My husband and I decided when we got married in May 2012 that after a year of marriage, we would begin trying to have a baby. When May 2013 finally arrived, we began making the necessary preparations for conception. This, for me, included making sure that I was in good health. I began taking prenatal vitamins and scheduled an appointment to do my annual cervical smear to check for cervical cancer. At the appointment in June 2013, I told my doctor about the small lump that I had been feeling for 3 months, located on the lower left side of my pelvis. I told her that I would like for this to be investigated, and she ordered an ultrasound for me.

You see, around March 2013, I had started noticing a small lump on the lower left side of my pelvis, which was usually more obvious when I was lying down flat on the bed. The lump caused no pain and was not sore, but I worried that it was some sort of cancer. Out of fear, I chose to believe that it may be a benign ovarian cyst and I decided to delay going to the doctor to investigate it until my next cervical smear appointment.

When I attended the ultrasound appointment on 4^th July 2013, the technician had a very concerned look on her face as she was performing the scan, and so I asked her what she was seeing. She informed me that I had not one, but several fibroids located in various parts of my uterus. I was in shock! At a follow-up appointment with my GP a few days later, she reiterated what the technician had found. I had about 4-5 fibroids in my uterus, with the largest two measuring about 7cm in diameter. The bulge that I had been feeling on the lower left side of my belly was indeed one of these large fibroids. She indicated that although I had large fibroids which may cause me to have fertility issues, my uterine wall was “unremarkable” and therefore I am still likely to be able to conceive with the fibroids. These last words were comforting. She referred me to a gynaecologist for follow-up.

For many days, I remained in shock about my fibroid diagnosis, I worried about whether I could have kids, and I spent many hours online reading about fibroids and remedies. My shock came as a result of believing all along that I was in great gynaecologic health. You see, I have always been a health-conscious person who ate very healthily and did my pap smears annually. In addition, In the USA (from where I moved the previous year),it was routine for doctors to do a pelvic exam when doing a cervical smear, and this involved using their hands to check for any changes in size and shape of reproductive organs. Abnormal growths can often be detected this way initially. I wondered why my fibroids hadn’t been detected in these annual pelvic exams. Surely, the fibroids did not appear within less than a year, I thought. In addition, I had not experienced any of the symptoms often associated with fibroids including heavy periods and pelvic and low back pain.

When I visited the gynaecologist at the end of July 2013, she informed me of options available to me for dealing with the fibroids, including removing them surgically prior to trying to conceive. Based on my medical history and the diagnostic ultrasound results, the gynaecologist advised me that the best course of action would be to try to conceive with fibroids intact, and then revisiting the idea of having surgery to remove the fibroids if I did not get pregnant after six months of trying. The concern was that removing the fibroids surgically may pose more of an infertility risk than the fibroids themselves, as the surgery is in effect a major operation to the uterus. I agreed with this approach wholeheartedly as I did not want the risks associated with surgery.

Much to my pleasant surprise, just one month later, in August 2013, I became pregnant (a positive pregnancy test in September 2013 revealed this)! When I got pregnant, I was informed of possible risks that fibroids could pose to my pregnancy, including bleeding, severe pain caused by the fibroids, a higher chance of miscarriage, restriction of the baby’s growth, and increased risk of premature labour. In addition, I was informed that the fibroids would likely grow in size due to pregnancy hormones. Luckily, my pregnancy progressed very smoothly with the exception of the fibroids growing slightly in size and one episode of severe fibroids-related pain at 14 weeks gestation which lasted for two weeks and which was managed with painkillers. In May 2013, I delivered healthy twin boys!

