The Tyburn joins Duchenne Dash as medical partner

The Tyburn is delighted to join the Duchenne Dash as medical and healthcare partner. We will be providing medical kit, equipment and supplies for the 24 hour cycle ride from London to Paris. Dr Adam Hazell will also be creating a series of health and well-being guides to help prepare cyclists for the Dash. He will then be joining the ride providing medical support throughout the event.

About The Duchenne Dash

The Duchenne Dash is a 24 hour cycle ride from London to Paris that raises funds for Duchenne UK. The annual VIP cycling event departs London on 10 June 2022 and cyclist have 24 hours to ride over 300km to Paris. Over the past 9 years, the Dash has raised more than £5.5 million for DMD research.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Dash or signing up to join this year’s event please register your interest.

 

About Duchenne UK

Duchenne UK is the leading Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) charity in the UK, with one clear aim – to end Duchenne. It’s focus is to find effective treatments for DMD and end its devastating impact. The charity connects the best researchers with industry, the NHS and families to advance and accelerate every stage of drug development.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive condition diagnosed in childhood. It causes all the muscles in the body to gradually weaken. There is currently no cure for Duchenne, but there is hope. Duchenne UK is at the forefront of advancing treatments and care for everyone affected by the disease.

 

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Early detection and prompt action are key: prevention and diagnosis of prostate cancer

Earlier this year, it was established that prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England and Wales according to data released by Public Health England.

The good news is that it is generally a slow-growing cancer with a good prognosis if discovered at an early stage. Screening is testing to find cancer before the patient may have experienced symptoms and, if prostate cancer is found as a result of screening, it may be at an early stage when curative treatments are more likely to be successful.

Prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms, but when it does, the commonest ones are as follows:

  • passing urine more often than usual
  • getting up during the night to pass urine more frequently
  • difficulty passing urine – e.g a weaker flow, not being able to empty the bladder completely and straining to starting the flow
  • increased urgency to pass urine
  • blood in the urine or semen

The first step: visiting your GP

If you’ve been experiencing any symptoms or have a family history of cancer, then discussing this with your GP is your first step. Dr Adam Hazell can then discuss the tests that can be performed.

Prostate tests and exams

Urine test: during your consultation with Dr Adam Hazell, he will ask for a urine sample which can be tested for signs of an infection. If you have an infection, this will be treated and further tests will be offered.

Rectal examination: another exam that may be offered is a digital rectal examination (DRE). You will be lying on your side with your knees pulled up to your chest and Dr Hazell will feel inside your rectum using a lubricated, gloved finger. The aim is to feel for any abnormalities such as an enlarged prostate or a prostate that feels unusually hard or lumpy.

Men are often nervous about this test, but you shouldn’t feel any pain. You can have a chaperone in the room with you if preferred.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test: this is a blood test for prostate cancer. Your blood can be tested for a protein that is produced by the prostate. If you have a raised level of this protein, it can indicate that you have prostate cancer. A raised PSA level is not an absolute sign of prostate cancer; it can be a sign of infection or inflammation of the prostate.

Although the PSA is currently the best screening blood test readily available for prostate cancer, there are pros and cons associated with its use, so Dr Hazell will always discuss these with you before it is taken.

Diagnosing prostate cancer

Dr Adam Hazell will use the results of these different tests to assess the likelihood of you having or developing prostate cancer and refer you to a urologist for further tests if necessary.

The tests they will perform can include MRI scans, ultrasounds and biopsies and if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, your treatment options will be discussed with you by your consultant.

Dr Adam Hazell and the team at The Tyburn will be there to support you throughout your patient journey, alongside any treating specialists.

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Preventative care during a pandemic: which checks can you delay, and which are a must?

As the country copes with the second wave of COVID, the NHS has launched a campaign – Help Us Help You – to encourage people to seek medical help if required, hoping to avoid the missed treatment pattern of the first peak of the pandemic in the UK.

Analysis of more than 200 health conditions shows that for some diseases, the intake for diagnosis and treatment fell by up to 90% in the first few months of lockdown. The impact that this will have on an increase in deaths not related to COVID in the future is still uncertain but will likely be significant.

So, seeking early diagnosis of any new and worrying symptoms is essential even as COVID infection levels continue to rise. But, what about routine check-ups? Which annual exams can you delay, and which are a must?

Annual wellness check

If you are generally fit and well, you could safely postpone your annual medical for a few months, but routine health screenings can catch a serious health concern at an early stage when it’s potentially at its easiest to treat. For those suffering from chronic health conditions, such as diabetics, an annual wellness check is an essential monitor of your overall health.

Cancer screenings

Women who are at a high risk of developing cancer – whether they are showing symptoms or have a family history of cancer – should consider it essential to keep up with their cancer screening appointments.

If you’re not at high risk, then you should be safe to delay a mammogram or smear for a few months; Dr Adam Hazell can discuss this with you in more depth so you can decide whether to delay or proceed.

