Forget the boom and bust?

 If you are diagnosed with M.E and are referred to a clinic in your area, one thing they will teach you is all about trying to avoid boom and bust and learning to completely redefine the word pace... you've  rolled onto one side now DON'T ROLL OVER AGAIN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER HOUR!! This is the only real "sound advice" you are given. And that's if there is a clinic in your area. In many areas there isn't and you simply have to rely on the information that your gp does or does not have.

 

Anyway... So what is boom and bust? And why should it be avoided? Boom and bust is a term that in relation to chronic illnesses such as M.E, Fibromyalgia and POTS (to name a few) is where you have a burst of activity as a result of feeling more energized and having a better day. Perhaps "overdoing it" because you want to make the most of having that much energy or wanting to get a task done, especially if you have been wanting to do it for a while but not been well enough to. It can be so frustrating lying there unable to do the simplest of tasks as all the things you want to do build up. Consequently you can then experience bust, a crash to earth as a result of the activity. Where your body feels physically and mentally assaulted. Bust is also known as payback or post exertional malaise, which is a defining symptom for M.E patients. This is because the mitochondria, the powerhouse in our cells that turns nutrients into energy, is defective. This means that once you have used up your energy it can take a long time for it to build back up. When experiencing bust some will of course feel silly for having essentialy made themselves feel that way. Feeling it is all their fault they are suffering as they are. But of course it isn't your fault. It's the illness. And the fact that you are ill is certainly not your fault.

 

So the question is should we avoid the boom and bust? The thing is each time we use up our energy we don't know just how much our body will react. Sometimes just walking to the bathroom and back will wear you out as much as a trip to the supermarket. Unlike our phones that easily tell us how much battery we have left our bodies don't. The fact that we are always at the mercy of our symptoms helps blur the lines even more. Predominantly our energy is used on things that we cannot really avoid just simple household tasks or things we need to do to look after ourselves. Especially if we live alone. And yes we can often 'over do it' because like I said the temptation to do as much as you can while you can is one we will often fall prey to. We can of course get help but unless we are completely bed bound then the ability to do things for ourselves is one that at least makes us feel that little bit more normal and not completely useless, because we often feel that we have lost our independance. However although they are necessary, these are only the smaller things, although of course to us they can also be big achievements and although they say life is made up of the smaller moments and I can see the truth in that statement I'm not sure that quite applies to household chores and making sure you eat and drink. If experiencing boom and bust can be so easily done by these smaller things then what about the bigger things? Should they be avoided at all costs?

 

It is the bigger moments that can really leave their impact, whether that be positive or negative. Sadly we can't really control some of life's sadder events or know when they are going to happen and of course that is going to cause a lot of post exertional malaise and much grief. Therefore in those incidents it is highly likely we will use as much energy as we have and ultimately boom and bust. Moving on to the more positive big moments/events that create fond memories and make up much of our achievements. From graduating, getting married, having children to the holiday of a lifetime or a gig you have always wanted to go to. When you have a chronic illness getting to achieve these things can seem impossible. Your head is full of questions and doubt. I will leave school/college with no qualifications. No one will want me now that I am sick and need a wheelchair. How will I ever even meet someone when I hardly leave the house? And when I do I am always accompanied. You worry that travel will be too stressful and painful and that you won't have the control you feel you need. That you are far away from where you feel safe and comfortable in an environment you are not used to. You also feel like you would let others down. That they may have to miss out if you need to leave early from an event and feel bitter towards you. You often think it's probably too much effort and too much risk, and therefore not worth it. And of course that ultimately you will experience post exertional malaise afterwards and feel like you have been in an accident not at an enjoyable event. And that's no fun at all! Consequently your quality of life can be poor and you feel like you are missing out on so much that life has to offer.

