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Cancer during pregnancy is rare, but is becoming more common. Here’s what researchers think is behind the increase

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Former Alone Australia winner Gina Chick diagnosed from breast cancer just days after checking out she was pregnant. She describes in his last book her experience with chemotherapy and what got here after it.

Fortunately, cancers diagnosed during pregnancy and in the 12 months after delivery are rare. But such cases are becoming more and more common in parts With world, including Australia. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why.

Here’s what scientists know thus far and treatment options.

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Gina Chick talks about life, loss and loneliness in Australia on ABC TV’s Australian Story.

How rare is this?

New South Wales test found that in 1994, for each 100,000 women giving birth, roughly 94 cancers were diagnosed during pregnancy or inside one 12 months of birth. In 2013, this number increased to around 163 per 100,000. Although these statistics are over a decade old, they’re the latest and most rigorous data available in Australia.

Swede from 2023 test pregnancies in the years 1973–2017 showed similar results.

Both studies found that a couple of quarter of pregnancy-related cancers are diagnosed before birth, with the rest diagnosed a 12 months after birth.

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What variety of cancer are we talking about?

First in the UK comprehensive assessment cancer during pregnancy – a review of diagnoses from 2016–2020.

This study, the NSW study and others found that breast and skin cancer (often melanoma) are the most typical cancers related to pregnancy. In this group, there was also a high percentage of thyroid cancer, gynecological cancer (especially cervical and ovarian cancer) and blood cancer.

A UK study found that around 92% of cancers were recent diagnoses and around 82% had symptoms. The majority (81%) were treated with curative intent, and roughly 82% of pregnancies related to a cancer diagnosis resulted in a live birth.

However, 20% of the moms died before the end of the five-year study period. Gastrointestinal cancers were particularly concerning. They were characterised by the highest mortality rate of roughly 46% and were related to diagnosis at a more advanced stage of cancer.

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This could also be because lots of the symptoms of gastrointestinal cancers, resembling abdominal pain, fatigue and acid reflux disorder, overlap with those of pregnancy. In other words, some cancer symptoms may be confused with pregnancy symptoms, “masking” or delaying the diagnosis of cancer.

Breast cancer is considered one of the most ceaselessly diagnosed cancers today.
Production “My Ocean” / Shutterstock

Why are there more and more such cases?

The big selection of cancers that occur during and after pregnancy suggest that there are various aspects involved.

In countries with high socioeconomic status, women have children later in life, and the biggest risk factor for a lot of cancers is age. However, the evidence that age is a serious risk factor for pregnancy-related cancers is inconclusive. This may explain some, but not all, cases.

Another factor could also be increasing usage prenatal genetic testing in early pregnancy. They analyze DNA from the mother’s blood to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the developing fetus. But these tests may also provide details about the mother’s chromosomes. This has led to the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease, breast and colorectal cancer in pregnant women without symptoms.

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Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones essential for the growth and development of breast tissue and supporting other points of a healthy pregnancy. They may also contribute to cancer developmentespecially breast cancer. However, it is unclear whether this is related to the increase in pregnancy-related cancers.

Other cancers, resembling skin cancer, have been linked to environmental aspects resembling exposure to UV radiation. Of note, melanoma was the leading pregnancy cancer in the New South Wales study, reflecting the high rate of skin cancer in the local population. Other environmental aspects, resembling smoking and human papillomavirus, have been linked to cervical cancer. Again, we will not be sure whether such aspects are related to the increase in the incidence of pregnancy-related cancers.

Healthcare worker wearing gloves examining the back of a patient with moles
In a study in New South Wales, the most typical was skin cancer.
African Studio/Shutterstock

What happens after the diagnosis is made?

Pregnancy complicates the diagnosis of cancer because any potential treatment for the mother may jeopardize the health and viability of the fetus. So some points of treatment may require adjustment.

Surgery can often be performed in any trimester of pregnancy, depending on the location of the cancer.

Radiotherapy requires careful planning because the effects of radiation on the fetus rely upon the developmental stage at which radiation is administered to the body and on the dose.

