Demanding wall walk challenge triggered by family condition

5:54pm Tuesday 13th March 2012 in News By Adam Binnie

a Croxley Green woman is taking steps to beat a hereditary pancreatic condition by walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall.

Helen Hedge, from Links way, is taking on the 84-mile challenge in aid of the University of Liverpool Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

Her family is affected by a hereditary condition which causes inflammation of the pancreas, putting them at risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the hardest to treat.

Miss Hedge, who works at Northwood HQ, said: “We found out in 1964 when my cousin had abdominal pain which couldn’t be identified.

“It’s very, very rare but affects 26 people in my family and increases the chance of getting cancer to one in three.

“It’s in my file, it’s a real thing. With pancreatic cancer, when you start showing symptoms, it’s often too late.

“My aunt had her pancreas taken out and now suffers from diabetes.”

To raise money for research into the condition, Ms Hedge will take on the 84-mile National Trail along Hadrian’s Wall on May 7.

She has been training on the treadmills in Pump Gyms, Caxton way every other day, culminating in a ten to 15-mile walk on weekends.

on April 11, she will undertake a 24-hour walk on a treadmill.

Miss Hedge said: “It’s nothing compared to what I’ll have to do in May.

“It’s going to be mentally as well as physically draining and the only thing that will get me through is the thought of my family. It’s very difficult to train when you work shifts because you have to spend a lot of time on your feet.

“My employer, Carillion, organised the walk for great Ormond Street Hospital but I asked if we could raise some money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to fund research into hereditary pancreatitis.

“I’m taking a holiday straight afterwards because there’s no way I’ll be able to drive.”

She will be walking with colleagues Paul Brown, Jon Whetlor, Craig Mitchell, Lee Carpenter, Gary Brown, Gareth Parker, Simon Curtis.

To make a contribution, go to justgiving.com/helen-hedge-pancreatitis.

More News stories

A few months ago, my grandfather had a stroke and my mom says he has a symptom of a stroke called Dementia. This means that he can't control his behavior at times. he mostly has his attacks on me. he looks really angry. he says some things and makes threats. it makes me want to not be around him. he is nice most of the time however. I want to know how I can respond to him when he is having a ''Dementia Attack'' as I call it.

My grandma has dementia and all you can do is remind yourself that your grandfather isn't in right now. your grandfather isn't tell you those mean things the dementia is. my cousin quit speaking to our grandmother because she blames my grandmother for the mean things that the dementia said. When he gets like that just say :ok, grandpa I can tell your grumpy, i will be back in 5mins and see if your back.

You shouldn't blame a person for a side effect of their disease. he is sick and you have to remind yourself the sickness is talking.

Whatever he says it doesn't mean anything so don't take it personally. If you find it particularly painful it would be perfectly all right to tell your grandfather that you just dropped in to see how he was doing and you can't stay, and then come back another time when he is doing better. I know how unpleasant it can be as I've been through a similar situation myself.

My niece and little cousin have strep throat. we just found out yesterday. I haven't had my baby around them since we found out, but she is around them all the time and was before we found out. I am on the look out to make sure she doesn't get it, but how will I know if her throat hurts? She can't just come out and tell me. what symptoms should I look for?

She'd probably have a fever, for one thing, and act as though she felt miserable.

EDIT: Hon, call your pediatrician. They're used to new mommy anxiety. nobody here can diagnose your little girl. She's probably fine, but if you feel nervous, call!

comment: Strep throat is the name of the disease where the strep bacteria circulates the system and settles in the throat…why? why does the Strep Bacteria settle in the throat ?

because in the throat is a lot of mucous; bacteria; dried gunk; a harbor for the strep germ;

Remedy: Cleanse the entire system of all kids;

a. NO sugar cereals; NO soda pop; NO sugar;

b. fruits salads; fruit smoothies; green drinks

c. wash the child's hands continuously; and face;

Vitmains;

Vitamin a (in dairy products) ; Vitamin C frutis or liquid formula (follow directions) ; Vitamin D in Cod Liver Oil or cooked eggs; any style;

make sure the child is regular; constipation is the worst for strep; the germs mulitply in the intestines; ADD a DAILY PROBIOITC for 3 kids;
and or add Yogurt; I would try the new Dannon :

Activia Yogurt; has beneficial Bifidus bacteria;

Health hint: some bacteria are good; some bad…

ProBiotics are good bacteria; increase good bac
Strep is bad bacteria

key words: Yogurt; Vit. a; Vit. D; Vit. C; Probiotic

I worked my way through college with a full time job and an apartment in the city.

