The TV presenter recently asked fans to ‘pray’ for her as she explained she was about to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The tumour, a benign colloid cyst, was found during a scan and the surgery went well as her partner, Michael Douglas (not that one), later posted on her social media accounts that Davina was ‘out of surgery’ and it had all been ‘textbook’.
A woman who had a similar diagnosis said it was the ‘scariest thing I ever had to face’, as 27-year-old spoke about being told she had a rare, aggressive and malignant tumour in her brain.
Kimberley Baggley had been diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma in June 2023 and underwent a craniotomy, the same procedure McCall just had.
Kimberley Baggley said she wished Davina McCall well with her recovery. (SWNS)
She explained that she started suffering from a migraine at work to the point that she was sent home, and then started feeling a tingling pain in her face.
The 27-year-old made several visits to A&E to seek treatment for this and each time she was sent away with painkillers, but after she spent a week unwell in bed, her husband and son came home to find her unconscious after having had a seizure.
She was then given MRI and CT scans at Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent which found the rare brain tumour and soon she underwent a craniotomy, which is where a part of the skull is removed so that surgery can be performed on the brain.
The surgery removed 95 percent of the tumour, but Kimberley has since had to undergo 33 rounds of radiotherapy and 10 rounds of chemotherapy, with more of the latter treatment to come.
The 27-year-old mum praised Davina for raising awareness around brain tumours, but lamented the lack of information for people who ‘need to go back-and-forth to their GP’.
The mum, who had to have a craniotomy, added that it can be hard to get access to scans which could detect a tumour. (SWNS)
She said that the TV presenter ‘has been very, very lucky’ after being ‘offered a private scan’.
Indeed, McCall said that she’d been ‘offered a health scan’ after she ‘did a menopause talk for a company’, which revealed that she had a rare tumour.
“Normal people, like me, can’t afford that,” Kimberley said as she gave people advice for her situation.
“If I could get one piece of information out there to ‘normal people’, it would be: ‘stay confident, and know about tumours’.
“Research tumours, go to the doctors and say: ‘I’m not giving up’.
“I’d like to encourage Davina to stay positive and cheerful – keep that wonderful sense of humour, remember you’re a human, not a statistic.”
The 27-year-old also said that McCall’s actions were ‘going to bring more light to brain tumours’, saying that although her first thought when she heard was how awful it was, ‘the word is out there’ and there are more explanations being put in front of the public.
Having gone through treatment for about a year-and-a-half, Kimberley said she was ‘finally’ starting to feel better and is eager to ‘get back to the old me’.
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Joe Harker
Expert explains ‘popcorn brain’ issue that she says almost everyone is suffering from
Doctor Aditi Nerurkar appeared on the Diary of a CEO podcast to discuss the ‘phenomenon’
Have you ever had a really important deadline coming up and despite the time crunch, you just can’t seem to put TikTok down?
Or, perhaps you’ve gone to the pub with your mates, and neither you nor they can concentrate on anything either of you are saying.
If you’ve experienced either of those situations then you may be suffering from a phenomenon called ‘popcorn brain’.
The term was originally coined by David Levy, a quality-of-life researcher and professor emeritus at the University of Washington Information School, in 2011.
Levy used it in an interview to describe modern individuals’ lack of focus due to their dependency on digital media.
Below, we’ve outlined exactly what experts believe ‘popcorn brain’ is, the typical signs you exhibit and how you can begin lengthening your attention span again.
What is ‘popcorn brain’?
“‘Popcorn brain’ is this idea that, like popping popcorn, our thoughts are scattered,” clinical psychologist and yoga therapist Leslie Daly told Women’s Health.
“Because of all the media we’re consuming and the time we’re spending on internet-driven tasks, we’re having a harder time staying focused. We’re feeling like our mind is floating all over the place.”
Her sentiment has been echoed by Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a global public health expert who appeared on Steven Bartlett’s popular Diary of a CEO podcast.
“Most people have popcorn brain,” she confessed to the Social Chain co-founder. “Popcorn bran is a biological phenomenon coined by a man named Doctor Levy, a psychologist. “It is essentially your brain circuitry starting to pop based on overstimulation. So it’s not like your brain is actually popping but that sensation of ‘popcorning’.