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Chemotherapy must be avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy on account of its potential toxic effects on the fetus. It can often be given in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Chemotherapy must be avoided inside three weeks of birth to cut back the risk of bleeding and infection in the newborn, who might also have a weakened immune system consequently of chemotherapy.

More targeted immunotherapies are typically given to the mother after delivery. Depending on her treatment, she could also be advised to not breastfeed. This is because the medicine can pass from mother to baby through breast milk.

What’s happening to the children?

Reassuringly, data from New South Wales showed no increase in the rate of perinatal deaths given to moms with pregnancy-related cancer.

However, there have been more planned premature births. This is because women are offered induction of labor and/or cesarean section to make it easier for the mother to undergo cancer treatment while also reducing the risks of treatment for the unborn baby.

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There was also the next percentage of babies born with low birth weight and low Apgar scores (indicators of a baby’s condition soon after birth), which were probably related to premature birth.

What do researchers need to know?

We have lots to study why pregnancy-related cancers are rising and what women diagnosed with this cancer can expect.

We also have to mix cancer and obstetrics data in national databases. This would allow us to find out which areas must be prioritized for further research, provide clinical guidelines for cancer screening during and after pregnancy, and help assess responses to screening programs or therapies in the future.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Doctor Halle Berry confused her in the perimenopausia with her she has herpes

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Doctor Halle Berry confused her in the perimenopausia with the star has herpes

Kamil Krzeczyński/Getty Images

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Halle Berry discussed a subject that doesn’t pay enough attention on the last day of an unjustified conversation event and it is a perimenopause. During the meeting only at the invitation, which took place at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, Berry talked with First Lady Jill Biden about women’s health, with particular emphasis on menopause.

The actress and director prepared the scene, explaining that her goal was “a change in the way women and men feel about women during middle age and how they feel with it – who once was a dirty word – menopause, perimenopause, and we must change it in this room … It can’t be just destruction and darkness. It’s a glorious life time.”

This is a timely conversation, considering that President Biden has recently signed an executive order focused on increasing women’s health research.

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During the Berry chat, 57 years old, she shared her personal experience with perimenopause – the period when your body goes to menopause. It is usually characterised by reduced fertility in addition to hormonal fluctuations.

“First of all, my ego told me that I intend to skip him-I am very safe, I am healthy, I was able to get out of insulin and manage my diabetes since I am 20 years old,” said Oscar winner. Berry continued, stating that “finally [met] The man of my dreams “referring to her current Beau van Hunt, being quite transparent about their sex life and the way often they did” it “. The first lady jokingly interjected and said: “I didn’t know he would tell this story. I’m not talking about mine!”

But Berry shared her experience related to extreme pain during and after sex, and this reason to go to the doctor. To her surprise, the doctor told the actress that he appeared to have the worst case of herpes he had ever seen. However, after Berry and Van Hunt weren’t tested, none of the sexually transmitted diseases.

“I realized that this is a symptom of perimenopause,” Berry said, referring to identified vaginal dryness. She continued: “My doctor had no knowledge and did not prepare me, then I knew:” Oh my God, I actually have to make use of the platform, I actually have to benefit from who I’m and I actually have to start out making changes and differences for other women. “

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The conversation ended with Berry, asking the creators and other people in the crowd to “help us change the way women perceived women at this stage of our lives.”

She added: “And we are not exactly at the end. We are sitting here, two women who are clearly on the path of life, we did not finish. We just start our next act.”

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Large changes are planned for the care of the old one in 2025. But you will never learn from the main parties

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There were few recent products in pre -election guarantees for Australian elderly employees, suppliers or 1.3 million people who use the care of the old one.

In March, he announced a piece party $ 2.6 billion For one other increase in payment for older nurses in addition to previous salary increases.

Since then, there was nothing significant for older care or opposition.

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The main changes are scheduled for the sector this yr, 4 years after condemnation Report of the Royal Committee on the care of the old. However, no additional funds were announced.

