NOW is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – and the symptoms of this disease are so frequently misdiagnosed as “just bloating” or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Unlike some cancers, with obvious lumps or other signs, ovarian cancer often presents through subtle, persistent changes.
These can include bloating, feeling full easily after eating, or needing to pee more.
If you are a woman experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you’re over 50, don’t brush it off.
I would also like to flag that bleeding after you’ve passed menopause should be checked.
Early detection is everything, and a simple blood test (the CA125) is the first step toward peace of mind when it comes to ovarian cancer.
GAME CHANGER
Cut-price fat jabs for £20 a month ‘on the way’ – as major change set for 2026
HORROR ORDEAL
Mum lost baby & went blind after sinus infection left eye bulging
Around 7,500 cases of this disease are diagnosed every year, making it the sixth most common cancer in women.
Here’s what readers have asked me this week . . .
Q) A FRIEND gave me a very convincing article about a supplement called creatine.
She is recommending I try it out, as it’s supposedly very good for us old gits. (My friend, her hubby and I are all in our 80s.)
However, in mid-2025 a blood test showed I had high levels of creatinine in my blood, an indication of possible kidney damage.
Will this wonder supplement help me in my old age, or make matters worse for my kidneys?
A) Creatine and creatinine sound similar, but they are not the same thing – and that’s important here. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound stored in muscle and used for short energy bursts.
It’s been widely used in younger athletes for years, and more recently, there have been clinical trials and meta-analysis looking at whether it might help maintain muscle strength, reduce frailty and support cognition in older adults.
The studies mostly include people aged mid-fifties to early seventies, meaning the evidence in people in their 80s is still fairly limited.
It’s not a miracle supplement, and benefits, if present, tend to be modest, but it is an interesting supplement to consider.
Creatinine is a waste product measured in blood tests to assess kidney function.
Raised creatinine suggests your kidneys may not be filtering as efficiently as before.
That doesn’t automatically mean severe kidney disease, but it does mean caution is sensible.
Taking creatine supplements can increase blood creatinine levels because creatine is converted into creatinine in the body.
That can make blood tests harder to interpret and, in people with underlying kidney impairment, there is concern that high-dose supplementation could place extra strain on the kidneys.
While serious harm is uncommon in healthy individuals, we don’t have strong safety data for people over 80 with possible kidney dysfunction.
My advice would be not to start it without discussing it with your GP, particularly as they’ll know your kidney function results in detail and whether they’ve remained stable.
If maintaining strength and resilience is your goal, resistance exercise (even chair-based), adequate dietary protein, vitamin D optimisation and staying active have far stronger evidence behind them.
DIAGNOSIS BAFFLES ME
Q) AFTER 16 months of trips to doctors, I was finally diagnosed with lichen sclerosus.
I am a 77-year-old woman and have had blood in my urine, pain, very bad irritation and an urge to wee, up to three times a night.
I have never heard of this, nor have my family.
Can you tell me a bit about it, and what is best to use?
Some of my vulva has fused together and I am afraid of what will happen in the future.
A) I’ve written about vulval lichen sclerosus multiple times in this column, but it’s worth discussing again, as this condition is not widely talked about and clearly it is still underdiagnosed.
So thank you for writing in about it.
Lichen sclerosus is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects the vulval area.
It can cause soreness, itching, fragile skin, and sometimes splitting or bleeding.
Over time, the skin can become thinner and tighter, which may lead to some fusion of the tissues, as you’ve noticed.
It is not caused by poor hygiene, is not sexually transmitted, and is not anything you have done wrong.
It most commonly affects women after menopause.
The important thing to know is that it can be managed very effectively, with the main treatment being a strong topical steroid ointment, usually clobetasol (Dermovate), often used daily before being reduced to a maintenance routine.
Used correctly, this reduces inflammation, relieves symptoms and helps prevent further skin changes.
Also, use an emollient as a moisturiser and soap substitute, avoid perfumed soaps, bubble baths and wipes, and wear loose, breathable cotton underwear.
Lichen sclerosus slightly increases the risk of vulval skin cancer over many years.
So get regular check-ups and report any persistent ulcers, lumps or changes that don’t settle with treatment.
Although it can feel frightening, many women live very comfortably with lichen sclerosus once the right treatment routine is established and most women never develop cancer.
If you’re unsure how to use your creams or feel your symptoms aren’t controlled, go back to your GP or ask for a specialist vulval clinic review.
WHY DO MY FINGERNAILS LOOK SO BAD?
Q) CAN you help explain why my fingernails sometimes look like this?
I’m 55 and in menopause, on HRT (tablets & gel).
It seems to happen mostly when I use clear nail polish – my nails are really thin and split, so I occasionally use clear “split repair” or “nail hardener” on them when the split gets too bad and catches on things.
They look so ugly and the nail that spreads is really thick underneath.
I’ve been a vegetarian since 2022. Could I be lacking in nutrients?
A) Thank you for sharing the images of your nails, which show onycholysis, where the nail lifts slightly away from the nail bed. It can look alarming, but is usually harmless and quite common in midlife.
Hormonal shifts around the menopause can make nails thinner and more fragile, so even minor trauma from manicures, nail hardeners or repeated wetting and drying can trigger separation.
Some nail strengtheners – especially those containing formaldehyde – can actually worsen brittleness over time.
Other causes of onycholysis include fungal nail infection, psoriasis, eczema around the nail, thyroid problems and occasionally low iron or B12 levels.
Being vegetarian doesn’t automatically cause deficiencies, but it does require careful dietary consideration or supplementation to ensure you get enough iron, B12, zinc and protein. Shortages of any of these can affect nail health.
A simple blood test to check for deficiencies would be a good idea.
Try keeping nails short, avoiding harsh hardeners and giving nails breaks from polish. Moisturising the nails and cuticles daily can help.
If the lifting spreads, becomes discoloured or thickened, or doesn’t grow out, ask your GP to check for fungal infection or other underlying causes.
TIP OF THE WEEK
IF you feel dizzy when you stand up quickly, this is often orthostatic hypotension (a temporary drop in blood pressure).
Before standing, cross your legs tightly and squeeze your thigh and abdominal muscles, or clench your fists hard.
This squeezes blood to the heart and brain and can help raise blood pressure.