Prostate cancer is the the most commonly diagnosed male cancer, accounting for over 25% of all cancers diagnosed in men. Fortunately, the majority are slow-growing cancers, so if they are caught early, they can often just be simply monitored through regular surveillance. If treatment is required, then it tends to be the less aggressive forms, when compared to those that are picked up later on and have spread outside of the prostate gland. Currently, prostate cancer screening is done through an examination and a blood test, known as a PSA.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations should be completed immediately for anyone who is immunocompromised. With the second wave of Coronavirus upon us, a flu vaccine should be considered to avoid the risk of suffering a combined infection of COVID-19 and the flu this winter.

Immunisations for children should be continued on the recommended schedule to prevent them catching preventable contagious diseases.

For more advice on whether to reschedule any preventative health checks or to go ahead at this time, get in touch with Dr Adam Hazell and the team.

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Long COVID: counting the long-term cost of Coronavirus

With news that the UK government’s borrowing has soared to record highs during the pandemic, creating the highest debt-to-GDP ratio since the 1960s, it is clear that the financial cost of COVID-19 will be huge. But, what will the cost be to our health?

For many, catching COVID means a brush with a brief, mild illness and some may not experience any symptoms at all. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that some sufferers, even those that experienced a relatively mild initial infection, are left struggling to cope with a whole array of symptoms for many months afterwards.

Dubbed Long COVID, this condition can have a debilitating effect on people’s health, quality of life and mental wellbeing.

What is Long COVID?

As it is such a new phenomenon and our understanding is based mainly on anecdotal evidence, there is currently no medical definition for Long COVID. This is further compounded because individual patients can experience very different symptoms.

One of the most common symptoms seems to be extreme fatigue. Others include persistent cough, breathlessness, muscle and joint pain, headaches, loss of sense and smell and hearing and eyesight problems. Damage to the hearts, lungs, kidneys, liver and gut can also result.

Living with Long COVID

Our understanding of Long COVID is ever-evolving and a new study recently published in the British Medical Journal posits that it could actually be four separate syndromes.

  • permanent organ damage to the lungs and heart
  • post-intensive-care syndrome
  • post-viral fatigue syndrome
  • continuing COVID-19 symptoms

A team of researchers and doctors at the National Institute for Health Research reviewed current evidence and interviewed post-hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients. They concluded that coming up with a “working diagnosis for ongoing COVID-19” would help people access support.

At The Tyburn, Dr Adam Hazell is already assisting patients suffering from Long COVID to manage their daily lives or help them return to work. This is done by assessing the physical and psychological aspects of the illness and the impact it has on the patient’s work capacity and activities of daily living.

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Worries about mental health crisis this winter due to COVID uncertainty and isolation

A leading mental health charity has recently warned that the UK is ‘sleepwalking’ into a mental health crisis as a result of the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, the uncertainty, fear and isolation we are all experiencing will be compounded by the colder, darker months of winter.

The Centre for Mental Health predicts that 10 million people will require some form of mental health support as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the measures that the Government are introducing to control it.

Even under normal circumstances, good mental health underpins how we function as a society. During a pandemic, however, the implications of this mental health crisis can affect how we respond and recover as a country. Healthcare workers that are essential to the COVID-19 response may have to leave the workforce if their mental health is not protected.

The World Health Organisation has also warned that depression and anxiety can increase susceptibility to infection and transmission of the virus. There is evidence that poor mental health affects the ability to adhere to rules of mask-wearing and social distancing and can even affect vaccine absorption.

Looking after your mental health during COVID

Understandably, we are all feeling anxious or uneasy during this unsettled time and this is a normal reaction. There are things you can do, however, to help you manage these feelings of anxiety.

Keep in touch digitally: if you can’t meet up with people as you would normally, make plans to Facetime or phone regularly. If you’re feeling anxious about Coronavirus, you may find it helpful to talk about these worries with someone you trust. We’ve also included some links below of useful resources if you want to discuss your concerns with someone trained in dealing in mental health issues.

Stay active: try and build physical activity into your daily routine as much as possible, even if you are working from home or shielding. Eating regularly and staying hydrated is also essential.

Consider how you’re staying informed: if you’re feeling anxious, an important step can be to limit the amount of time you spend reading or watching the news. There is also a lot of misinformation and conflicting reports around, so stick to trusted sources of information.

Useful links:

If you want to talk to someone immediately about how you’re feeling, ring the Samaritans for free on 116 123.

To find out how to get professional help, you can call the following numbers for information:

Samaritans information line: 0300 123 3393

Rethink Mental Illness helpline: 0300 5000 927

There are also many resources that can help:

Clear Fear is a free app for helping you recognise, manage and reduce your anxiety

YoungMinds is a children and young people’s mental health charity

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) runs a confidential information service which you can call or use webchat

The SilverLine is a free 24-hour confidential helpline for older people, providing information, friendship and advice

SupportLine is a charity for vulnerable, isolated people or people in abusive situations

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