Estimates suggest that financing is brief About $ 5 billion cope with losses by housing providers or a shortage Home care packages.

What can we expect this yr?

AND New care for the care of the old He will enter into force on July 1 with a much greater emphasis on the rights of the elderly to acquire care, which meets their needs. It will mean:

  • recent old care regulation system

  • A brand new independent Commissioner for Complaints

  • recent House support A program for the elderly who wish to live at home and in the community

  • Changes in residential care fees.

However, there are many problems and it shouldn’t be clear whether the reforms introduced this yr will fix them.

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Access continues to be an issue

Access to old care it still is an issueEspecially in rural and distant areas. The system is difficult to navigate in the case of often sensitive and confused consumers and their families.

The government is essentially based on My website of old care To inform the elderly and their families about the Old Care options. But this only provides basic information and it’s difficult to get individualized support.

There can be a “digital division” for a big group that’s unknown and has no trust using online services.

So we want rather more emphasis on providing local “One Stop Shops” for personalized support and advice, especially when people enter the old care system for the first time. These services may be provided by Centrelink or recent regional offices.

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Not everyone can navigate your sites to get details about the care you need.
Screenshot/my older care

ABOUT One -third of the elderly Say they need assistance to live at home. But to get help, you need an older assessment and this process also requires improvement.

A waiting times for the evaluation I blew up, with delays to five months.

Older people prefer to remain home

There are some fears that the number of recent start beds is It didn’t grow fast enough. For example, there’s an absence of housing care in individual areas, similar to Canberra.

But the times of admission to housing care they’ve not increased and the occupancy rates are declining. This suggests the elderly I would favor a house for housing care.

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However, the increased demand for home care packages is not be met.

For those that need more intensive services at home, Waiting times Stay stubborn and unacceptably long because there shouldn’t be enough home care packages.

Despite the years of complaints, there are still greater than 80,000 people On the waiting list for care at home.

New Home support program It will introduce an eight -level support system. The highest level of financing for home care will be Grow to USD 78,000 To fill the gap between home financing and housing. But you will need many more intense home care packages to shorten the waiting time.

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The home support program also introduces much higher costs out of their very own pocket for the elderly. Such costs of day by day services – similar to meals, cleansing and gardening – currently financed from the Home Commonwealth Will support program will increase significantly.

It will be the most controversial too Higher costs out of your personal pocket In the case of “independence” services, including personal care, social support, foster care and therapy.

Personnel deficiencies are still an issue

For providers of care for the elderly, chronic labor deficiencies are still the biggest problem. The last increase in wages for older employees, including nurses, is a step in the right direction. But wages are still low.

It is difficult to draw staff, staff trading is high, and the staff is insufficiently trained, risking the quality of care. Deficiencies are particularly acute in rural areas.

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. The care industry is required by the elderly Improved migration, higher training and incentives for regional employees to complement the deficiency. But no recent election ads have been issued to this point.

A health care worker helps older men in a walking frame
Care for an old still requires more employees, including a nurse.
Whyframe/Shutterstock

Without real reform

Despite the changes that we will see since July, the organization and financing of the Old Care stays essentially unchanged.

In general, the Australian care system for the elderly continues to be heavily privatized and crushed. IN 2022-23 There were 923 home care suppliers, 764 housing providers and 1334 home service providers, just about all in the private and non-profit sectors.

Commonwealth still manages the sector through a difficult combination of highly centralized regulations and order agreements.

He didn’t introduce an efficient, regional management structure to plan, organize and rule the sector to extend quality, innovation, equality, response and performance.

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The community was also not able to finance the system via a fee, social insurance or increased taxation program. Instead, it increases the user’s fees to cover the costs of providing services.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

OP-ED: You shouldn’t be thin to have a voice in health and well-being

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For so long as I can remember, I used to be larger than most of my friends and family. I have all the time been very aware of my size and still attracted the most recent food regimen trends, hoping for a quick way to reduce my body. When I got to highschool, I discovered the sector of dietetics and fascinated myself. I saw it as a perfect opportunity – not only to help myself shed extra pounds, but to lead others while traveling. Bearing in mind this goal, I selected dietetics as a student direction, but after I first entered the pitch, I quickly realized something disturbing – I didn’t see many individuals who looked like me.