I was reading through an old blog post the other day called reminicsing, in which I was looking back to the time I was more moderately affected and the time shortly before I was officially diagnosed. In it I said " I remember being on holiday just before my diagnosis and telling myself that although my life was about to dramatically change that if I could still steer it in a good direction and make new memories then I had to make the most of things when I could. I'd try my best to not just be defined by illness and keep developing the condidence I'd gained."  This is certainly a philosophy I still try too live by. Even if it's not one I can put in to practise that often. 

 Recently I went to the theatre to watch Pasha Kovalev from Strictly Come Dancing. Words cannot describe the effect that man has on me, haha. It took a lot of resting beforehand and lying very still to have enough energy to go. This is another thing a clinic would advise against, oops! I was so very thankful that on the day I did actually feel well enough. Going to the theatre brings up a lot of other complications for me such as noise and light sensitivities but luckily I coped well. I had packed sunglasses just incase. Naturally when you are at a dance show you are going to want to clap along and applaud and when Pasha tells you to dance you're damn well going to shimmy for him. However I caught myself thinking a few times, perhaps I shouldn't be clapping as much or doing the wheelchair boogie. That I would have hell to pay for it in the coming week. But that thought quickly got lost as I was emerced in enjoying the show. After the show I wanted to go wait at the stage door to meet the dancers. Again I thought Siân you probably shouldn't push your luck here and just get yourself home and back in bed. But if you have a choice to meet Pasha and he is meteres away what are you going to do? I think you can already tell the answer to that from the photo above and let's just say it was totally worth it. I had an amazing evening. This was in part due to the beautiful message of the show, which was all about positivity and Pasha wanting to make sure his audience went away feeling uplifted.But also that because for a few hours I felt less like a poorly person and more of a normal person. So full of life and happiness I very nearly cried, but I didn't want to shed any tears on such a good night, even if they were happy ones. If I hadn't have been in a wheelchair I could very easily have believed I was. And that was such a wonderful feeling. 

The point I'm trying to make without gushing too much is that opportunities like that don't come around that often, especially for us. For me personally I try and grab them. Whether it be from a trip to the theatre to hoping to be well enough to go on holiday. I have to plan very carefully and be over prepared for every situation, but I try not to let that detter me. It was my choice to book the tickets and give myself that opportunity and one that could very easily have not worked out by not being well enough to go but at least I had gave myself the chance. I know some people will think that if you then don't get to go that you are going to be really disappointed and hateful of the illness; and yes it would be disappointing but it still hurts to know an event is happening and doubt stops you from booking. Sometimes you simply need to take a risk and hope it pays off.

I'm not going to lie and say that it didn't hurt or cause PEM afterwards because it did. That is the nature of the illness and something I expect. Suprisingly it wasn't nearly as bad as expected so I got lucky there. Plus as I recovered I got to relive the night many times in my head and that made sure I had the biggest smile on my face. The great memories outweighed any pain.

So maybe booming and busting is a bit reckless and not advised but it's up to you to weigh up that risk and decide if you want to be more responsible for not causing yourself extra suffering or more responsible for your happiness and quality of life. Perhaps I am coming at this from the perspective from a former sufferer of depression and anxiety who feels the added pressure of maintaining my happiness. And perhaps you would choose differently. I really can't say I blame you. Payback can be a bitch and be really hard to deal with. I'm lucky I have people to help care for me 24/7 that can help me through the worst of it but I still dislike being reliant on them for basic care on those horrendous days. I don't wish to force this opinion on anyone. We each have a responsibilty towards our health. I only wish to say that we all deserve to be happy. And if we have the power to control that sometimes then it can be worth taking.

Siân
X

* Please note that booming and busting should only be on ocassion and that pacing for the majority of the time is still important for maintaining your health. Also note that this post is not an advise post and that each individual should take responsibility for their own health and decisions. I am only expressing my opinion using my experiences. However I do wish that you can all be as happy as you possibly can. Having a chronic illness is hard and finding ways to keep positive are important.

January Blues: What help is available?

