Headlines on health

A new study has found Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world. But Kate Browne's breast cancer was still found by accident. She and others and now calling for better early detection practices to help more women avoid the same fate.

A new blood test is being trialed in the UK to detect the early signs of dementia. It is hoped it could identify patients sooner, so they can potentially benefit from drugs that slow the progression of the disease. With more than 400,000 Australians identified by the Government as living with dementia - and a forecast that those numbers could go up to 900,000 by 2050 - that could be a significant breakthrough.

Sarah Cox was told by her doctor to lose weight because her BMI, or Body Mass Index, was too high. But the consequences of her doctor's weight loss plan left the 35-year-old sick and hospitalised, as she battled an eating disorder for two-and-a-half years. Now, there is renewed scrutiny of the use of B-M-I as a measure of an individual's health. The tool has been used by doctors for more than 50 years to measure an individual's body fat, after it was first created in the 1830s by a Belgian mathematician [[Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet]] who was not a doctor or a health practitioner. More evidence has since emerged about its efficacy - and a group of experts from around the globe are proposing new definitions of obesity that consider a spectrum for how excess fat may or may not impact an individual's health. In this episode of Weekend One on One Catriona Stirrat speaks to Sarah Cox about how her doctor's reliance on BMI led to the frightening deterioration of her mental and physical health - and the changes she is calling for when it comes to improving health care for people with larger bodies.

Around 100,000 Australians live with myelofibrosis, which is a rare form of blood cancer. Treating the condition is difficult - anaemia is a common side effect. But an Australian-developed drug - just approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration - is helping patients overcome some of the cancer's worst symptoms.

The Federal Government has unveiled Australia’s first-ever National Autism Strategy—a $42 million dollar plan to improve inclusion, access, and outcomes for autistic Australians. Advocates are calling it a game-changer, offering hope and much-needed support to families across the country who face unique and daily challenges.

The federal government has disputed the findings of a new report warning the cost of visiting a GP is on the rise. The annual survey of health clinics found a decline in the number letting patients use Medicare to cover expenses up front. But the Health Minister says increased government funding has actually boosted bulk billing rates.

Authorities in the United States have recorded the country's first human death from bird flu. The patient, aged over 65 and with underlying medical conditions, was hospitalised with the virus on December 18. So how dangerous is the H-5-N-1 virus, and are we prepared enough here in Australia? In this episode of Weekend One on One, SBS Reporter Cameron Carr speaks to Michelle Wille, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Pathogen Genomics at the University of Melbourne.

It's been 10 years since commercial solariums were banned in Australia. But many Australians are still tanning - and now suntan trends are garnering millions of views on social media. Skin cancer experts are also concerned with the rise of modified sunbeds called collariums, that emit ultraviolet radiation, now being promoted as a healthy alternative to solariums.

Queenslanders have been urged to overcome ‘vaccine fatigue’ and take up an offer of free vaccinations amid predictions of a severe flu season. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has announced free flu vaccinations are still available to anyone over the age of six months, after earlier saying he would halt the three-year campaign at the end of 2024.

The United States' top doctor is calling for cancer warnings to be displayed on the country's alcoholic beverages. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's newly released advisory on the causal link between cancer and alcohol says alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable cancer, after tobacco and obesity. It's now sparking questions about whether Australia should consider similar measures.

It's considered the go-to guide for diagnosing mental health conditions in Australia. But is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - the DSM - still relevant and what other alternatives exist for diagnosing mental health conditions? In the final part of this two part special, we explore the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology, or HiTOP, an alternative to the DSM and hear more from people directly affected by misdiagnosis.

It's considered the go-to guide for diagnosing mental health conditions in Australia. But is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders still relevant and what other alternatives exist for diagnosing mental health conditions? In part one of a two part special, we take a closer look at the history of the DSM and we meet people with lived experience of misdiagnosis.

Crossfit is a growing international sport, a high-intensity program designed for a wide range of fitness levels. And one entrepreneur has made it her business to get people of all abilities moving - as Small Business Secrets explains:

The spread of HIV is increasing in Fiji, with some experts calling it the 'ticking timebomb' of the Pacific. Fiji has the second fastest growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific behind the Philippines, and the government has been urged by the Fiji Medical Association to declare an HIV outbreak. It's been attributed to poor sex education, low testing, limited access to intervention and a growing rate of injectable drug use, amid concerns the island nation is becoming a hub for drug trafficking.

Back pain, mental health concerns and arthritis are just some of the chronic illnesses affecting two in every five Australian workers. A new report has found a third of those experiencing such conditions have left jobs due to stress and a lack of support. Many have also experienced discrimination because of their illness.

There is a common misconception that eating disorders only affect women and girls, despite the fact over one third of those affected are male. And for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, there are often added barriers that force people to conceal aspects of their identity when seeking help.

Endometriosis affects one in every seven women. It's a disease causing tissue similar to uterus lining to grow in other parts of the body, often resulting in symptoms like period pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, pain during sex and reduced fertility. Australian women will now have access to cheaper medicine to treat the condition, after the federal government listed a treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

More than one third of those suffering with an eating disorder are male, and yet there's a common misconception that it's a women's issue. While there are often similarities between how men and women experience eating disorders, there are also gendered aspects to unhealthy body image ideals among men. Iin this episode of Weekend One on One, Catriona Stirrat speaks with Dr Zac Seidler - clinical psychologist and Global Director of Research at Movember. Dr Seidler unpacks common types of eating disorders among men - often centring around a fixation with muscle enhancement and reducing body fat. He shares how genuine male friendships might be the answer to tackling this often silently fought mental health issue.

A new free vaccine program from the Federal Government is expected to protect pregnant women and babies from the potentially-deadly respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. Health Minister Mark Butler says it could reduce hospitalisations due to the disease by 90 per cent.

Pregnancy loss is something thousands of women have to bear leading to intense grief and isolation. Gidget Foundation Australia - an organisation that provides specialist support for new and expectant parents - says early intervention is key in the healing process. But with the stigma around pregnancy loss still prominent, especially in migrant communities, this can be a challenge.