The field of dietetics was and still consists primarily of thin, white women. Less than three percent of registered dietitians are black, and even smaller percent are crazy or black women like me.

At the start of my profession, I used to be searching for voices that supported integration health messages-Voices, which rejected the load, promoted body respect and recognized deeply rooted inequalities in health and well-being-but these voices were few. In a world that priority treats thinness over health, I knew that I had to turn into one among them.

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Harmful expectations

These harmful stereotypes and expectations will not be only a problem in the sector of dietetics – there are most health spaces and biological renewal. From fitness instructors to doctors, personal trainers to food regimen specialists, there may be an unspoken expectation that credibility is related to body size. The message is evident: it’s best to take seriously in the sector of health and well -being, you have to be thin. You must show a certain way based on the stereotype that healthy equals thin or fitted.

This belief shouldn’t be only false, but in addition deeply harmful. Creates a toxic exclusion cycle that follows:

  • Discredits are highly qualified, passionate professionals just because they don’t match the stereotypical image of “health”.
  • He alienates people in larger bodies who’re searching for suggestions, but don’t feel represented or respected.
  • It maintains a harmful narrative that “thin = healthy” and “fat = unhealthy”, ignoring the complex reality of general health and well -being.

People questioned my knowledge – not due to my references, education or a few years of experience – because I don’t match the “perfect” picture of a dietitian. I used to be told that my body one way or the other denies my knowledge. But here is the reality – my body is not going to disqualify me. My experienced experience makes me a higher lawyer, a higher dietitian and a more sympathetic skilled. The same applies to many other health and well -being specialists who may not match the narrow type of society, but bring invaluable perspectives and empathy to their work.

Influence on the people we serve

These stereotypical, focused on the load of expectations not only harm professionals. This harms people themselves we try to help. Imagine that you simply go to a doctor or dietitian, searching for health support, just to meet with the stigma of weight. Imagine that you simply are released, embarrassed or given general advice “just lose weight” as a substitute of real, based on evidence of suggestions. This happens daily. That is why so many individuals in larger bodies completely avoid looking for healthcare – not because they don’t care about their health, but because they felt unworthy of compassionate care. We cannot promote health, while maintaining a system that embarrasses and excludes people based on body size.

OP-ED: You shouldn't be thin to have a voice in health and well-being
Thanks to the kindness of Andrea Mathis, Ma, RDN, LD

Respect shouldn’t be a privilege – it’s true

And before someone tries to equate them (fighting the stigma of weight and in favor of switching on and accepting the body shouldn’t be to promote unhealthy behavior), it’s about advising respect, dignity and sympathetic look after all bodies, no matter size, ability or appearance. The assumption that the positivity of the body or switching on the load encourages “unhealthy lifestyle” is rooted in warning, not science.

The goal shouldn’t be to discourage behaviors promoting health, but to be sure that these behaviors can be found, balanced and free from shame or coercion. The fight for body acceptance and against harmful stereotypes means dismantling the harmful belief that only thin, efficient people deserve kindness, credibility or high -quality care. Each person, no matter the scale, deserves to be seen, heard and treated with dignity – because respect should never be conditional.

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Changing the narrative

Changing a conversation about body size, health and credibility shouldn’t be only my mission – it’s a collective effort that requires from all of us harmful norms and advising on inclusion. I stated that my goal is to push out the outdated standards of beauty and health in the sector of dietetics. However, a real change occurs when society, as a whole, does it too.

The role of media, health care staff, teachers and even every day conversations play the role. We can change the narrative by raising various voices of health and well -being, difficult a stigma once we see it, and ensuring that health messages can be found and incorporating for all bodies. When we define what it means to be healthy and press the world in which everyone seems to be treated with dignity, we’re heading towards a more efficient, sympathetic and truly focused society.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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