A self-test is making cervical screening even easier
If you have normal results from a cervical screening test, you only need to have one every 5 years — and it’s more effective than the Pap smear in preventing cervical cancers. You should (and are eligible to) get a cervical…
The 7 biggest sunscreen mistakes people make
Fewer Australians are seeking to tan their skin. Great news! But research by Cancer Council Australia shows that more than 50% of people still have a tan from sun exposure — this is a common sign of sun-damaged skin. Heather Walker, chair…
How to quit drinking in July
If you’re worried about the amount of alcohol you drink, consider taking a break from it for the month of July. Being halfway through the year, there are no Christmas parties to deal with, and you’ll find plenty of support available to…
What you need to know about acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children
Since October 2021, reports of children experiencing acute hepatitis with an unknown cause have been increasing around the world. There haven’t been new cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in Australia, but there’s been a spike overseas. Different countries…
Quit tobacco and you’ll breathe easy
Every year on World No Tobacco Day (May 31), smokers are urged to quit using cigarettes and tobacco products. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting how children are especially vulnerable to messages designed to make smoking look…
Is it safe to get a prescription for the contraceptive pill online?
Buying medicines online, when you already have a prescription, has certainly become easier and more commonplace. But a few websites are now offering both online prescriptions for and the delivery of the oral contraceptive pill (‘the pill’) — without an in-person doctor consultation. You…
Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea has increased
Cases of gonorrhoea have been rising in Australia for at least 2 decades. In 1998 there were 5,582 notifications of gonorrhoea. In 2018, there were 30,885 notifications. This is a problem, since gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted illness (STI), can cause infertility both…
Avoiding dementia discrimination: how to treat someone with dementia
To mark Dementia Action Week 2019, Australians are being urged to look at how they treat people with dementia. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for people living with dementia to be excluded from social situations or have assumptions made about them. Hence this…
How to supercharge your soup this winter
Soup is like a warm hug: it’s good for you, it’s comforting and it’s the antidote to a cold winter’s night. And soup doesn’t have to be boring! Here’s how to make your soups even more nutritious and exciting. How…
Bowel cancer in young people on the rise — here’s what to look out for
While bowel cancer more commonly occurs in older people, rates of the deadly disease in people aged under 50 are going up. A recent study in medical journal The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that in Australia, between 2004 and 2014, the…