In the end, I am glad that I chose not to remove the fibroids immediately. I am now going to continue monitoring the growth and symptoms of the fibroids over the next few months and years, and will decide at a later time whether to remove them or leave them alone. I am likely to leave them alone as long as they continue to give me no symptoms, mainly because fibroids tend to regrow, and the risk of this occurring is much greater in Blacks. I learned a great deal about fibroids only after my diagnosis. I wish I had known more before. Sadly, I had not paid much attention to the disease before despite the fact that an older sister suffered with it. I had not realized how prevalent the disease was and did not realize that it affects Black women more than women of other racial/ethnic groups. I wish more women would talk about it, and I am now committed to speaking up as much as possible to raise awareness. I would advise other women to become more educated about fibroids and to learn whether they have a family history of it. Where there is known family history, a woman can then be more empowered to recognize symptoms and to make a decision about when to have children (if she desires to do so), as fibroids tend to develop in later years so delaying conception may not be wise for some. Fortunately, fibroids are not life-threatening and it is possible to conceive and have a healthy baby with it.

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Pictured, Dr. Wheatley at 35 weeks pregnant.

Nkemdiri Wheatley is a public health researcher whose work has focused mainly on understanding the social and behavioural factors that lead to health conditions such as cancer, obesity and sexually transmitted infections. She is also interested in racial and socioeconomic inequalities in health outcomes, and has participated in developing and evaluating community-based health programmes meant to address these issues.

Macmillan Cancer Care and Croydon Health Services are inviting anyone affected by cancer to their upcoming health and well-being event on Tuesday 13^th September 2016 from 2:30pm to 7:30pm. This event has been organised for people who have completed or are near the completion of their cancer treatment.  The event aims to provide patients with the information and support needed to improve their well-being with speakers covering a range of topics including diet, stress, exercise, work and sexuality.

The event will take place at: Oasis Restaurant, 1^st Floor, Croydon University Hospital

To book your place on this course please call Macmillan on 0208 401 3441 or email  ch-tr.wellbeingMCS@nhs.net

For more information please download the poster and the invitation letter below.

Sheila is The Lake Foundation’s Cycling Club Coordinator and since joining us in March she has done a fantastic job in managing our cycling club. In this blog Sheila discusses her role and what she enjoys most about it.

Tell us about your role as the cycling club coordinator.

The aim of the cycling club is to give people an opportunity to be more active. So we organise a 2-hour bike ride every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. Once a year we organise a 4-hour ride taking us a bit further into the countryside and a social where we will have a meal. The social is usually around Christmas.

Organising the rides involves liaising with our wonderful instructors from Cycle Instructor. They will suggest routes and lead the group on the day. I manage bike reservations and organise our participants. I update them on what we are doing and about cycling opportunities in the local area and beyond. I also spread the word about the cycling club using leaflets, writing and social media.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

London can be both lonely and stressful. This can take its toll on us in the long term. There are physical and mental benefits of people coming together and people doing exercise. So it’s rewarding to know the cycling club is doing its part to promote well-being. The group is fun and positive. You can also chat as much or as little as you want for example. Everyone is welcome and everyone seems to be him or herself.

What has been your favourite cycling route and why?

I like cycling in any green space. There are lots of green spaces in Croydon and I’ve enjoyed discovering them.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of joining the club but is a bit nervous?

Cycling Instructor is a helpful resource. They offer free one-to-one and group sessions. They will instruct you in how to cycle on roads and public spaces and teach you techniques. You can do one of their courses before joining The Lake Foundation Cycling Club and can also have a refresher with them at any time. The Lake Foundation Cycling Club members are supportive. In this atmosphere we find that new riders grow in confidence.

Do people have to be super fit or an experienced cyclist to join the club?

Our cycling club members are mixed in ability and fitness. People tend to be less confident if they feel they can’t keep up. So we encourage people to maintain regular exercise outside of the club and to practice cycling where possible. One of our members went on to do the London to Brighton ride and another ride after that. Another couple of riders did a 10k run for Cancer Research UK. London is a great city for charity and fun fitness challenges and the club members seem to inspire each other to take advantage of these opportunities.

Do you have to have your own bike to be a part of the club?

We have a few cycles and helmet sets that people can reserve, this way people can try cycling without taking the lead of buying a bike first. One regular member has since purchased his own bike.

