back from her childhood and stubbornly into adulthood. "I've been overweight since I was a kid. It got worse after I had my son, nearly 16 years ago," she says. "I've tried everything - Slimming World, Weight Watchers - you name it! I'd lose a couple of stone, then binge eat, put it all back on and give up until the next time." ‌ However, the wake up call came with two gut wrenching moments: stepping on the scale and seeing 24 stone and four pounds, and the whisper of her late mother's final wish. ‌ "I lost my mum just before COVID," Jess shared. "One of the last things she ever said to me was that she wanted me to lose weight. She was a big woman too, but after getting diagnosed with diabetes, she changed everything. She went from a size 26 to a 14 - it was really amazing to see. She did it - and she wanted the same thing for me." This echoed through Jess' mind when she looked at herself last year. "Reaching 24 stone.... I cried. Honestly, I felt ashamed of myself. I thought that if I don't do something, I won't live to see my son turn 18." A year ago, Jessica weighed 24 stone and four pounds (Image: Jessica Miles ) Article continues below That's when she found Mounjaro - a weight loss option that has become increasingly familiar in the public eye - for both positive and negative reasons. Jess had started seeing the name crop up on Facebook and TikTok, the latest buzz in weight loss. "It was everywhere," she recalled. "But I didn't know anyone who had tried it. Back then it was so new, so I was very apprehensive about it." It wasn't just the unknown that made her hesitate. It was the cost - upwards of £250 a month. "I kept putting it off, thinking 'I can't afford this'. But one day I just thought, b****r it! Something has to change and nothing else has worked!" ‌ Armed with this sudden burst of determination, she booked a consultation with Iechyd Teifi Health, a private clinic. On July 4, 2024, she walked in, shaking hands with the consultant with a pounding heart: "I actually said out loud, 'I don't know what I'm doing here.' I was so incredibly nervous." Jess was honest from the start about her biggest worry: the side effects. "The list was terrifying," she admits. "I have read that there are possible cases of thyroid cancer, liver and kidney issues.... not to mention the more common stuff like nausea or constipation." These concerns weren't unfounded. The NHS website notes, "Common side effects, include: ‌ Feeling sick Indigestion Constipation Diarrhoea "There can be some more serious side effects, such as low blood sugar, gallstones and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)." Fortunately, Jess had no underlying health conditions that would have put her at severe risk with the treatment. Through further discussion with the doctors at her workplace, Jess was given the green light to proceed - with agreement to have regular blood tests to keep everything in check. ‌ From the moment she took her first injection, almost a year ago, Jess says something shifted. "I had my first injection the day of my consultation. That night, I remember sitting down to eat and I just... couldn't," she said. "There was a full plate of food in front of me, and I managed about a quarter of it. I physically couldn't eat more. It was shocking. Normally I'd eat massive portions without a second thought." That initial shock was quickly followed by nausea, a side effect that lingered for the first few weeks and continues to take hold. "I wasn't used to it in the beginning. I felt sick a lot, especially the first weekend. I barely ate anything," Jess says. "But weirdly, I sort of needed that reset. It forced me to stop and think about what I was putting in my body." ‌ That thought struck after a late night stop at her local chippy. "I had a portion of chips and my gosh was I ill that night. It must have been all the grease and fat... From that point on, I realised I had to actually change what I eat." Jess didn't give up all her favourite foods - she didn't need to. But her relationship with them has changed. "Chocolate used to be my downfall. I used to be able to eat a whole bar of Galaxy in one sitting. Now? A square or two and I am genuinely satisfied." Jessica shared that she had always struggled with her weight but since taking the injection has seen an incredible difference (Image: Jessica Miles ) ‌ Her drastic change in appetite has also impacted her daily routine. "I don't eat breakfast now. A coffee keeps me going until about half ten and then I'll have a small portion of fruit before lunch. If I have a proper lunch, sometimes I don't have supper. I have cut down on all my snacking. The injection has changed everything." And yet in those early months, people didn't believe it would last. "I think a lot of my family and friends thought I'd give up like I always had before, and I don't blame them! I had a history of starting strong and then slipping back into old habits. "But this time was different. They started to take notice when I hit that two-stone mark. That's when they realised I was serious." Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here ‌ Jess' biggest cheerleader wasn't around to see it, but Jess knows that her mother is with her in spirit. "Honestly, she remains my biggest motivator, through all the tough moments. I know my mother is looking down on me and is proud of what I have achieved!" Week by week, stone by stone, the weight has come off. "I weigh myself every morning before work. I go in and tell the girls, 'I lost three pounds!' and they're just as excited as I am. Everyone has just been so amazing and supportive." For Jess, her biggest milestone came during a shopping trip. "I didn't really want to go clothes shopping because of how much my weight was fluctuating, but it got to the point where I was looking stupid going to work because of how oversized my normal clothes were. ‌ "I remember on that trip, picking up a t-shirt in New Look in my usual size 24, without thinking - it drowned me. So I grabbed a size 18 - still too big. I ended up buying a size 16. I hadn't been that size since school." She stood in front of the store, holding the old size against her body - gobsmacked. "I nearly cried. It wasn't about the clothes. It was seeing for the first time how far I come. No matter how much I look in the mirror, I can't register the changes, but in that moment it became undeniable." Now 49 weeks in, Jess has lost seven stone and two pounds - exactly 100 pounds. ‌ Jessica said that her friends and family can't get over the difference Mounjaro has made (Image: Jessica Miles ) "I still can't believe it," she says. "That weight is basically equal to a size of a small child.... it's crazy! It blows my mind." Beyond the physical changes, there has also been a change in mindset. "A small part of me used to dread weekends. I've got a little balloon business on the side, and I'd find myself sweating, exhausted putting party displays up. But I now find myself with this new lease of energy that makes me get up and want to do it." ‌ That renewed energy carried through to every part of her life - even travelling, something that once brought discomfort and embarrassment. "We went to Mallorca last year and to get on that plane and not need a belt extender? Oh my god, that was the best day of my life!" Those kind of moments - picking up a smaller size, getting through the weekend without feeling breathless, not using a belt extender - have defined Jess' year. She is now a comfortable size 18, with aspirations of reaching a size 16. "I'd say lose another two stone and I am happy. I am now preparing for my final injection - I will be stopping after this month. With the £250 a month I have been spending, I plan on putting it towards going to the gym and swimming to tone up! ‌ "I am so proud. I have honestly never been happier and that's really why I am sharing my story. I have seen so much bad conversation surround this injection and people who are on it are too embarrassed to even talk about it - but I am living proof of it working. "If you have no underlying health conditions - and I say this in big, bold, capital letters - then I would 100% advise anyone to take it. The impact it has had on me has been out of this world." There is a slight sting that this injection may become readily available over the counter after a short consultation - at the cost of an NHS prescription. The possibility was difficult pill for Jess to swallow, she confessed. ‌ "I was heartbroken," she says frankly. "One of the girls in work told me and I was swearing, ranting and raving. People are going to be able to walk into a doctors and get it for free when I've spent thousands. "That did hit me quite hard." Still, she understands the benefits of wider access - especially when done safely and with the right medical support. "I know it's safer through the NHS, because they have your full medical history. That's what really matters - making sure it's done properly." ‌ And for Jess, peace of mind was worth every penny. "I know I could've gotten it cheaper online, but I didn't trust it. I wanted to be supported and monitored. I felt safe doing through the clinic and I don't regret that." As Jess prepares to step into the next phase of her journey - one without Mounjaro, but with motivation - she hopes her story helps others feel less alone. She's already had dozens of people reach out through her social media. "Some people message me saying I've inspired them to try it. Others are asking about the side effects. I always say the same - for me it was mainly constipation and some nausea at the start. But nothing major. The nausea only hits if you overeat, because your body just can't handle it anymore." Article continues below Her routine is different now, more mindful. Smaller meals. Higher protein. Regular movement - even if it's just walking the dogs or getting her steps in during her lunch break. Yet her message is clear: "Be honest. Don't take it if you have underlying conditions. It's not a shortcut, it's hard work - but it does work."