In late 2006, while in graduate school and teaching in the inner city, I started having stomach pains with mucousy stool and went to the doctor. he said I was constipated and told me to begin a high fiber diet. When I complained of the blood that began coming with the weird stools I was told that I had hemorrhoids, which I completely didn’t understand since there were no bloody veins coming out of my hoo-ha. it was three more visits before I learned you could have internal hemorrhoids. I was given some drug that you inserted rectally. this did nothing.

I remember going to my cousin’s baby shower and spending most of it in the bathroom, horribly embarrassed as women came in and out. The 40 minute drive back to my house was agonizing as I unsuccessfully tried to hold in what needed to come out. I prayed to God my fiancé was not home to witness my humiliation.In 2007, I got married. my symptoms were on hiatus. Six months later, surprise, I was pregnant. I was teaching at a new school finishing up my graduate degree and having a normal pregnancy. But then all hell broke loose.

I called my mother in Boston and asked her to come to me in Philadelphia, as I didn’t think my husband could handle being my nurse. She was shocked to see that in my six month of pregnancy I had lost 12 lbs and could barely get off of the couch except to run to the bathroom. When the pain became unbearable, I went to the ER. They diagnosed me with constipation and gave me gallons of GoLightly to drink. The bathroom was on the other side of the hospital floor; past the nurse’s station and 12 other patients. I made the trek about 15 times that night. it was a humiliating and unjust punishment.at the gastroenterologist’s office the Dr. and his intern took turns examining me internally. I began to learn that modesty was something the sick cannot afford. But, by that point any lady like personae I may have had was in the past. Every conversation I had was with a medical staff person and all I spoke of was blood, vomit, the consistency of my crap and the amount of time I spent on the toilet. after an endoscopy, I was placed on enemas and drugs. Drugs that they promised wouldn’t harm my daughter. Every ultrasound revealed a thriving little fetus inside my ravaged little body. The suppositories aimed at lessening the inflammation didn’t work. Anti-inflammation pills came next.

I moaned with this pain I could not handle, I prayed for it to end, I didn’t care how; I just needed it to end. my fear was that it never would.Jen’s story is now entered into the 2011 Ulcerative Colitis Writing Contest!!! you can Join too, click here for details

Another Story about pregnancy and ulcerative colitis

I'm 14 years old, and a couple days ago at school one of my friends brought up how their cousin has trouble communicating since he has autism. Can anybody tell me what the symptoms of autism are, and how it can be treated? (If it can be treated.) thanks.

Another form of autism is Aspergers which is a high functioning autism. a few different degress of Autisn. High functioning can function at school with min. problems and don't need a, EA or other to help. Some can grow up to be able to take care of them selves and have reasonable normal lives but still may not be confident in all aspects of life situations. In serious autism & most common symptoms are not making eye contact with others, don't like to touch or be touched, will have fits if they do not get there way, have difficulty with speech, social skills and not being of the age that they are in numbers, some have fears of the dark or others but most have fears which tend to really freak them out. ie: if an autism child is 12 he/she may still act 8 years old or younger, depending on the severity. all cases have to be diagnoses by a proper behavior specialist and Dr's have to be involved. but also if diagnosed you are entitle to special government money if a proper diagnosis has been made, plus special programs will be provided. all has to be handled through your GP and then all goes from there.

Aretha Franklin was recently released from a hospital after undergoing a mysterious medical procedure and has not addressed recent reports that say she has pancreatic cancer.

in November, the 68-year-old “Queen of Soul” canceled all concert dates and personal appearances through may 2011 by order of her doctors. she has not specified the nature of her illness or her December 2 surgery, which was deemed successful.

“I’ve been at home for almost three days now,” Franklin said in a Wednesday statement carried by the Detroit Free Press, which is based in her hometown. “My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me. I also have a private nurse who visits on a daily basis.”

“I’m hoping to be strong enough to go out and see the upcoming Sam Cooke play at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit before Jan. 2, as well as a performance of ‘Dreamgirls’ at the Fox before it closes,” she added.

the newspaper quoted the singer’s spokesperson as saying Franklin is in “great spirits and very happy to be home where she will be resting in anticipation of spending the upcoming holiday season with her family.”

Her cousin told the Detroit Free Press earlier this month that Franklin will perform again in 2011 and was “doing better than doctors expected”.

Recent reports out of Detroit have said Franklin is battling cancer, echoing recent reports by other media outlets in Detroit. the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News said the disease is in her pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is difficult to treat because it is often found late, as symptoms are usually not apparent in its early stages, according to the National Institutes of Health. Actor Patrick Swayze died of the disease at age 57 in 2009.

Risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include smoking, hereditary disorders, chronic pancreatitis and long-term diabetes. Franklin has for years been overweight, a condition that can lead to several health ailments, including Type 2 diabetes and various forms of cancer.