9 minute read
Health Wellbeing
Nationwide cancer screening
Picking up cancer at a very early stage, or better still before it develops, is hugely important and is why the NHS screens millions of people per year. Screening programs are designed to pick up cancer, or pre-cancerous conditions BEFORE they cause any symptoms. If you have symptoms that you’re worried may be a sign of something serious don’t wait for a screening call – discuss it with your GP. Scientific breakthroughs are always driving changes in how we do things and I thought it would be helpful to explain a little about the three main UK cancer screening programs. Cervical cancer
Advertisement
Cervical screening is available to anyone aged 25-64, with a cervix. Recalls are every 3 years until age 50, then 5-yearly. It’s estimated that 4,500 lives are saved by cervical screening in the UK annually. Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) which is passed by sexual contact. HPV also causes other cancers like anal and mouth cancers. Infection with HPV can irritate cells and cause abnormalities in them. Most HPV infections are transient and slightly abnormal cells often go away on their own when the virus clears. In some people the HPV doesn’t clear and continues to irritate the cells, the changes can then progress and eventually lead to cancer. It takes 15-20 years for cervical cancer to develop in people with normal immune systems which is why there can be long gaps between recalls and screening isn’t started until age 25. Until recently, cervical screening looked for abnormal cells, but now labs test the samples for HPV, and only if that’s positive do scientists go on and look for abnormal cells. This has really changed the screening process and the NHS is trialling home HPV testing kits - you would then only need to come in and see the nurse if this is positive. If the trial proves successful, this may be the next big change. Another revolution has been the HPV vaccination which started in 2008 with a vaccine for girls age 12-13 against 2 types of HPV (there are around 100 different types, 2 of them are responsible for two-thirds of cervical cancers and 80% of anal cancers, while others cause, for example simple warts and not cancer). In 2018 the vaccination was extended to cover 4 types, and boys are offered it too. The vaccine seems really effective (99%) for a long time (at least 10 years) and is likely to significantly decrease cervical and other cancers in the future. Bowel cancer
The bowel cancer screening program has been running since 2018. At the moment 60 to 75-year-olds are automatically sent a kit in the post every 2 years, but over 75s can request a kit on the bowel cancer screening helpline
Care services for your loved ones ¸ ²
Devon and Cornwall Care Services
A community care provider serving the local area since 2002 Personal Care • Si ing Service Meal Preparation • Cleaning Service We are able to work with any type of care no ma er how complex
We have packages to suit your needs to enable you to stay in the comfort of your own home Free, no obligation initial meeting All managers and Carers are DBS checked and trained to a high standard Tel: 01822 610734 Email: samantha@daccservices.com/pauline@daccservices.com 5 Canal Road, Tavistock PL19 8AR • www.daccservices.com Caring for People in the Community
on 08007 076060. Over the coming years it’s likely to include people in their 50s too. This program saves more than 2000 lives each year. The small sample of faeces you provide and post back is screened for tiny amounts of blood which can indicate the presence of early cancers and polyps (non-cancerous growths that have a chance of changing to cancer over time). It’s an incredibly easy test and for 98 out of 100 people it’s reassuringly negative, meaning the chance of having a bowel cancer is extremely low. The 2 out of 100 with a positive result, go on to have a colonoscopy and two-thirds of them will have a positive finding of a cancer (often at a very early stage) or a polyp, which can often be effectively treated. Breast Cancer
Everyone registered with a GP as a woman is invited for a screening mammogram every 3 years from age 50 to 71 (your first call happens any time between 50 and 53). It’s estimated that the breast screening program saves 1300 lives in the UK per year. Like all screening programs it doesn’t find all cancers. There is debate about whether the age of first screening should be lowered, as 20% of breast cancers present before the age of 50, and some countries do screen before 50. A significant reason against lowering the age is that younger people have denser breast tissue, making mammograms less accurate and resulting in missed cancers and overdiagnosis of benign conditions.
Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock
Black only suits 1 in 4 of us
Wearing black truly doesn’t make us look slimmer and only just over a quarter of us actually suit black. There we have said it! However, we all have neutrals and other colours that look incredible on us. Jan Beveridge of House of Colour says: “Black is often worn at work in the belief it symbolises professionalism, prestige and power, however is it memorable? Black absorbs light so less detail is detected by the eye and we hope that lumps or bumps may disappear. However black on the wrong person will drain us and make us look unhealthy, whilst wearing the right colours and styles makes us look attractive and glowing, and we feel good about ourselves.” Jan is quick to point out she is not demonising black clothes. “Black looks gorgeous on some people. It’s just that it only looks good on about 25% of us - the ‘Winters’.”
In the 20th century the Swiss artist Johannes Itten established that each of us has a basic skin pigment which falls into one of four groupings, defined by the unique combination of depth, hue and tone. According to Jan, the pigments in our skin and eye colour determine which colours suit us: we all fall into one of the four seasonal categories which each have an array of colours - some of these will be your ‘wow’ colours. ‘Autumns’ are best suited to soft, warm colours such as rust, and dark olive. ‘Springs’ look best in bright, warm colours such as like geranium pink and apple green. ‘Summers’ wear soft, cool colours like dusty pink and smoked grape. ‘Winters’ wear bright, cool colours like electric blue and raspberry - and yes they are the ones that can wear black! So how does colour really impact our look, mood and indeed how we present ourselves to the world? Jan says: “Many years of research show the effects of light and dark on our well-being. We know that gorgeous colours are mood lifting, which can even affect our physiology, including improving our blood pressure, as well as our mood. Many of us wear dark clothes when we are grieving or low in mood, whilst we wear bright clothes as symbols of hope and positivity. Colour is also proven to have a deep impact on the way people view others, objects and brands, helping us make decisions.”
Clothes are just fabric, but our relationship with our clothes, colour and style is highly influential and sometimes transformative. If your whole wardrobe is full of colours and styles that suit you, it makes getting dressed in the morning a whole lot easier. For more information visit www.houseofcolour.co.uk or contact image consultant Jan Beveridge on 07790 395756, 01822 612243 or jan. beveridge@houseofcolour.co.uk
RINGING OR BUZZING IN EARS? FEELING OF BLOCKED EARS? EARACHE? TINITUS? VERTIGO? HEARING LOSS? All of these symptoms could be due to earwax build up and can be easily remedied using MICROSUCTION EAR WAX REMOVAL
For a free consultation, call or email Rachel today
• Registered NHS nurse, 14 years experience • Home visits available • Discounted nursing home & residential care visits on request
rtwearcaresolutions.co.uk
SW Podiatry & Health Clinic Homeleigh Garden Centre Launceston
introduces new Night Care service
In addition to a successful live-in service, local care company Bluebird Care has begun to off er Night Care, a new home service in West Devon. Local registered manager Chloe Pearce says: “Our Night Care at home service is an essential part of our off ering at Bluebird Care West Devon. Our dedicated team of people work through the night, so that our customers can feel and remain well supported and cared for whatever the time.” There are various ways night care carers can help, here are just some: • Extra security and peace of mind • Support with medication prompting and administering through the night • Assisting with bathroom visits • Helping to change position in bed, particularly after an operation or injury • Support for progressive conditions such as dementia • Night carers can give regular carers a break overnight • Night care is suitable for end of life Director William Flint says: “With increasing numbers of adults living at home for longer, often far away from families, receiving care at home is a sensitive proposition that should be seen as a privilege and respectfully handled by their chosen care provider. We are dedicated in supporting people to remain as independent for as long as possible and our team of Devon Bluebirds are immensely proud to be delivering care in people’s homes every day and every night”. Bluebird Care West Devon off er two types of night care:
Sleeping Night
The care assistant sleeps at the property for a minimum of eight hours and is on hand if required. This option will suit if you don’t require regular support but feel uncomfortable when left alone throughout the night. Anxieties and sleep deprivation can soon be improved with a sleeping night care professional there. Having that extra night care at home can really help people remain healthy and happy.
Waking Night
The care professional is on duty throughout the night for a minimum of eight hours. This is the best support option for a person who wakes several times, perhaps being disorientated or needing to go to the bathroom. For more information on this ‘outstanding’ service, scan the QR code or call us for a friendly chat.
I’m happy to stay “ in my home