What do you enjoy most about cycling?

I like the fact that I’m being active. I think you experience our city in a different way on a bike than if you were in a bus, car or on the tube. I like the freedom it gives and it’s an efficient way to get around town. I cycled more when I was living closer to central London, which is more cycle friendly these days.

What advice would you give to anyone new to cycling in terms of technique, equipment and building confidence?

I would do a course with Cycle Instructor. Go to a good and reputable cycling shop and get kitted out with a well fitted helmet, good lights, a good lock etc. Be super safe, sensible and make sure you keep hydrated. There are lots of helpful resources out there.

When you’re not cycling what do you do for fun?

I enjoy dancing, walks and cycles in the country, cinema, theatre, cultural events and hanging out with folk.

How can people join the cycling club?

The best way is to drop us an email today at events@thelakefoundation.com. Also stay in touch with The Lake Foundation on twitter and Facebook!

 

Public Health England is conducting the first national survey to explore the health and wellbeing of people working in the sport, fitness and leisure industry.  This is a large industry with around 630,300 people working in the field accounting for 2% of the UK’s workforce.

Similar surveys have been conducted on people working in other sectors to determine the reasons for sickness absence. This is a significant issue in the UK with about 131 million work days lost through sickness absence.  These surveys found that sickness absence was due to ill health caused by feelings of discrimination, stress in the workplace and lifestyle choices.

This survey is being conducted to understand the general health and work status of people working in the sport, fitness and leisure industry.  They’d like to use the findings of the survey to inform employers on how they can better support the health and wellbeing of their staff.

If you’re interested in taking part in this survey, please click here for more information.

If you’re black African, black British or black Caribbean, we highly recommend that you take part so that any issues related to race and be properly identified and explored.

Many years ago before I even knew what endometriosis or fibroids were I knew the sudden stabbing pains I felt in my side weren’t right. My periods were often heavy and ‘clotty’ but I was too embarrassed to discuss it with anyone and so I suffered in silence.

Some years later I was living in England and when the pain recurred I went to see my GP who disappointed and shocked me with his response when I described my symptoms to him. My GP asked me whether I was planning to have children. I was 22 then and not ready. He replied, ‘well there are a lot of people who don’t have children’. I left the clinic stunned. I wasn’t very assertive then so didn’t answer him back.

Fortunately, I did have my son a couple of years later and all was well. I remember though that the pains would come and go but I just bore it. During a trip to Ghana, I woke up to stabbing pains in my right side again which had me doubled up in pain. When I got back home I saw my GP who referred me to a Consultant who happened to be the one to travel this journey with me. She sent me to carry out some tests which revealed I had endometriosis and fibroids. I was given tablets to help and the pain subsided. By then my son was 5/6 years old. At one of my check-ups my Consultant asked me whether I wanted any more children and advised me to do it ‘sooner rather than later’.

A year later, on Valentine’s Day, I went for another check-up, my Consultant was about to prescribe some more medication for me when I told her I might be pregnant. We did a test which was positive!

Whilst pregnant and after my daughter’s birth there were no symptoms and my doctor told me many women find the fibroids and endometriosis disappear during pregnancy.

Eight years ago I felt the pains and discomfort again. The same Consultant I had seen over 12 years earlier was still working at the hospital which I considered a blessing as she knew my history. She sent me off for a scan. I knew there was a problem when the lady carrying out the scan stopped joking and suddenly had a serious look on her face. I asked whether everything was alright, she told me my Consultant would be in touch.

I received an appointment. It was a different Consultant this time who asked me to have some blood tests done. I asked him whether I should have them done at my local hospital, he said no and that I had to have the blood tests done straight away!! As I walked to the department to have the tests done I opened the letter and saw the letter C scribbled amongst other medical jargon. I knew straight away I was being sent to test for some form of cancer. And I was on my own!

I got home and looked the medical term up on the internet which confirmed my fears, it was a test for cancer!

