Health Journal Online

Tag: Womans

  • Woman’s Skin Turns Yellow, Develops Flu-Like Symptoms Before Shocking Terminal Diagnosis

    Woman’s Skin Turns Yellow, Develops Flu-Like Symptoms Before Shocking Terminal Diagnosis

    For years, 38-year-old Laura Wharam, led an active, healthy life, believing she was in remission after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer. But when she recently developed strange flu-like symptoms and noticed her skin turning yellow, little did she imagine that it would lead to a devastating diagnosis. Her cancer has returned aggressively at stage 4, leaving her with no cure and only months to live.

    Wharam from London, in the U.K., was initially diagnosed with breast cancer that led to a double mastectomy in 2021. “We thought it was all going well from there. She was feeling super strong – she was active. But then it all changed at the start of this year,” said her partner Jake Watt.

    But Wharam began feeling unwell last month, experiencing fatigue and losing her appetite. Soon, she noticed her skin turning yellow and was rushed to the hospital, suspecting an infected appendix. Instead, what awaited her was a life-changing diagnosis.

    “It was the worst possible news. It’s such a shock to the system. I’ve cried every day since the diagnosis. It’s been such a whirlwind,” Watt recollected.

    Wharam’s cancer has now spread to other parts of her body with little treatment left. “Laura’s cancer is incurable, but she’s having chemotherapy to try to slow it down. Doctors have said the worst-case scenario is a couple of months, the best-case scenario is a couple of years,” said Watt.

    Now, the couple faces an unimaginable situation where Wharam cannot continue her work and should start thinking about her end-of-life care. In an effort to support her during this difficult time, Watt has set up a GoFundMe page.

    “She can’t work at the moment and London is expensive. We also have to start preparing for end-of-life care. We just want to alleviate that financial burden,” Watt said.

    While many are familiar with the typical signs of breast cancer, such as changes to the nipple or a lump, it’s important to remember that not all forms present these obvious symptoms. In many cases, mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.

    When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, or brain, the symptoms can be very different. Secondary breast cancer often brings a range of general symptoms, including overwhelming tiredness, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea, and pain. Yellowing of the skin can be a sign that cancer has spread to the liver.

    Source link

  • Woman’s Migraines, Motion Sickness Thought To Be From Phone Use Revealed Rare Brain Disorder

    Woman’s Migraines, Motion Sickness Thought To Be From Phone Use Revealed Rare Brain Disorder

    For years, 44-year-old Charlie Rolstone from the U.K. brushed off her migraines, motion sickness, and occasional blackouts as the side effects of spending too much time on her phone. But a medical emergency three years ago revealed a chilling truth that her symptoms stemmed from a rare brain disorder from her skull pushing against the brain.

    An MRI taken during the emergency visit revealed that Rolstone had epilepsy and a Chiari malformation, a condition caused by an abnormal skull structure that forces the brain to extend downward into the spinal canal.

    “I’ve had it my whole life, but my symptoms have only been getting worse as I’ve got older,” said Rolstone, SWNS reported.

    “I’ve suffered with migraines since I was a teen. Whenever I cough, I also get a very piercing pain in my head, covering the back of my skull. It only lasts for, maybe, 30 seconds — but it’s enough to make me grab my head. I can’t even shout or raise my voice without getting a headache. These were symptoms I knew to be there, but I thought they were normal,” she added.

    Rolstone thought she would grow out of the symptoms until she received the diagnosis while she was taken to the hospital after collapsing from a seizure. The doctors also found out that she had brain lesions and an aneurysm.

    “I don’t know the full extent of the damage the condition has done, but I’m glad we’ve caught it now. That seizure saved my life — it revealed my Chiari malformation,” she said.

    Rolstone now manages her migraines with painkillers and limits her phone use to reduce motion sickness. With medications for epilepsy, she has been seizure-free for 21 months.

    Chiari malformation can be present with or without symptoms, and the signs depend on the type of condition. In Chiari malformation type 1, symptoms such as headaches, particularly while coughing or sneezing, neck pain, poor hand coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, and difficulty swallowing, typically begin in late childhood or adulthood, though the condition is often congenital.

    In rare cases, individuals with Chiari malformation type 1 may experience additional symptoms, including ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), muscle weakness, a slow heart rhythm, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) linked to spinal cord impairment, and breathing difficulties.

    Type 2 Chiari malformation is typically associated with a myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida where the spinal canal and backbone fail to close properly before birth. The symptoms include difficulty swallowing, changes in breathing pattern, sudden downward eye movements and weakness in arms.

    Source link