MY THOUGHTS ON THE BRAIN TUMOUR NEWS STORY : SUE PERKINS
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Sue Perkins has had brain tumour
for eight years
- 7 hours ago
- From the section Entertainment & Arts
Great British Bake Off star Sue Perkins has revealed she has a non-cancerous tumour in her pituitary gland, which prevents her from having children.
Speaking to Good Housekeeping magazine, the broadcaster said she had discovered the tumour while having medical tests for another BBC show, Supersizers.
"I'm lucky that it's benign so it's not in itself a worrying thing," she said.
"Sometimes it's big and makes me mad, and sometimes it's small and is in the background," the 45-year-old added.
"Sometimes it screws up my hormones. I have various tests now to make sure the side effects aren't too onerous."
The star subsequently thanked fans for their messages of concern.
She tweeted: "Ta for sweet tweets about my prolactinoma. It's benign & non-symptomatic. All fine."
"Let's focus on those less fortunate in the world," she added.
Image copyright Sue Perkins/Twitter
Perkins presents the hit BBC baking show with her comedy partner Mel Giedroyc; and is in a relationship with TV producer and journalist Anna Richardson.
She told Good Housekeeping that the growth affects the secretion of reproductive hormones, which means she cannot have children.
"I don't know if I would have gone on to have children," she said. "But as soon as someone says you can't have something, you want it more than anything."
Analysis: pituitary brain tumours
Though just a small, pea sized gland on the underside of the brain, the pituitary is a crucial and complex hormone powerhouse.It not only produces many different hormones, it also helps control and coordinate the release of others throughout the body.
The hormones help regulate many key processes - from metabolism, growth, sexual maturation and reproduction to blood pressure.
Tweets suggest Sue Perkin's has a prolactinoma - a tumour that secretes the hormone prolactin.
This is normally a benign, slow growing tumour.
They can have various side effects, for example, inducing milk production in the ducts of the breasts or sometimes infertility. Others can have no symptoms.
Prolactinomas can sometimes be treated using tablets to reduce the prolactin produced.
Other pituitary tumours can produce steroids, alter the levels of testosterone or oestrogen. or cause the thyroid gland to become overactive for example.
The new series of The Great British Bake Off was watched by 9.3 million viewers last month - more than two million up on last year's opening episode
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MY THOUGHTS :
Well - THAT was the News article - well - ONE of them - as over the last day - she seems to have been in almost every article produced - and her symptoms living with a PITUITARY BRAIN TUMOUR - SHE CANT HAVE KIDS .................
IM FUCKING FURIOUS - This TOTALLY AND UTTERLY BELITTLES PEOPLE LIVING WITH PITUITARY BRAIN TUMOURS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS - THE WOMAN - SINGLE HANDEDLY ( Ok ok - her or the reporters ... ) HAVE SWOOPED AND SCATTERED THEIR RUBBISH WITH NO THOUGHT TO OTHERS ................ PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH BENIGN TUMOURS - AS - THIS BIT WAS CORRECT = MOST PIT GLAND TUMOURS ARE BENIGN - BUT - THEY CAUSE DEVISTATING SYMPTOMS FOR MOST AND MANY OF THE *RARE* DISEASE .... - AND IT'S HARD ENOUGH GETING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO BELIEVE YOU - BECAUSE ALL THE SYMPTOMS / MOST OF THEM ARE INVISIABLE - BUT - AFTER READING AN ARTICLE LIKE THIS - MAKES THEM BELIEVE YOUR PUTTING YOUR SYMPTOMS ON !!
ONE PERSON SEE'S A STORY - AND THEN THEY ALL JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON - Remember Tina Malone = Ohhhhhhhhh SHE HAD CUSHINGS = A Cortisol Secreting Pit Tumour - and then seemed to get better VERY QUICKLY - and dismissed her symptoms - HER LIFE THREATENING SYMPTOMS - as over eating and bad life style choices ............. MADNESS SETS IN GRADUALLY
TINA MALONES STORY -
"It was a cruel blow to the Shameless actress, already feeling fat and unhappy. But it was also the spur she needed to turn her life around.
Now, as our exclusive pictures show, Tina has shed more than four and a half stones – and her partner.
“Physically and mentally I’m in a better place than I have been for 20 years,” she smiles.
“You know what they say: healthy body, healthy mind.
”I’m tidying things up and putting things to bed, doing the right thing; what my head tells me to do as opposed to my heart.”
The Liverpool actress continues to celebrate huge success as Mimi Maguire in the cult C4 drama, but her joy in that hides years of unhappiness and heartache.
An addictive personality and a lack of self-esteem saw her soar from a size 12 to a size 26.
But at 44 she finally realised it was time to act ... in real life.
“I was diagnosed with diabetes at 19 and so started pumping the biggest manmade steroid into my body.
“You can put weight on, but I think I used it as an excuse.
“I am neurotic and eccentric and that, coupled with being diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and being bipolar 10 years ago, means I suffer from massive mood swings. I have had most addictions, from food, sex, Diet Coke, cigarettes and coffee.