Another appointment came and my husband accompanied me. Thankfully it was my regular Consultant. She gave me the results and explained the scan showed a very large cyst on my right ovary which they thought could have been cancerous. The blood tests had however come back clear.

My Consultant went on to say she felt I needed to have a hysterectomy as soon as possible because I had a ‘diseased womb’. My husband and I were shocked and we tried to ask for other options. She told us that this time I didn’t have a choice and that on top of my problems with fibroids, endometriosis and the cyst on my ovary I also had an ‘enlarged womb’! Gosh, the list just gets bigger! She then booked an appointment whilst we were in her office for my surgery in 2 weeks’ time!

I had the surgery by this Consultant in September 2006 and thank God all was well. No cancer found. I however had to undergo a ‘total hysterectomy’ which meant losing my ovaries, womb, tubes and cervix. I guess the risk of cancer was great and she wanted to eliminate any possibility.

I cried for a while to think I had lost my ‘womanly bits’ but my husband sternly told me to be grateful to be well and alive. That shook me up and I started to take a positive approach. I had two healthy children, one of whom I didn’t think I would be able to have. I used to call her my ‘little miracle’.

After my surgery I had to go on HRT which I didn’t want to because it made me ‘feel old’. I soon went on it though when I had a sudden surge of heat through my body and quickly stuck my head in the freezer! My family watched me do this in amazement, confusion and amusement!

I have been on HRT patches for 8 years now and feel fine. I have put on a lot of weight but I’m not sure whether that has anything to do with the HRT or the lovely cakes people keep bringing in to work!!

Two months ago a friend mentioned HRT caused her to put on a lot of weight. She came off it and used another form of medication which is made from natural minerals. I have started using it too and have taken myself off the HRT. I have weighed myself and found I have lost a little weight. I need to cut out the cakes and do some walking and I will be back in shape.

I am thankful for my life and have learned it is good to talk, share our fears and experiences; you can learn from someone else and they can learn from you! Let’s be aware and educate ourselves.

Well done on setting up this website!

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The Lake Foundation would like to say a big thank you to Naa for sharing her experience with fibroids and endometriosis, we hope that through her experience you have gained some insight into these conditions.

To learn more about fibroids download our booklet below  and for more information about endometriosis visit Endometriosis UK’s website

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link. Find out more here.

A study published in the British Journal of Cancer has found that the effect of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in increasing a women’s risk of developing breast cancer is likely to have been underestimated in previous studies.

HRT is used to treat the symptoms of menopause (hot flushes, mood changes etc) by replacing the oestrogen that is lost during a woman’s menopause. There are two type of HRT, oestrogen only HRT and combined HRT which is mixture of oestrogen and progestogen.

Over the years studies have identified that women using HRT have an increased risk of developing breast cancer but this was only felt to be a slight increase with many stating that the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks.  This new study has found that combined HRT actually has a bigger effect on breast cancer risk than was previously thought.

This New Study

This new  piece of work was part of the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study which was set up in 2004 to understand the causes of breast cancer. The full Generations Study is following 113,000 women in the UK for 40 years.

 For this research into the effect of HRT, 39183 women from the Generations Study were selected who were at menopausal age. These women had  been monitored for 6 years through questionnaires which asked a number of questions including questions about their HRT use.

After the six years of monitoring it was found that 775 of the 39,183 women had developed breast cancer. Statistical analysis revealed that women using combined HRT were 2.7 times more likely to develop breast cancer than those who had not used HRT. This applied to use of HRT for a median length of time of 5.4 years and when they explored longer use of HRT, so 15+ years of use, this increased to women being 3.27 times more likely to develop breast cancer. No overall increase in breast cancer risk was observed in women who used oestrogen only HRT.

They also found that the increase in risk returns to almost normal once combined HRT use is stopped. Researchers noted that after a year and also two years of ceasing to take combined HRT there was no significant increase in breast cancer risk.

