All articles tagged with #awareness
Soraya Nodrab’s decades-long leg pain was diagnosed as lipedema, a chronic fat-accumulation disorder often mistaken for obesity; the condition’s visibility is increasing thanks to Doja Cat and other creators, but it remains underdiagnosed, with treatment focusing on symptom management and, for some, surgery, while there is no cure, highlighting the emotional toll of living with a misunderstood condition.
BuzzFeed collects 25 mothers’ personal stories to highlight the varied and often overlooked signs of postpartum depression, from extreme fatigue, sleep disruption, and anger to intrusive thoughts and self-harm ideation, noting that symptoms can begin months after birth and emphasizing the need for awareness and timely help.
The New York Post highlights the ‘CPAP baddies’ movement, where young people use TikTok to glamorize CPAP masks and push back against the stigma around sleep apnea therapy. Supported by ResMed, the trend aims to normalize CPAP use, raise awareness of obstructive sleep apnea, and encourage treatment—often turning a medical device into a source of pride, with online virality and in-person events helping reduce barriers to adherence.
A community fundraising drive at The Elizabethan pub in Telford raised £18,000 to provide ketone-testing equipment for West Midlands Ambulance Service, enabling crews to routinely test for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The effort honors Nik Russell, a 32-year-old with type 1 diabetes who died from DKA after refusing hospital, and aims to raise awareness and save lives. WMAS notes it was the country’s first trust to test for DKA and the gear began rolling out in May 2021, with Nik’s family and locals celebrating the impact and the project earning finalist status in the BBC Make a Difference Awards.
Jayne Hardman, who lost her nose to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) after a dog accident, now uses magnetic, titanium-anchored prosthetic noses—more than ten versions for different skin tones and occasions—and shares her journey online to normalise facial prosthetics and raise awareness of GPA and vasculitis, while advocating early diagnosis and support for others with facial differences.
A hospital worker recounts nearly missing a heart attack because women often present with nonclassic signs. The piece highlights that female heart attack symptoms can include chest pressure in the upper abdomen, jaw, neck, back, fatigue and GI distress, and stresses proactive testing and patient advocacy (e.g., hs-CRP, Lp(a), ApoB, CAC) plus regular checkups. Experts note the need for better education and research on women’s cardiovascular risk and encourage patients to persist with doctors to get answers and appropriate tests.
A 26-year-old Texas woman, Alondra Sierra, shared a warning before dying of stage IV melanoma, recounting a freckle she noticed at 19 and urging full-body skin checks for early detection; despite surgeries, immunotherapy, and radiation, the cancer spread and she died July 17, 2026, leaving a plea to others to get checked.
Stefani Ellison of Cedar City shares how her husband Stephen Ellison battled sepsis, led to leg amputation, and suffered a devastating cognitive and emotional decline that ended in his suicide in July 2025, urging better awareness, recognition, and resources for post-sepsis syndrome and offering crisis supports for others.
A Winnipeg man recounts how a financial adviser’s push for a PSA test led to a cancer diagnosis, followed by surgery and potential radiation or hormone therapy; the piece highlights the issue of false positives, the emotional toll of waiting, and the importance of regular PSA screening for early detection.
Sharon Alexander, a 72-year-old pastry chef and mother of eight, believed her worsening backache from a long shift was nothing serious, but she developed necrotizing fasciitis, a rare flesh-eating infection, which spread rapidly and led to her death days after hospital admission; her daughter Scarlett Simpson has launched a GoFundMe for the NF Foundation and completed a 50-mile hike to raise awareness and funds.
A 45-year-old Melbourne mum of two ignored fatigue, low iron and blood in the stool until a colonoscopy revealed stage-3 bowel cancer, prompting surgery (with a temporary stoma) and six months of chemotherapy. Now in remission and under regular monitoring, she’s speaking out to urge Australians not to dismiss bowel changes as just pregnancy or aging, highlighting rising rates among younger people and backing the Poo Check awareness campaign to normalise conversations about bowel health.
George Banky, a 62-year-old from Mt. Lebanon, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025—rare for men (about 1 in 1,000). After a lump prompted surgery with negative lymph nodes, he’ll take Tamoxifen for five years and has begun speaking publicly to raise awareness and funds for male breast cancer, emphasizing that men don’t undergo routine screening and early evaluation is crucial; genetic testing is advised since hereditary factors can play a larger role in male cases.
In Bermuda, Health Minister Kim Wilson reported a recent uptick in new HIV cases (four in the last four weeks) alongside HIV Awareness Month; about 306 people were living with HIV as of December 31, 2025. Officials are pushing expanded testing and prevention, noting that an undetectable viral load from antiviral treatment prevents transmission. Free, confidential testing is available at the Hamilton Health Centre, and authorities emphasize reducing stigma and encouraging regular testing to protect health and curb spread.
Former wrestler Tyler Mane disclosed he has been diagnosed with breast cancer, highlighting that it’s a rare condition in men (about 1 in 100). He urged men to monitor for changes and get checked, noting early detection can improve outcomes. The CDC identifies two common forms in men— invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ— and lists risk factors such as family history, genetic mutations, prior chest radiation, and hormone therapy.
Actor Tyler Mane, best known as Sabretooth in X-Men, revealed he has a rare form of breast cancer and has begun chemotherapy. He notes that men account for about 1% of breast cancer cases and credits his wife for urging him to seek medical care, hoping to raise awareness and encourage early detection.