Enfield pensioner Susan Hughes who moved to Spain killed by sandfly bite

11:10am Friday 2nd December 2011 in Top Stories

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AN Enfield hotelier who moved to Spain with her husband to enjoy a retirement has died after contracting a deadly disease from a sandfly.

Susan Hughes, 67, who moved to Malaga with husband Tony in 2004, died of black fever – a parasitic disease extremely rare in the UK – which she got in August through the saliva of the fly which had bitten her.

after being rushed to hospital, doctors gave her a blood transfusion but were unable to save her. the mother-of-two passed away on September 11.

she developed black blotches on her arms and chest and scabs on the roof of her mouth – typical symptoms of the deadly disease, which is the second-biggest parasitic killer in the world, after malaria.

Mr Hughes said that his wife’s immune system was vulnerable because of a liver transplant she had in 1983 – she had been given just six weeks to live before having the operation.

He said: “They tried everything but she couldn’t fight it because her immune system was low from the liver transplant.

“It’s just a shame we came to Spain for a good life, and yet if we’d stayed in the UK she’d have still been alive.

“She did have a chance to enjoy it and we had a good life together – it’s just a shame it was so short.”

the couple met in Wolverhampton in 1983, just months before she had the liver operation that was to grant her 28 extra years of life.

after the operation the couple moved to Wales and ran a hotel in Llandudno, Wales, until deciding to take early retirement in Spain – spending two years living in a caravan while their house in Malaga was built.

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Halton residents urged to get niggling coughs checked

1:20pm Monday 5th December 2011 in News

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A NIGGLING cough you’ve had for more than three weeks could be a sign of lung cancer, warn health chiefs.

Lung cancer remains the second most common cancer in the UK, after breast cancer, with more than 100 people being diagnosed with the disease every day.

Dr Mel Forrest, a GP who specialises in early detection of cancer at NHS Halton, said: “The symptoms of lung cancer are normally a cough, breathlessness and particularly worryingly, coughing up blood.

“Any changes like this you should get checked out.

“To reduce the death rate from cancer and to save lives, we need to detect cancer in its early stages.

“Cancer is not a life sentence. if it is picked up early, it is treatable and that’s what we want people to understand. not to be frightened of the word cancer but if there’s a suspicion, get it checked.”

Appleton man’s battle with dyspraxia

2:00pm Saturday 12th November 2011 in News

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THIS week is Dyspraxia Awareness Week.

Jonathan Levy, a 20-year-old living in Appleton, whose interests include football, politics and showbiz, has a mild form of the condition. This is his story…

“I HAVE a mild form of dyspraxia, a neurological condition which can make even the simplest tasks a struggle.

“Dyspraxia is thought to affect up to 10 per cent of the population and can run in families. Males are three times more likely to be affected than females.

“I’ve always been slower than most in reaching milestones such as learning to ride a bike.

“Upon reaching school age I avoided games, was unable to tie my shoelaces and stood out with my ‘chicken scratch’ handwriting.

“English and foreign languages were two of my strongest subjects but I struggled greatly with maths, science and anything practical.

“I got through GCSE maths with a D but despite private tuition and resits was unable to advance to a C. I still vow that one day I will.

“I enjoy socialising and have good friends but many people with dyspraxia have poor social skills and struggle to keep up with their peers.

“Teenage life can be particularly challenging as the high school language and chatter is often fast, witty and difficult to keep up with.

“This can be the time when friends desert you and bullying may creep in, as it becomes obvious that you are different.

“With awareness in autism and dyslexia increasing, I describe dyspraxia as the ‘forgotten cousin’.

“Dyspraxia overlaps with both conditions due to the implications it has for skills like reading and writing. Dyspraxia though, has its own symptoms.

“Children often encounter late development in motor skills like standing and walking then later, difficulties in running and catching a ball. I certainly encountered these difficulties.

“Adults may experience communication and motor difficulties such as learning to drive but, as with many medical conditions, it can affect different people in different ways.

“There is no known cause of dyspraxia nor is there a cure but when facing challenges such as following oral instructions or using office equipment I tell myself that I will succeed, I’ll just have to work much harder.

“My condition hasn’t stopped from me succeeding in exams and entering employment so I’m proud of what I can do and never talk myself down. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is probably the most famous dyspraxic.”

l Dyspraxia Awareness Week runs until Saturday. if you think you or your child may have dyspraxia, visit dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

Cancer test on TV could be lifesaver

9:30am Wednesday 16th November 2011

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DAVE HOGG volunteered to go on the This Morning TV programme yesterday to raise awareness of prostate cancer and save lives.

The decision may end up saving his own.

mr Hogg, 67, was one of 30 Oxfordshire men who appeared on the ITV show for a piece on prostate cancer that involved examining several volunteers.

But the doctor advised mr Hogg that he should make an appointment to see his own GP as soon as possible.

mr Hogg, a retired ambulance driver and grandfather-of-six said: “I went to London with members of the Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

“I have been passing urine more regularly than normal for about a year and have been worried about it. When I heard the group was hoping to encourage more testing by appearing on television, I saw it as a chance to get tested and raise awareness.

“I was apprehensive before the test. then afterwards, the doctor told me that I should make an appointment to see my doctor as soon as possible.

“I feel relieved that I have had the test, but I will feel much more relieved if I have more tests and they tell me there are no problems.”

Prostate cancer kills one man in the UK every hour and between 2007 and 2009, 1,137 new cases were diagnosed in Oxfordshire. The 10-second test can detect the signs of prostate cancer while it is still treatable.

Dave Beesley, 53, from Headington, was one of four men from the Oxfordshire group who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

he told presenter Phillip Schofield: “Before the test I had no symptoms.”

mr Beesley, who is chairman of furniture and stationery supplier B-Line Business Supplies in Stanton St John, added: “I have done 26 days of radiotherapy and have 11 days of it left. I am not in a very nice place at the moment but I am going to get there.

“The message myself and the others are trying to get across is get tested.

“Forget embarrassment. it takes seconds and can save your life. Wives and partners also need to drag their men to their GP is they have to. otherwise men will continue to die at a rate of one an hour.”

Television presenter Paul Ross turned out to be the only man seen having a live examination, after the programme over-ran its alloted time. But all the men needing tests went on to have them after the programme had aired.

Signs of prostate cancer are predominantly urinary, and include:

a weak, sometimes intermittent, flow of urine.

Difficulty starting to urinate.

a need to urinate frequently and urgently

Having to go to the toilet often during the night.

a feeling that your bladder is not completely empty after you have finished urinating.

Pain or burning when passing urine.

Blood in your urine.

Pain in the back, hips or pelvis.

anyone with concerns should consult their GP. Go to prostateaction.org.uk

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