How Did Other Studies  Result in an Underestimation of Risk?

The underestimation by previous studies occurred because of the way the studies were carried out. Previous studies didn’t comprehensively follow-up with women and document their use of HRT  (e.g. did some women  stop using HRT over the course of the research) nor did they determine the age at which women went through the menopause.  These oversights caused inaccuracies.

What Does this Mean for Women Considering Taking Combined HRT?

Baroness Delyth Morgan, the Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now said:

“Whether to use HRT is an entirely personal choice, which is why it’s so important that women fully understand the risks and benefits and discuss them with their GP. We hope these findings will help anyone considering the treatment to make an even more informed decision.

 

“On balance, some women will feel HRT to be a necessity. But in order to minimise the risk of breast cancer during treatment, it is recommended that the lowest effective dose is used for the shortest possible time.

 

“The good news is that the increased risk of breast cancer begins to fall once you stop using HRT. “If anyone is at all worried about either HRT or breast cancer, we’d highly encourage you to speak to your GP.”

The Lake Foundation believes that women considering using the combined HRT should have a discussion with their doctor about the pros and cons and make an informed decision about whether to proceed with treatment. If you can avoid combined HRT we would recommend that you do so.

You can download the full research paper below.

 

Yesterday, the UK Government published its childhood obesity action plan which sets out its strategy to significantly reduce obesity levels in children over the next ten years.

Childhood obesity is a major problem in the UK with nearly a third of children being obese or overweight. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this and these include behaviour, our environment, culture and genetics.

The government’s action plan makes an important observation which is that obesity levels are highest in children from low-income families.  Research has shown that 5 year olds in the poorest  families are twice as likely to be obese than their affluent counterparts and by the age of 11 they are three times more likely to be obese. We need to address this inequality.

The government’s action plan aims to provide a good balance of reducing childhood obesity whilst respecting the public’s freedom of choice when it comes to food selection. They also clearly state that this action plan is a starting point rather than a complete final plan.

A Summary of the Action Plan

Introducing a sugar levy (the sugar tax)

Soft drinks companies will pay a levy on drinks with added sugar. This will apply to drinks with a total sugar content above 5 grams per 100 ml. A higher rate will be applied to drinks with more than 8 grams per 100 ml.  The levy won’t be applied to milk-based drinks or fruit juices.  The levy will come into effect from April 2018.

Soft drinks manufacturers will have two years to reduce the sugar content of their drinks so they won’t be taxed if they are successful. The government states that there has already been some success with some manufacturers already reducing sugar in their drinks.

The money raised from the sugar levy will be used to double the funding available to primary schools for PE and sports programmes. The government has estimated the sugar levy will raise £320 million a year for primary schools to support healthier more active lifestyles in children. The funding will not only go towards expanding PE and sports programmes but to also expand breakfast clubs in primary schools ensuring that children have access to a healthy breakfast every week day.

The idea behind the sugar levy is a good one. It’s hoped that the levy will incentivise the soft drinks industry to reduce the amount of sugar in their products, helping the public consume less sugar. The money raised will go towards helping children get more active and healthy and thus tackle our high rates of childhood obesity.  So, from a public health point of view the sugar levy is a win-win.

Taking out 20% of sugar in products

The government will be slowly reducing the sugar content in everyday products  and will launch a sugar reduction programme to reduce sugar in products that are popular with children.  All sectors in the food and drinks industry will be challenged to reduce the sugar in their products by 20% by 2020, this will include a 5% reduction in year one. Their recommendations to the food and drinks industry are to:

• Reduce sugar in their products
• Reduce portion sizes
• Use lower sugar alternatives

The sugar reduction programme will focus on nine areas: breakfast cereals, yoghurts, biscuits, cakes, confectionery, morning goods (such as pastries), ice cream and sweet spreads. They will then move on to other foods and drinks such as milk-based drinks and they will ensure that they focus on ranges that target babies and young children.