During the episode, titled “The Mental Health Doctor: Sitting Is Increasing Your Anxiety!, Your Phone Is Destroying Your Brain, You May Have ‘Popcorn Brain’,” Dr Nerukar went on to say that she understands social media and websites are ‘hard to disengage’ from and sympathized with how ‘difficult’ it was to live offline.
“Popcorn Brain is an affliction that nearly every single person has right now,” she admitted. “Think about what you do when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store. You’re not just letting your brain wander pondering things, you are on your phone.”
‘Popcorn brain’ was a subject on the A Diary of a CEO podcast (Diary of a CEO/YouTube)
What are the typical signs of ‘popcorn brain’?
Clinical health psychologist Jennifer Wolkin has stated that popcorn brain looks different to everyone and that its intensity may depend on how often you consume media.
How stimulating the media is and your multitasking habits can both play a factor too, but regardless, there are some clear signs that you’re suffering.
Wolkin told Women’s Health that scattered thoughts and frequently feeling distracted is a clear indication that your brain is ‘popping’.
Feeling exhausted mentally, having a disinterested in others and jumping from conversation topics are all signs that it may be time to quit your doom-scrolling habit.
Medical practitioners recommend you seek professional advice if you’re exhibiting physical symptoms, such as headaches and eye strains, as well as feeling lonelier than usual or suffering from sadness.
The effects of ‘popcorn brain’ are reversible, according to experts (Getty Stock Image)
How to manage ‘popcorn brain’
If any of the typical ‘popcorn brain’ signs have hit home, then you’ll be pleased to know there are tried-and-tested ways of managing it.
One of the main ways is to reduce your digital media usage and take regular screen breaks, while Real Simple recommends you utilize the Pomodoro Technique to help you focus on a single task for longer.
Clinical psychologist Sanam Hafeez says regular physical exercise can help you recover from the effects of excessive phone use.
“Engaging in activities that challenge cognitive abilities, such as puzzles, learning new skills, or engaging in intellectually stimulating conversations, can help improve attention span and cognitive function,” she adds.
Other recommended steps include setting up tech-free zones in your apartment and working on regulating your nervous system with sauna stints and mindful eating.
If you’re experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They’re open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you’re not comfortable talking on the phone.
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Diary of a CEO / Getty Stock Image
Topics: Health, Mental Health
Ella Scott
Actor slammed after faking her own death in bid to raise awareness of cervical cancer
She’s been met with a backlash after admitting the thing was a stunt
A Bollywood star has been met with a backlash after she admitted to faking her own death to raise awareness for cervical cancer.
Fans of Poonam Pandey were left devastated on Friday (2 February) when a post on the actor’s Instagram announced the news that she had passed away at just 32.
The post, shared with Pandey’s 1.3 million followers, read: “This morning is a tough one for us.
“Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
Her manager Nikita Sharma later ‘confirmed’ the news to NDTV, reportedly telling the station: “Poonam Pandey, the beloved actress and social media personality, has tragically passed away this morning due to cervical cancer, leaving the entertainment industry in shock and mourning.”
@poonampandeyreal/Instagram
As the news broke, tributes began to pour in from fans and those working within the industry, including fellow Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, who said: “This is so sad. Losing a young woman to cancer is a catastrophe.”
However, the following day, Pandey took to Instagram to admit that she had faked the whole thing in an attempt to raise awareness of cervical cancer.
Sharing a video of herself, she explained that while she was very much alive, the same couldn’t be said about the ‘hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives because of cervical cancer’.
In a caption alongside the clip, she wrote: “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all – I am here, alive.
“Cervical cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease.
Instagram/@poonampandeyreal
“Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
“Let’s empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take.”
It’s fair to say that the stunt did not go down well with fans.
Responding to her update, one person wrote: “Am happy she is alive but [please] arrest her for this drama and publicity stunt.”
Another said: “Exploiting a serious issue like cervical cancer for cheap publicity is absolutely disgraceful. Using your platform to spread awareness is commendable, but faking your own death is a new low.”
In a follow up post defending her actions, Pandey wrote: “Feel free to express your frustration – I understand. But this is not just lip service, instead I’m committing my entire body to the service of cervical cancer.
“Once you’ve portrayed your sentiments, I invite you to visit www.poonampandeyisalive.com, my gift to you, where we can come together to combat cervical cancer.”