 

In my previous post on where to get help if you think you may have depression I referred to a questionnaire that your GP should supply you in order to form an assessment of how much depression is affecting you. You can see an online copy of the questionnaire here http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/depression.aspx  It is important that you fill it out honestly and that you can provide as much other information as possible in order for your GP to suggest treatments they feel will most help you.

 

Possible Treatments

 

See how it goes:

If your depression is relatively mild then after your initial talk with your GP you may feel a bit more empowered and much lighter for having got things off your chest. If this is the case then make a follow up appointment for a week or two to see if this continues. But remember if you continue to feel worse then go back to see them sooner. Furthermore speak to someone that you can trust and open up to regularly. Also remember if you are feeling at the end of your tether with it all then seeing how it goes might to you sound like a cop out. In which case work with your doctor to come up with a more proactive care plan.

 

Self care:

 

Your GP may also write you a book prescription for a self help book about depression/ anxiety that they recommend. You simply take the prescription to your local library and they get a copy of that book for you to lend for a few weeks. It doesn't matter if you are a member of that library or not. You may find it difficult at times to  concentrate but take it bit by bit. Alternatively they could recommend good websites to use that have detailed and useful information. Sometimes just knowing you are being that bit more pro active can lift your mood slightly.

Other tips that may help you is to try and see a bit more day light and get more fresh air. To do gentle excercise. Eat more healthy foods. Even just pampering yourself a bit. Having a bubble bath, putting on a face mask or painting your nails. Listening to your favourite songs or watching your favourite tv show or film. Many a counsellor will tell you to avoid the news and soap operas as they can often make you feel worse. They might sound trivial but they can work to help boost your self esteem and also as a distraction technique, to prevent you thinking as much about your troubles. I would also recommend keeping a diary to help you rate your mood and to notice if anything helps to improve your mood. Even if you simply write:

 

Mood before activity (going for a walk):
Mood after activity:

 

Assigning your mood a number. 1 being the lowest mood imagineable and 10 being the best mood.

 

Talking Therapy:

 

As mentioned in my former post counselling is one of the most recommended forms of treatment available for all kinds of patient and problems. It can help you to gain perspective and to make you feel that you are not alone in dealing with your emotions, feelings and problems. You may benefit from talking to a friend or family member however the added advantage of receiving counselling is that you can talk to someone who is trained to listen and have specific advice to help you cope with this difficult time. Plus, because they don't know you they do not have any preconceptions of you nor pass any judgement. Usually counselling is one on one but there is also the options of relationship counselling, family counselling and group therapy depending on your needs. I spoke in more detail on what types of counselling are available and where you can find counselling that is right for you in my previous post (linked above).

 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

 

Or CBT as it is known, whilst controversial for it's choice as a treatment for physical illnesses, can be an effective treatment for mental health problems. It may be used alongside counselling or often combined with it in each session. It is a way of analysising the way in which you think about things and how we form patterns of thought. It looks at ways to prevent some thought patterns that lead to feelings of depression and anxiety from occurring.

 

For example I found CBT extremely useful in helping me to stop negative thoughts from escalating into depression or anxiety and panic and each time it did I would automatically think about self harming. So through using CBT in my counselling sessions and other help I recieved I was able to identify triggers to these feelings and with time learn to rechannel those thoughts. And I can honestly say now, 5 years later I'm still very grateful for each time I can feel down in the dumps or alone etc etc and not have thoughts of self harm. So I think this is a good treatment for anyone that as a consequence of their feelings wants to harm themselves (or others) in anyway be it through cutting to starving yourself. Obviously the greater the feeling to do harm is CBT may only be part of a treatment plan and combined with other treatments.

 

It is also a good treatment for anyone that is having real difficulty in coping with change in their lives. Be it feeling lost after retiring to having to cope with being diagnosed with a long term illness. It won't improve the symptoms of a physical illness but it may help you to have the strength to adjust to having your life uprouted. For example if you feel that as a result of your illness that your life no longer has meaning. In some ways I think had I not learned to have greater control of my thoughts (even though it was a while before being diagnosed with M.E) I would struggle more emotionally and be at greater risk or relapasing into depression.