The government will monitor progress and publish reports every six months to determine if manufacturers are on track to achieve the 20% reduction.

The action plan also makes the point that sugar reduction should also mean calorie reduction and manufacturers should not increase the saturated fat content of their products.

We like the sugar reduction programme with its clear targets and hope that the manufacturers will comply and work with the government to achieve this. The issue we see is that manufacturers have no strong incentive to take part in this programme and may continue as is.  Also, we know some manufacturers don’t appreciate the government interference in the way they do business and may not comply out of principle – they think it will set a nanny state precedent.

Supporting innovation to help businesses make healthier products

The action plan summarises how the government is supporting businesses in making healthier products. This includes: a £10millon investment to support research that explores new processes and products to increase the availability of healthy food choices; the formation of the Agri-Food Technology Council to provide leadership in health, nutrition and consumer acceptability; and the formation of the Food and Drink Innovation Network which brings together the food and drinks industry, researchers and innovation support to enable greater take up of world-leading R&D.

Updating the nutrient profile

The current nutrient profile which gives foods a score based on their sugar, fat, salt, vegetables, nuts, fibre and protein content is 10 years old and needs updating. It does give parents a view on how healthy their food is and enables them to make healthier choices, but work is needed to update it so it is in line with today’s scientific advice.

The government will therefore work with academics, the food and drinks industry, charities and other stakeholders to update the nutrient profile.

Making healthy options available

The action plan talks about the potential of the public sector to make a significant contribution to reducing childhood obesity.  They state that every public space from leisure centres to hospitals should serve healthy food.  The government has committed to working with their local government colleagues to ensure that this will happen.

Helping low-income families in purchasing healthy foods

The government will continue with their Healthy Start Scheme which provide vouchers to low-income families, these can be exchanged for fruit, vegetables and milk. The scheme also provides vitamins during pregnancy and early years.

Encouraging children to take part in one hour of physical activity every day

The government aims to support schools in using the funding raised by the sugar levy on sports programmes that have the maximum impact possible and guidance will be developed on how best to implement school PE, sports and healthy lifestyle programmes. Support will also be given to schools to ensure they have access to high quality sports and physical activity programmes. Additionally the government will continue to invest in making it safe for children to walk and cycle to school.

Encouraging healthy eating in schools

The government will introduce a voluntary healthy rating scheme to recognise the work being done in schools to ensure that children are eating healthy and getting active. There will be a focus on continuing to improve school meals through the School Food Standards and breakfast clubs will continue to provide children with a healthy start to the day.

Other measures

Other areas the government will focus on are:  clearer food labels, making use of technology in the form of apps and other digital resources, for example the sugar smart app and exploring how health professionals can support families.

Conclusions

We are very happy to see the government publish its childhood obesity action plan, and we see it for what it is: a starting point.

We believe that it is a good starting point and are particularly happy to see the sugar levy; the sugar reduction plan; the investment being made in research and development to support businesses in making their food healthier; the support given to schools to ensure kids are active and healthy during school time; and the support given to low-income families.

We hope that everyone will play their part so that this plan is successful and we hope that the government will continue to develop its strategy to ensure that all areas are addressed.

You can download the full report below.

If you’re a man and have had a conversation with your GP about the PSA test, Prostate Cancer UK would like to hear from you.

Prostate Cancer UK knows, anecdotally, that men have mixed experiences when speaking to their GP about the PSA test, but they would like to collect and record this information formally to help inform their campaigning work.  They are inviting anyone who has had a conversation with their GP about the PSA test to complete a short survey asking how the conversation with your GP went and how this impacted your decision whether or not to have the test.

What is the PSA Test?

PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen and the PSA test measures the amount of PSA in the blood.

PSA is a protein produced by cells in the prostate and it is normal for men to have a small amount of PSA in their blood.  A high level of PSA in the blood suggests that there is a problem with a man’s prostate. For example, they may have an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection, or it could be something more serious like prostate cancer. Additionally, men can have a raised PSA if they take part in vigorous exercise or sexual intercourse in the 48 hours before they have a PSA test, or if they have a urine infection.

