As it’s almost International Women’s Day I thought a few words about women’s health would be timely. And chaps, if you have a wife, girlfriend, sister, mother etc – then women’s health matters to you too.
A note re breast cancer – men can get it as well – so all of you, do check your bosoms and pectorals for lumps and bumps that shouldn’t be there.
Ladies:
Uterine Cancer – the main signs and symptoms are:
- Bleeding or spotting after you’ve had your menopause [ie more than a year after your last period]
- Periods that are unusually heavy ie if normally they are light to moderate
- Bleeding between your periods
- A change in your vaginal discharge
Ovarian Cancer
A friend of mine who is recovering from this mentioned just last week that this cancer is more subtle, and harder to detect, since a lot of the warning signs and symptoms can feel very like IBS:
- Feeling constantly bloated
- A swollen tum
- Discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area (akin to period pain)
- Feeling full soon when eating (it normally takes about 20 minutes for that feeling of fullness to kick in after you’ve finished eating)
- Needing to pee more often than usual (this can also arise in diabetes, so is quite an important sign to get checked)
As she said, 1 in 8 women will get it, which seems quite high to me …
So, be aware of your body and listen to what it is telling you.
And gentlemen – cherish your ladies.
Osteopathically – period pain and post-natal depression have both been linked with tightness and restrictions in the lower back, and the pelvis and sacrum.
I also do scar-work, which can be very helpful post-surgery: eg C-section, mastectomy etc.
To end on a more positive note – remember to Celebrate your curves, your talents, and the love and care that you bring to the world.