“Because I’m OCD it’s everything to extreme. But you can abstain from all those addictions. I’ve been sober for 10 years and I gave up cigarettes six years ago, but you can’t abstain from food.
“It’s your life source and it has always been my biggest burden.”
Tina was also diagnosed with Cushings Syndrome, a non-cancerous tumour on the pituitary gland, a year ago and its symptoms can be rapid weight gain.
“It got to the point when I realised I had become grossly overweight and I felt absolutely, horrifically ugly and depressed. I felt really low.“Last year I asked if they could write a Shameless episode about my being fat. I thought it would be cathartic, but it wasn’t. It was just incredibly painful.
“Fat people berate themselves for existing. I’m someone who will never believe anybody who says ‘I’m fat and I’m happy’. They are lying.
“Before the balloon I could quite easily eat three bags of crisps and four chocolate bars, and had huge portions. Now I eat smaller portions and healthily.”
Although Tina had the balloon removed in September her healthy habits have remained. Four stones and 7lbs down, she aims to lose more: “I hold my hands up, I needed help to fight the over-eating. Now I feel better, I feel like a different person.
“Being fat is the most socially unacceptable aesthetic there is because it’s associated with greed. I have never lacked confidence but I did lack self-esteem. I ate to get comfort. I felt I deserved to be fat.”
Ironically, it’s since she lost weight that Tina’s relationship floundered. She and her partner separated two months ago: “My weight has always been a massive issue with us,” she admits. “I looked fat and ugly, I had no problems with my talent or intellect – but you don’t take a personality to bed do you?
“Why part now? I can see the wood for the trees. You put up with things when you are fat because you think you deserve it.
“You can be made to feel so ugly and so worthless that you actually begin to think, yes, that’s all I deserve.
“But no more.”
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THE LIES PEOPLE TELL TO GET A GOOD NEWS STORY - OMG - CUSHINGS IS LIFE THREATENING - AND - IN MY OPINION - ALL IF NOT MOST CUSHINGS PATIENTS HARDLY EAT - THEY PUT ON THE WEIGHT DUE TO HORMONE IMBALANCE - AND THEIR BODYIES GOING INTO SHOCK - THEY ARE FORCED INTO 'FAMINE' MODE - WHERE THE BODY STORES EVERYTHING IT EATS AND KEEPS IT - BECAUSE IT DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL COMES FROM -
THIS 'STUPID' WOMAN ATE - WHAT WAS IT- FOUR BARS OF CHOCOLATE A DAY AND PACKETS UPON PACKETS OF CRISPS = THATS WHY SHE WAS FAT -
SHE WAS ABLE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT - NOT BECAUSE - THE ' CUSHINGS WAS CLEARED = BUT BECAUSE SHE HAD A GASTRIC BAND FITTED - FFS PEOPLE OPEN YOUR EYES - IF A CUSHINGS / PIT PATIENT HAD A GASTRIC BAND FITTED - NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN = AS THEY TEND TO EAT SO LITTLE / NORMAL ANYWAY ........ ACTUALLY IT MAY WELL BE DEVISTATING - AS THEY DONT EAT - SO HAVING A BAND FITTING MAY WELL CAUSE AWFUL SYMPTOMS - BUT - IM NO DOCTOR - I DONT KNOW ....
DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOLD / READ
Different types of functioning tumors can develop in your pituitary gland, each causing specific signs and symptoms and sometimes a combination of them - MOST CAUSE MANY MANY MORE SYMPTOMS - The pituitary gland is known as the master gland.
If it malfunctions, it can cause big problems in your body.
The symptoms of pituitary disorders can vary greatly......
The gland is called the master gland for a reason, it is called that because it controls many of the glands in our body. For example, it exerts control over the thyroid gland, which is situated in the neck and then makes hormones that control our metabolism.
It controls the adrenal glands that sit on top of the kidneys and work with our body's responses to stress.
And it also controls the sex organs, testicles in men and the ovaries in women, that basically result in our sexual drive, our sexual growth and development and sexual function and reproduction, etc.
The gland also produces growth hormone, and prolactin which helps with breast feeding, so it does a number of different things. These are just a few ....... and you cant imagine the devastating and diverse reactions a Non Functioning Pit Gland can have upon someones life ....
You can imagine that if the gland is either working excessively or not working sufficiently, you can have a lot of different problems.
The following list shows many of the symptoms associated with pituitary conditions.
The list covers different pituitary conditions and patients may not always display all of these symptoms, or they may display more than I have included = Some may only display the ones relevant to their particular condition, having some of these symptoms does not mean you have a pituitary condition.
Once you are diagnosed, Through Many MRI Scans and LOTS of Blood Testing, it may help you to know about other symptoms which you might experience that are associated with your condition. .