This means that when it comes to diagnosing prostate cancer the PSA test is not the best test as it isn’t accurate enough to determine whether a man has prostate cancer or not. In fact 76% of men with a raised PSA do not have prostate cancer.

The PSA test can be helpful in diagnosing prostate cancer if a man’s PSA level is extremely high (in the hundreds of thousands) but the challenge arises when PSA levels are slightly or moderately raised, then the test becomes hard to interpret.

Also, it is important to note that the PSA test can actually miss prostate cancer in some men because in 2% of men with fast-growing prostate cancer, PSA levels remain normal.

Why is Prostate Cancer UK Conducting a Survey?

The PSA test can be quite confusing for the reasons mentioned above. Hence why it is not used as a screening test and hence why men have to think carefully before having the test, if they don’t have symptoms. Therefore the conversations men have with their GP about the test are extremely important.

GPs need to provide men with accurate, balanced information about the PSA and men need  to feel empowered to make an informed decision about  whether they should have  a PSA test once they have spoken to their GP.

Through their survey Prostate Cancer UK would like to ensure that the conversations that men are having with their GPs are useful and if they are not, a survey like this provides much-needed information on what needs to be improved.

How Can I Take Part in The Survey?

If you’d like to take part in this survey, please visit Prostate Cancer UK’s website here. If you’d prefer to complete a paper version of the survey please email us and we’ll arrange for one to be sent out to you.

Is there Anything Else I Need to Know?

It is very important that black men are aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer as black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as their white counterparts. The symptoms of prostate cancer are:

• a weak urine flow
• needing to urinate more often, especially at night
• a feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
• difficulty starting to urinate
• dribbling urine
• needing to rush to the toilet – you may occasionally leak urine before you get there
• blood in your urine.

These symptoms may be a sign of prostate cancer but could also be due to other prostate conditions such as an enlarged prostate or an infection.

For more information about black men’s risk of developing prostate cancer visit Prostate Cancer UK’s website here, view the video below or if you have any concerns you can call their helpline 0800 074 8383

At our recent Fibroid Focus conference an interesting question was raised: “Has anyone used the Mooncup?” There were a few blank stares, which came from us too, and then an attendee answered: “Yes, and it is so much better than tampons and pads.”

This little exchange got us thinking.

Many women with fibroids experience heavy prolonged periods meaning they use large quantities of pads and tampons. Over the last few years there has been quite a bit of focus on the chemicals in these products and this has raised concerns about possible health effects. This led to the formation of a number of companies who now manufacture organic feminine hygiene products to give women a natural alternative.

But are women with fibroids aware of all the options available when it comes to feminine hygiene products and are they aware of alternatives like the Mooncup (a menstrual cup made by Mooncup Ltd)? This is particularly important for women with fibroids, who are likely to need to use large quantities of pads and tampons, and may be concerned about their prolonged exposure to the chemicals in these products.

In this blog series we are going to introduce you to a selection of feminine hygiene products starting with the menstrual cup today.

What is a Menstrual Cup?

A menstrual cup is a small flexible cup usually made of silicone, but can also be made of rubber, that is inserted into the vagina and collects menstrual blood. Depending on the amount of flow the cup is removed every 4-8 hours, emptied, washed and reinserted. At the end of a woman’s period the cup can be sterilised and the same cup used again every month. The shelf life of menstrual cups is fairly long with manufacturers recommending that they be replaced, on average, every 5 years.

Many companies make menstrual cups and these include:

• Mooncup Ltd
• DivaCup
• Lunette
• IrisCup
• MeLuna

Are Menstrual Cups New?

The menstrual cup was invented by Leona Chalmers in the 1930s and she patented her design in 1935. So the menstrual cup is over 80 years old and has been used for decades.

Is it Safe to Use?