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/PoonamPandeyReal
Topics: Celebrity, Health, World News, Cancer
Claire Reid
Woman who’s gone sober reveals early warning sign that she had a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol
From a tinny on the train home from work to a bottle of wine with dinner, how much is too much?
Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
With summer in full swing, it often feels like every social plan suddenly revolves around drinking.
Your colleagues suggest a quick pint after work, all the group chats are discussing is which beer garden is best and your housemates are offering you a cold one the moment you walk through the door.
But it can be a tricky time for those who are sober or, those with a drinking problem.
Plus, it might be a time you notice perhaps your best mate doesn’t have the best relationship with alcohol as you keep an eye on their habits.
And helping with that, Issy Hawkins shares videos about her sobriety on TikTok and talked through what some of the ‘early warning signs’ were that she had a ‘dysfunctional relationship with alcohol’
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Maybe you’ve been drinking more than usual. (Getty stock)
She would ‘try and sneak in extra drinks’ while out with her mates.
So while offering to get a round in, she’d quickly down an extra one while at the bar.
Another big warning sign for her was: “Having a feeling of panic when I realised maybe everyone was gonna stop drinking and I hadn’t had enough and hadn’t had my fix.”
READ MORE:
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO REVERSE FUNCTIONAL ALCOHOL TOLERANCE
Issy said she’d also end up feeling panicked if she arrived at an event and realised that people weren’t going to be drinking and she ‘might not be able to’.
“Just a general feeling of panic,” she explained, “if I felt like I wasn’t gonna have enough.
“Then, scheming in my head to be like, ‘How can I make sure this heads in the direction that we’re all gonna start drinking?’”
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She also found herself drinking at any opportunity. (Getty stock)
Other warning signs Issy says she’d experienced included ‘secret drinking’, absolute loving and being ‘obsessed with day drinking as well as turning into an ‘angry, nasty person’ if she realised she wasn’t going to get to drink.
Another thing she found happening as she got older was ‘drinking at home, by herself’ for no particular reason.
Plus, when she’d be out drinking with friends, she’d ‘constantly have an eye’ on the pace they were drinking at.
Issy explained that alcohol began to consume her ‘every waking thought’.
“It was like my whole life revolved around when I could drink, how I could drink, how much I could drink. These were all warning signs for what later became a really insidious dangerous drinking problem,” she added.
Keep an eye on your mates lads, and don’t forget to check in with yourself as well as them.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photo/TikTok / issyhawkins_
Topics: Alcohol, Health, Lifestyle, Mental Health, TikTok
Jess Battison
Shannen Doherty made a final act for her ex-husband just one day before she died
She set her affairs in order the day before she died
The day before she died, Shannen Doherty performed one final act for her ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko.
The two of them had tied the knot back in 2011, though the Beverly Hills, 90210 star had filed for divorce last year.
There followed a legal battle, including discussions over spousal support he would have to pay to Doherty.
Court documents showed that the 53-year-old had argued that her ex-husband was ‘permitted to prolong our divorce in hopes that I die before he is required to pay me’, a claim disputed by Iswarienko’s representatives.
Katherine Heersema, an attorney for Iswarienko, had said: “He wants the best for Shannen and he wants both of them to be able to put this case behind them and move forward.”
Shannen Doherty signed the documents the day before she died. (Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic)
On 12 July, the day before she died at the age of 53, Doherty had agreed to settle her divorce, agreeing to a ‘default or uncontested dissolution’ of her marriage to Iswarienko.
According to PEOPLE, court documents show that Doherty signed a filing to waive spousal support the day before she died, fully settling their divorce proceedings and bringing an end to the legal procedure in an amicable fashion.
Iswarienko had signed the documents on 13 July, the day that Shannen died.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and between 2017 and 2019 she was in remission.
Sadly, in 2020 she announced that the cancer had returned and had advanced to stage four, and the following year shared the sad news that it had become terminal.
Doherty had filed for divorce from Kurt Iswarienko last year. (Vivien Killilea/WireImage)
Last November she had told PEOPLE: “When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life.
“I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better, I’m just not — I’m not done.”
A representative of Doherty’s family announced her death over the weekend, saying: “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress, Shannen Doherty.
“In Saturday, July 13th she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog , Bowie.
“The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