 

Medication

 

Many people have opposing views on the use of medications such as antidepressants and benzodiapozines (such as xanax and diazapam) to treat depression or anxiety. Some will say they disliked them, that they gave them a false sense of reality and simply masked their emotions; leaving the feelings unresolved and likely to return. While others, myself included, will say that they were a big help in winning back the emotional fight. That they help calm things down so that you can deal with the emotions and any triggers that you identify through talking therapies. Either way using talking therapies too will allow you to deal with any triggers to the way you are feeling that antidepressants alone can't solve. Of course it is entirely your own choice if you want to go down that route. And I do not wish to influence anyones choice as everyone is different.

 

It's a decision that should be made solely between you and your doctor. You might be worried that by taking antidepressants your problems seem to be much more frightening. A kind of "well I must be really bad if I need loony pills". Or you may be scared in case someone sees you taking this medication and will therefore associate you with being mad. Another fear may be that you are worried about the side effects, which some patients may experience. However each patient will react in different ways. The same goes with fear of the withdrawal process, which can cause it's own problems. It can be helpful to reassure yourself that it is your body readjusting to less chemicals and not be filled with fear that you are adjusting. Be sure to thoroughly discuss likely side effects with your doctor so that you can be fully aware of what to expect. And when the time comes that you feel you could cope without them your doctor will advise you on how to do so gradually and safely. But be aware that it may take some time. It could even be years in some cases (I'm still on a low dosage, 5 years later.) And if you want to make the decision about proceeding with medication at a later date then it's up to you.

 

Types of medication

 

There are several types of antidepressants. However they are all designed to act on the same brain chemicals. I won't go in to chemical speak but basically they work on prolonging serotonin, the chemical associated with good mood, as people suffering from depression can have low levels. These are known as SSRIs. More modern antidepressants also work on norepinephrine another chemical that is responsible for energy and alertness. These are known as SNRIs. These may also have less side effects.

 

Tricyclic and tricyclic-related antidepressants were invented in the 1950s and work by prolonging the action of seratonin as well as noradrenaline in the brain. These can cause a few more side effects.

There are also Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) however these are less common, mainly after other types of antidepressants have been tried and are only prescribed by specialists.

 

Benzodiazepines are sometimes used to help manage anxiety, panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorders and sometimes during alcohol withdrawal. They work on the chemical in the brain that helps us to feel calm and to help the cells pass on the message that we are not in any danger, that has been triggered with an anxiety or panic attack. However they will only ever be prescribed for short term use due to their association with addiction.Also because they do not help with the route cause of anxiety nor help you to feel better in the long term. They're only effective for a short time when your body is at peak distress. Other treatments such as counselling, CBT or antidepressants will be recommended as more effective ways to stop the anxiety from building and help you cope more long term.

 

Other Treatments

 

Arts therapies

 

Arts therapy is a less intrusive more complimentary treatment. And is designed to allow people that have difficulty in expressing their feelings to do so in a different way. It is often used when treating children, for example to help them come to terms with grief or divorce. It can be useful with this age group due to them not having the learned the right words to express how they feel or how to process the new information. But can also be effective for people of any age. Different art forms such as   music, art, dance or drama can be utilised to help the sufferer to express their feelings in a way that does not feel like therapy. Each session will be run by a trained therapist who will help you to interpret your work and be there if you want to talk about the emotions it has conjured up. Your GP, specialist, counsellor or local MIND centre should be able to tell you where you you can locally access this kind of therapy.