Research has shown that the cup is safe to use with only a very small number of issues reported.

There has been just one case of toxic shock syndrome linked to the use of a menstrual cup, making this a very rare occurrence.  Additionally, one research paper reported that a woman may have developed adenomyosis and endometriosis  after using a menstrual cup for four years and the Endometriosis Research Centre in the US has called for more research to determine if there is link between the use of the menstrual cup and endometriosis.

Several studies have shown that, provided the cup is used properly and is kept clean, the risk of infection is low.  Also, for those worried about allergic reactions the majority of cups are made from medical grade silicone and silicone sensitivity is very rare. For those with a latex allergy they just need to ensure that they use a cup that is made entirely of silicone and does not contain rubber.

The Benefits

There are many benefits of using a menstrual cup. These include:

• Environmentally friendly – one cup can be used for 5 years which means there is less waste created than if tampons or pads are used
• Cost effective – menstrual cups costs about £20 and last for up to 5 years so this works out much cheaper than pads which are estimated to cost about £80 per year and tampons about £43 per year.
• No exposure to toxic chemicals – menstrual cups do not contain the bleaches, pesticides and other chemicals that the majority of pads and tampons contain
• Doesn’t cause dryness –tampons and pads can cause vaginal dryness because they are made of absorbent material, the cup simply collects fluid and isn’t drying
• Less leaks

The Drawbacks

There are some disadvantages associated with the menstrual cup:

• Inserting and removing the cup can be challenging
• Emptying the cup can be quite messy
• Women with certain conditions may not find a cup that fits properly. This has been reported for women with a dropped uterus and certain types of fibroids
• The cup needs to be kept clean to avoid infection so it requires some maintenance every month and needs to be sterilised after each cycle

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an alternative to tampons and pads a menstrual cup is an option you can explore. It may take some time to get used to it, but we recommend that you give it a few months before you make a judgement.

 

In July, the Healthy London Partnership launched NHS Go, a new website and mobile phone app aimed at young people. These new digital resources aim to:

• Give young people greater control over their health;
• Enable young people to make healthier choices;
• Provide trusted advice and information on a range of health issues.

The app is aimed at 16-26 year olds after young people stated that they wanted better and easier access to health and wellbeing information.  In creating the app and website the NHS worked with young people at all stages of development. They have also recruited well-known YouTube vloggers to not only promote the app but raise awareness of a number of health issues.

One of the YouTube vloggers supporting this campaign is the very popular hair vlogger Laila whose YouTube channel, Fusion of Cultures, has over 179,000 subscribers. As well as creating a promotional video with other vloggers, Laila has also discussed mental health touching on anxiety, suicide and depression.

Black Health is Covered in NHS Go

NHS Go has a section on black health. This section starts with diabetes, explaining how young people can reduce their risk of developing diabetes. There is a also a personal story from diabetic Brian Hunte, a Trinidadian who lives in London  and was diagnosed with diabetes 24 years ago. He shares his story telling of how diabetes affects his daily life

“When I was diagnosed with diabetes, it was a surprise. I didn’t feel unwell, but I had been losing weight and I felt thirsty all the time. I was drinking lots of water and going to the loo more often. I had to get up twice in the night to urinate, which wasn’t normal for me.” – Brian Hunte, diabetic

Another black health issue that NHS Go covers is vitamin D. Black people are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency because melanin blocks the sun’s UV rays and therefore reduces our skin’s ability to make vitamin D.  The NHS Go app gives young people advice on how to get enough vitamin D discussing diet and safe levels of sun exposure.

The app also touches on prostate cancer with a moving testimony from Darcus Howe, high blood pressure, stroke, skin-lightening, mental health and keloid scars.

 Useful App

The NHS Go is a useful resource for young people and if you’re a young person and have a general question about your health please do make use of the app. If you think you have a serious health issue or have symptoms  that you are concerned about please make an appointment to visit your GP.

You can download NHS Go from the Google Play Store or itunes