GENERALISED 'BULKY' PITUITARY GLAND
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- Unexplained weight gain
- Loss of libido
- Feeling dizzy and nauseous
- Pale complexion
- Muscle wasting
- Coarsening of facial features
- Enlarged hands and feet
- Excessive sweating and oily skin
- Moon face (with reddened skin on face)
- Increased shoe size, gloves, hats, shirt collar, over months or years
- Headaches
- Joint pains
- Facial pain - changes to bite as the jaw moves forward and/or spacing of teeth may change
- Sweating
- Increased weight
- Mood swings
- Tongue grows
- Speech differences i.e. deeper voice, with possible lisping sound
- Sleep apnoea (snoring with episodes of interrupted catching of breath)
- Weight gain to trunk of body, plus rounding of face
- Fatty hump at top of spine/back
- Flushed appearance and roundness of face
- Low mood, can feel depressed
- Loss of bone density (if left untreated over time) due to excess cortisol
- Extreme mood swings
- Weakness, possible muscle wasting
- Darkening of skin pigmentation
- Dark purple striae (similar to stretch marks on abdomen and tops of thighs)
- Hirsutism (extreme hairiness)
- Passing excessive urine much more than usual during the day and frequently through the night
- Urine is very pale, possibly clear and doesn’t concentrate
- Extreme thirst, which cannot be quenched
- Preference of icy cold drinks
- Headaches (which may be due to dehydration)
- Exhaustion
- Shivering
- Nausea
- Dehydration symptoms: parched mouth, cracked lips, coated tongue, dry eyes and dry skin
- Most foods intolerable with a preference to drink fluids
- Weight loss
(can include cortisol, growth hormone and thyroid deficiencies)
- Flu type feelings low or no cortisol in body, regular colds and/or infections 'hung over’ type feeling without having drunk alcohol
- No body temperature control either feeling too hot, or too cold
- Nausea
- Mood swings feelings of depression, apathy or low mood
- Joint aches and pains, and/or poor muscle tone
- Exhaustion
- Constipation
- Difficulty finding words
- Poor sleep patterns
- Low blood pressure feeling light-headed
- Pale pallor
- Loss of periods (female)
- Infertility
- Low or lack of libido
- Weight gain bloated stomach
- Lethargy/exhaustion, falling asleep during day
- Headaches
- Milk/fluid excreting from nipples when not pregnant (males can have this too)
Chronic stress may suppress the part of the immune system that protects us from infectious disease. However, it also may stimulate the part of the immune system involved in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Tumors of the pituitary may mimic the stress response, causing many of the same symptoms seen in people suffering from chronic stress syndromes - such as PTSD
There is an adaptive response to the stress, either behavioral or physical. For example, when we perceive a threat-say, an onrushing automobile-generally we respond in a way that enhances our survival. Our concentration becomes more focused, our reaction time shorter, and our strength and agility increase. These changes allow us to escape the threat by doing what is needed: in this case, getting out of the way. But - in turn - it may very well make the individual mad - ANGRY mad - and then - This is where the trouble starts ..... It is my theory - that THE HULK had a Pituitary Tumour - and this is what turned him into the monster that he became .... for a Pituitary Case - There is NO CONTROL - You cant just stop - It requires medication to STOP the madness - and in my case - I can take 34mg of Diazepam = at once - and it bring me back to normal - IT NEVER SENDS ME TO SLEEP - This is how far gone I am - I CANT JUST TAKE DEEP BREATHS OR TRY YOGA ( As my GP informed me !! ) It is important to note that the stress response varies from person to person.
Ok Ok - I could go on for days about what a Pit Tumour can do to an individual = and in most cases - I can actually talk from experience - with evidence -
https://youtu.be/G2uwxPQWMlI?list=PLPXZS76BBaH4JD7Qtror3zovTDDyPWmYT - When I do too much ;) !!
https://youtu.be/dB3NNpizkJ0 - upset rant !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxd5GpEVk8&list=PLPXZS76BBaH4JD7Qtror3zovTDDyPWmYT&index=5
OMG - I SEEM TO GO ON AND ON - AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS SUMMED IT UP IN A FEW WORDS - ( THANKS CATHERINE BROWN ! - YOUR FAB ! )
"A prolactinoma is only one of many kinds of hormone-producing pituitary tumors, and I believe a very common one. The difference between a prolactinoma and an ACTH secreting tumor are almost night and day. One is generally easy to treat, has limited effects and is not life threatening, the other is the exact opposite. I also personally know people with prolactinomas that have had children, so I wonder what she means by that. But either way, this is comparing apples to oranges and It is understandable that Abby would feel defensive because this person can still lead a fairly typical life and Abby cannot. It may not have been meant to point that out, but having been there myself, it could very easily feel like invalidating my experiences and struggles...as if to suggest I (or Abby) could do as well as this woman. It does help raise awareness, but as someone in Abby's situation, with a completely different disease, to equate the two will lead to the assumption that she is exaggerating her struggles or is lazy, etc. I can post studies that show people with active CD have a quality of life lower than that of a cancer patient IN chemotherapy, if that gives some perspective of what it is like for her. That is where Abby lives...every day for years now. It is NOT easy, and she is doing a damn good job of dealing with it. I know it's hard Abby. Hang in there! Hopefully these new docs can bring you treatment and remission" ................. - see = easy as that !! ;) !!
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