Alternative medicine

 

Depending on your beliefs you may wish to try alternative medicine or treatment. It will also depend on the GP that you are with what information they have about this. Some way have recommendations and others won't because it doesn't necessarily fall within their remit. However like with anything you undertake be sure to know how it will impact you and whether it will interfere with any medication you take. Just because something is natural or alternative does not mean it won't give you side effects (again it differs with each case). I would recommend that anything you do try you disclose to your doctor as a way to regulate how the treatment is going. Also remember that you will need to pay for any medication or treatment yourself.

 

The treatments I have mentioned here are for relatively moderate depression or anxiety. If your condition becomes worse or you become more at risk of doing harm to yourself then there are further options available. Also if you are diagnosed with another type of mental illness such as bipolar disorder, paranoid schitzophrenia or Obsessive Compulsuve Disorder then more specialized help is available. But in the most instances most depression or anxiety patients will be treated with one or a combination of the above treatments and will find them effective. And if any time you feel you are getting worse or experience nasty side effects then be sure to get back to your doctor as soon as you can.

 

Of course what is important to remember is there are no quick fixes, getting better will take time. And that may be incredibley frustrating at times. Try to have patience and think that each day is a step in the right direction. Think of it like a physical illness or injury if needs be. If you broke your leg or had appendicitis you would need at least 6 weeks to be heeled again. Having a mental health problem is no less real and the mind is a much more complex place.

 

Sian

 

* The information contained within this blog post is for self education purposes and should only be used in conjunction with that of a doctor that understands your personal circumstances.  All information in this blog post has been researched from MIND's website and the NHS website. With some personal experience. Please note that every patient is different  and all medical choices are best decided between you and your medical professional. I do not wish to influence anyone's choices, as it is down to each individual. This post only stands to point out what help is available out there.

January Blues: Where can I get help?

 

Firstly I want to say a very big thank you for all the comments and support I've received so far about this mini series. I'm glad many of you have appreciated it. This post is going to be a point of reference of sorts, should you ever need the information. Actually the post was getting so long I've had to split it into a few posts. One that's more general (which is this post) and another for more of a crisis situation (which hopefully will be published soon) and a post on what treatment options are available.

 

When you are battling with your mental health the hardest thing it can seem to do is to ask for help. Because it can be really difficult to actually admit that there is something wrong. Especially bad enough for you to need help. And of course the thought of needing help can also fill you with fear. Thinking that if you actually told someone what you are feeling then they may think you're crazy, mental or those horrible names nutjob or psycho. And consequently that you will be locked away and sectioned under the mental health act. However in reality this is very rarely the case.And what you are experiencing is something many others are also going through. 1 in 4 people will experience some kind mental health problem at any one time. So try to reassure your self that you will not be locked away.

 

However when you feel like that asking for help is the biggest step you can take. You may have had people telling you that you need help for some time. And perhaps you dismissed them. However deciding to get help needs to be very much your own want and recognition that you need that help. If you are concerned about a friend or family member there is a specific page on the MIND website for advise http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/

 

But where do you turn to when you want help? Would you know? Would you know how to help someone else that is suffering or in crisis? Below I have shared some options of where to get help in the early stages.

 

Talk to someone- firstly you might just want to talk to a friend or family member. Think who will understand and will listen without judgement. If there have been people who have been wanting you to seek help then they might be a good place to start. As long as you feel that they will listen and genuinely care about you. It may be that that is all the support you need. Just getting things off your chest and maybe thinking up solutions with a friend can be a big help.

 

Talk to your GP - when you have a mental/ emotional problem you may think that going to the GP is a waste of time. That they can only help for physical problems. However, in truth GP's see a large number of people with mental health issues each day. One GP once told me (after I had said that I felt that I was wasting his time) that it was actually about 80% of his job. That being said you need the right GP. One that you feel comfortable with and one who you feel actually really listens to you. Those 2 factors are very important. So if you feel uncomfortable with a certain GP or that they haven't treated you with compassion then ask to see another GP in your surgery. Do not let a bad experience affect your right to be listened to and to get the help that you need. And if you burst out crying in there don't worry about it. They should get you to complete a questionnaire that they can use to assess how you're mental health is, you can find an online copy of it here http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/depression.aspx Fill it out honestly. That way they can help you on a course of treatment that is right for you. I am preparing a separate post on what help and treatments are available.