Daily Mail​

28 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Woman says she lost 10st in two years - without Ozempic - by doing one daily exercise

A woman who gained 10st (6.3kg) because of a rare hormonal disorder credits one daily exercise for helping her lose the weight without the help of Ozempic in just two years. Hannah Mai, 37, was diagnosed with Cushing's disease in October 2020 after she put on 10st in two and a half years. The condition is caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol. Some of the most significant symptoms of the disease include weight gain around the middle of the body and around the upper back, as well as a rounded face. It is the same syndrome that US comedian Amy Schumer discovered she had earlier this year, having been diagnosed after receiving comments about her 'moon face' appearance. Hannah, from Coventry, Warwickshire, underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the pituitary tumour that causes the condition and was placed on steroid medication to control it. Then in 2023, she was taken off the steroid medication and became determined to lose the weight she had gained because of the disease. At the time, she weight 20st 5lbs (approximately 129kg) and was a dress size 26. However, she says that doing pilates everyday, in tandem with a high-protein diet, has helped her slim down to 10st 4lbs (approximately 65kg) - all without taking weight-loss jabs which are currently soaring in demand across the UK. Commenting on Ozempic, which is a diabetes medication but used off-label for weight loss, Hannah said: 'I think Ozempic is great for people who need it, and for medical reasons. 'It is really helping some people, but I feel if you give yourself a chance, you can really push yourself. 'Once I started losing the weight, I just kept going. 'It isn't easy, you really have to push yourself, and focus on who you want to be and think about who you want to be.' Hannah first noticed she started rapidly gaining weight when she turned 30, putting on seven stone in just a few months that took her from nine stone to 16st. She visited the doctor multiple times out of concern, but kept being asked if she was pregnant or that the weight gain could be blamed on hormones. She said: 'I was always around nine stone, but I noticed how I started to gain a bit of weight. 'I knew there was something wrong with me, but people around me thought I had changed my diet and asked if I was eating more. 'I was asked if I was pregnant six times, and told that my weight gain could be caused by hormones. 'I went up to 20 stone at my heaviest.' Then in October, more than two years after the sudden weight gain started, she said she woke up one morning with a hunched back. She turned to Google to research the symptoms, including the weight gain, and came across Cushing's disease, prompting her to go straight back to the doctor with a printout of the list of symptoms. Hannah was referred to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, where she underwent a blood test and MRI scan that confirmed the had the condition. 'I was relieved but scared when I got the diagnosis,' Hannah recalled. 'I had been saying for years that there was something wrong with me.' She underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the pituitary tumour that causes the condition. A small, benign tumour of the pituitary gland is the most common cause of spontaneous Cushing's, which accounts for around 70% of cases, according to The Pituitary Foundation. The tumour causes the pituitary gland to produce too much of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which then triggers the release of too much cortisol - leading to Cushing's. Removing the tumour usually solves the issue, as Hannah found, but she had to be on steroid medication to control the condition. She got better after two years on steroids and was taken off it. She said: 'It wasn't easy to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids, as soon as I came off them, I knew this was my body and I was a lot better. 'I really pushed myself, I worked super hard, cut out all sugar, cut out dairy, and gluten after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. 'I have a low-carb, high-protein diet with lots of vegetables, and I do pilates every day.' Hannah, who is now raising money for The Pituitary Foundation, was able to shrink from a size 26 to a size 10, which was the dress size she wore before being diagnosed with the syndrome. She added: 'I am super proud of myself, I am always worried that the weight will come back. 'I feel so much happier. When I look back at myself, I just can't believe I was that size. 'When I look back at old photos, I feel very sad about what happened to me, but it makes me think that I need to be proud about how far I have come.' Amy Schumer was diagnosed with the same condition in February 2024, after fans pointed out how different she looked from normal in a televised interview. In an appearance on the Call Your Daddy podcast earlier this year, the I Feel Pretty star said she initially ignored comments about her 'swollen' face as she put them down to trolling, but then physicians began expressing concern. She said: 'Doctors were chiming in in the comments and they were, like, 'No, no, something's really up. Your face looks so crazy.'' She noticed that people were speculating that she could have Cushing syndrome. 'At first, I was like, 'F*** off,',' she said, before recalling that she was 'getting steroid injections for my scars' from her breast reduction surgery and Caesarean section after she and her husband Chris Fischer welcomed their son Gene in 2019. 'So I was getting these steroid injections and so it gave me this thing called Cushing syndrome — which I wouldn't have known if the internet hadn't come for me so hard,' Amy explained.