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Monthly Archives

January 2017

Jan 31
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It’s World Cancer Day – so let’s talk about cancer.

By Cancer, Chronic Disease

Sadly, the incidence of deaths from cancer each year is very high – at 8.2 million people. The aim of World Cancer Day (February 4) is to unite the world in the fight against cancer, in order to prevent millions of deaths each year.

What is cancer?

Cancer is an abnormal cell growth. Normally our body’s cells grow, divide and die. In a cancer this doesn’t happen in the usual way. This can form a lump called a tumour, or cause the blood of lymph fluid in the body to become abnormal.

Are there different kinds of tumours?

Yes there are. You may have heard of the term malignant and benign. A benign tumour is where the cells are confined in one location and are unable to spread throughout the body – this type of cell is not cancerous. The other type, malignant, is cancerous, as the cells are able to spread by travelling through the blood or lymph system.

How does cancer spread?

A localized cancer is one that hasn’t spread. The first spot that a cancer grows in is called the primary cancer. If cancer cells form at another site this is called a secondary cancer or a metastasis.

What kind of cancers can be screened for?

Screening is a process of working out someone’s risk of developing a particular disease. The benefit of screening, is that it can detect cancers at a very early stage. Screening looks at signs of cancer before it has developed or symptoms have started.

At a particular age, every at risk person should be screened for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer as part of the Australian screening program.

  • Breast cancer screening is offered for women aged 50-74
  • Bowel cancer screening is also for people aged 50-74 and the test can be completed in the privacy of your home
  • Cervical screening, in the form of pap testing, is used to detect cervical cancer. All women between the age of 18 and 69 who have ever been sexually active should have regular pap tests.

In addition, people at high risk of certain cancers, such as lung cancer, can receive screening for these.

How can I reduce my cancer risk?

The major things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer are to:

  1. Maintain a healthy body weight
  2. Eat well and have an active lifestyle
  3. Limit alcohol
  4. Protect your skin from the sun and other forms of UV (such as tanning beds)
  5. Be a non-smoker and avoid second hand smoke 

What do I do if I am worried about cancer, or would like to be screened for cancer?

If you are concerned about having cancer, speak to someone, such as a GP, as soon as possible. Additionally, if you would like to be screened, you can book in with a GP who can arrange any necessary tests for you, and talk to you about any concerns you may have.

Click here to book an appointment with a GP to discuss cancer and/or screening –>

Jan 10
Love0

Everything you need to know about PCOS

By Chronic Disease, Women's Health

What is PCOS?

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a complex hormonal disorder, that can be difficult to diagnose. The reason it is so complex, is that there are a number of symptoms, and you don’t need all of them to be diagnosed with PCOS. In fact, different women with PCOS may have different symptoms. Further, the name is slightly misleading, because ‘polycystic’ suggests there may be multiple ‘cysts’ on the ovaries. However, not everyone with PCOS has ‘cysts’ and not everyone with ‘cysts’ will have PCOS. Not only that, but using the word ‘cysts’ isn’t completely accurate either, because what is being referred to are actually partially formed follicles which contain an egg. Phew!

So now that we have gotten that out of the way, you probably want to know a bit more about the symptoms of PCOS and why the symptoms occur in the first place.

 

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of PCOS can include the following:

  • Excess hair on the face and body
  • Hair loss
  • Acne
  • Weight gain
  • Difficulties with fertility
  • Increased anxiety and depression
  • Symptoms associated with periods – such as irregular or no periods, or heavier or lighter bleeding during periods.

Why do the symptoms occur?

The main culprit causing many of the symptoms of PCOS is having high levels of androgens in the body. Androgens are a group of hormones, including testosterone. Under normal conditions, all women produce some androgens from the ovaries and adrenal gland. However, in PCOS, higher levels of androgens are prevalent, which can prevent ovulation and also disrupt the monthly menstrual cycle. The actual cause of PCOS is unknown, but there appears to be some connection with family history, insulin resistance and lifestyle.

 

The weight/insulin/PCOS cycle

For some women, being overweight and suffering from PCOS can go hand in hand, as being overweight can make insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms worse. This is because the more abdominal fat in the body, the more likely that insulin resistance will be present, causing the pancreas to potentially release more insulin. The more insulin released, the more the ovary is likely to produce excess androgens. This may all sound a bit overwhelming, but the important take home point, is that through lifestyle modifications you may be able to make a real impact on your PCOS symptoms. This is because insulin resistance is often partly caused by lifestyle factors, such as being over weight, having a diet high in sugar and fat or being physically inactive.

What can be done to treat my PCOS symptoms?

There are many different options for treatment of PCOS and PCOS symptoms. One of the main strategies likely to be discussed between you and your doctor will be a healthy diet and physical activity. Your GP may also discuss options of various medications with you, such as the oral contraceptive pill, or medications for insulin sensitivity or to lower testosterone levels. Each patient will be different and there won’t be a one size fits all, so it’s important to have these detailed discussions and come up with a tailored action plan for you.

Click here if you need to speak with a GP about PCOS –>

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