 

Counselling- Counselling is one of the course of treatments that could be suggested for you. But as it is not exclusive to needing to see your GP first I wanted to mention it in this post. Counselling on the NHS can have long waiting lists due to the high amount of people that need it. The NHS are trying to put more counsellors into GP surgeries to reduce waiting times for this much needed service but wait times can still be long. Especially for a service where the sooner the better. However if you feel you cannot wait that long then there are other options available.

If you are employed then your employer may be able to get you a counsellor through occupational health. And this in no way should affect your standing at work or make you feel less employable. It is a service they can provide to look after the wellbeing of their staff. So if you are experiencing any problems, even ones that are not work related, then ask your boss if an appointment can be made for you. You don't have to tell them the reason either unless you feel you want to.

If you wish to see a private counsellor then you will need to pay.As with most service providers nowadays a simple search on Google can tell you where there are local counsellor's in your area. Along with a pinpoint to their location and contact details. I simply typed in "where can I find a counsellor?" and a list of local places came up on my phone.

 

The following site also has a list of directories that you can use:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/free-therapy-or-counselling.aspx

 

And there is also:
Www.counselling-directory.org.uk

 

Charities

 

Mental health charities do such a fantastic job for raising awareness of mental health issues and also offering services to help sufferers.

 

MIND

 

MIND is a mental health charity that not only is an organization that fights for the rights of those with mental illness but also has thousands of branches across the UK. Each branch offers a number of services available to each community. On the link below you can see what services they offer in your area. Some even offer free counselling, which can sometimes be accessed sooner than through your GP surgury.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/local-minds/

 

Other services include:

 

supported housing
crisis helplines
drop-in centres
employment and training schemes befriending

 

You can seek lots of information about different conditions and issues surrounding mental health on their website www.mind.org.uk or their infoline 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 or email info@mind.org.uk 

 

Other charities and organizations that offer specific help for different issues or clearer groups of society are:

 

Calm (Campaign against living miserabley)

 

Free support and information for young men in the UK between the ages of 15-35
0800 585858
www.thecalmzone.net

 

Women's Aid

 

Is a charity for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
0808 2000 247
www.womensaid.org.uk

 

Cruse Bereavement Care

 

Offers specific support to anyone following the death of a loved one.
0844 477 9400
www.cruse.org.uk

 

B-eat (Beating Eating Disorders)

 

Offers advise and information on eating disorders.
0845 6341414
Youth line 0845 6347650
www.b-eat.co.uk

 

Headway

 

Offers support and advise to anyone affected by brain injury.
0808 800 2244
www.headway.org.uk

 

Relate

 

For advise and counselling for any type of relationship and the problems that can occur within them. They have centres around the country. Visit their website for all services they offer.
0300 100 1234
www.relate.org.uk

 

Helplines and other contacts

 

When you are in distress phoning a helpline can be useful. Your GP or your local MIND centre will have access to local helplines. However these might have limited hours. If you are in a more desperate need to talk to someone, then The Samaritans is a 24/7 service. Their helpline is 08457 90 90 90 or if you don't feel up to using the phone you can also email them jo@samaritans.org More information can also be found on their website www.samaritans.org 

 

In my next post I will be talking about what types of treatments are available for moderate depression and anxiety. Then a post on where to get help in more of a crisis situation.

 

Sian

November means: Movember

 

Last month I wrote a post about breast cancer awareness in which I wanted to  highlight the importance of self examination for both women and men, read that post here. Educating ourselves about our bodies is our front line defence for early detection. After I wrote the post I engaged in some great conversations about the issues I had raised in my post. Furthermore I was asked if I would do a post for Movember. Admittedley it had not crossed my mind. I'm not a big fan of the mo. However having wrote the post on breast cancer I thought why not?  And I know that most my readers are women but I'm sure everyone can takeaway something from this post on how to look out for themselves or the men in their lives.

 Movember is a charity event initiated by the Movember Foundation, which started in Melbourne in 2003 and has since grown worldwide. With the moustache becoming a symbol of men's health awareness. Males sign up to grow a moustache throughout the month of November, without shaving and are often termed Mo Bro's. I always thought that Movember was to raise money for testicular cancer, however it actually is to raise money for testicular cancer, prostate cancer and issues affecting men's mental health. They help to fund projects and schemes put in place to tackle these areas of male health.Often workplaces will hold competitions to see who can grow the best moustache whilst raising money through sponsors. So if you have seen a lot of men walking around looking like they have teleported from the 70s this might be why. 

Thinking Movember was just about raising awareness of testicular cancer I was originally only going to talk about that but now that I am more clued up I'll include both cancers. With regards to mental health I have a whole month of posts planned in the month of January so stay tuned for them.

  

Novemember is actually the awareness month for prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer amongst males in the UK. Statistics show 1 in 8 men may get prostate cancer. It occurs when abnormal cells appear on the prostate gland, which is the gland that helps produce semen. The gland also surrounds the tube through which urine leaves the body, hence why prostate cancer sufferers or those who have an enlarged prostate may have difficulty with their waterworks. For example, needing to go more often, problems initiating urinating, poor flow or still feeling full once you have finished. This seems to be the most common symptom to look out for although often there might not be any symptoms as only when something is constricting the tube will these problems occur.

It is often (but not always) slow progressing and often contained only in the prostate without spreading to other parts of the body. However there are other types of prostate cancer that spread much quicker. It is most common in men over the age of 50 with the average age being between 70 and 74.

So what should men look out for? As the prostate is internal it is obviously difficult to know whether or not there is a problem. However any symptoms regarding problems with the waterworks then always go and see your doctor. 

 

Whereas prostate cancer predominantly affects older men, testicular cancer mostly affects younger males. Most commonly between the ages of 15 (yes 15) and 35. Not long ago Channel 4 presented a stand up comedy show presented by Jack Whitehall called 'feeling nuts'. Although the comedy wasn't particularly great (although Simon Callow listing lots of slang names for testies was rather amusing) the show did fulfil it's purpose in raising awareness of testicular cancer and encouraging men to check their balls. It made a change on the normal televised charity drives in that the purpose here was not to raise money but to raise awareness, educate men with all they need to know about examining themselves and what to look out for, inform them where to go if they suspect anything and ultimately to save lives. 

 By arming men with this knowledge they are giving men, especially young men the best chance of beating testicular cancer. 95% in fact. Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers but only if caught in time. Therefore education and self awareness really are key issues that cannot be stressed enough. If you notice anything irregular and act on it as soon as possible then you are giving yourself the best chance. They even used the hashtag #feelingnuts to spread the message even further and especially to engage younger males who may think they are immune. 

They even provided information on how to check and what exactly you should be checking for. For more info I've included a step my step poster from pinterest, below. 

 

 

I think one of the important messages is to let young men know that they don't need to be embarrassed. And this is where programmes like 'feeling nuts' can help. But also there are charity organisations that are going to schools and colleges to talk to young men. I was also impressed to know that some work organisations were raising awareness. Even showing their male employees educational videos on self examination. You can watch the show on 4od.

The over all message here is to be aware of our bodies and to take not of any changes. As a chronically ill person I know the value of good health and I know how easy it is to be dismissive of it. So I salute the Movember Foundation and all they are doing to promote men's health. 

 

Sian x

 

Information for research for this post was gained from the following websites. Please use the links below if you would like to find out more information.

 

Www.movember.com

Www.prostratecanceruk.org

Www.nhs.uk

Www.cancerresearch.org

 

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