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How can others show up for you on a bad health day?

We’ve probably all heard this (or a similar) well-meaning question at least once along our health journey: “How can I help?” While there may be many times you want someone to just do — instead of asking you what they should do — it can also be incredibly helpful to tell (or show) someone in your life how they can best show up for you.

Not only will it help you on a bad health day, but it has the power to improve your overall relationships with your loved ones. So, if someone asks, how can others show up for you on a bad health day?

#MightyMinute #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #Disability #Trauma #Fibromyalgia #Cancer #Caregiving #CheckInWithMe

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Inner Strength

Following up from yesterday’s post, the ultimate goal of mindfulness is essentially this.

Possible? Not possible? What do you think?

Finally, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

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What is the most rewarding part about being a caregiver?

Being a caregiver can be a challenging but rewarding responsibility. Caregivers play a huge role in the health and wellness of not only their own families and jobs, but also in greater society. We are grateful to have such compassionate and empathetic people in our Mighty community! 💐

What do you find to be the most rewarding part about being a caregiver?

💜 P.S. If your knee-jerk reaction to this prompt was "nothing," here’s a Mighty story about combating compassion fatigue that might be helpful: themighty.com/topic/general-parenting/combat-compassion-fati...

#Caregiving #Caregiver #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #CheckInWithMe #Fibromyalgia #Migraine #AlzheimersDisease #Cancer #MultipleSclerosis #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease

How Parents and Caregivers Can Combat Compassion Fatigue

"These strategies work best when done regularly."
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness is understandably a bit confusing with all the info out there. It can even seem like “work” or too good to be true. But it’s just this.

Being mindful doesn’t mean you have to go live in a cave for the rest of your life or give up your ambitions. It simply helps you empty the noise in your head that slows you down from reaching those ambitions. Can anyone relate?

Finally, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

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Hyperparathyroidism and Cancer: Investigating Possible Connections

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a medical condition in which the parathyroid glands produce excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the blood. HPT has many difficult symptoms, including muscle weakness, bone and joint pain, concentration and memory issues, abdominal pain, and frequent urination. Some patients with HPT may also feel a lump in the neck.

HPT is treatable, especially if caught early, but leaving it untreated can lead to life-threatening complications such as osteoporosis and kidney disease. Not only that, but HPT is also linked to several types of cancers. In this article, we’ll explore the connection between hyperparathyroidism and cancer.

What is Hyperparathyroidism?

PTH maintains steady levels of calcium in the blood. HPT occurs when one or more of the parathyroid glands become enlarged and produce large amounts of parathyroid hormone. A high level of PTH leads to high calcium levels in the blood, impacting various body systems including the bones and muscles, brain, gastrointestinal system, and kidneys.

Hyperparathyroidism in Cancer Patients

A growing body of scientific evidence tells us that HPT is associated with numerous cancer types, including parathyroid cancer and thyroid cancer as well as skin, breast, colon, rectal, and kidney cancers. Studies also show that HPT increases the risk of malignant cancers. A study based on data from the Danish cancer care registry showed that patients with HPT have 25% increased risk of cancers.

Hyperparathyroidism and Parathyroid Cancers

Around 0.5% to 5% of HPT is caused by parathyroid cancer—that is, by a malignant tumor in the parathyroid. As of now, we know that certain factors, such as radiation therapy in the head, neck or breast region, and genetic disorders like hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN1) and familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP), increase the risk of parathyroid cancer.

High calcium levels in blood is one of the chief indicators of HPT, and thus the risk of parathyroid cancer. If your blood reports show high serum calcium levels or if you experience any of the symptoms discussed above, you should get a consult from a board-certified parathyroid specialist.

Parathyroid cancers are aggressive cancers and should be caught and treated early. For this condition, the only treatment is the complete removal of the affected parathyroid gland. If the tumor isn’t removed completely, recurrence of the cancer is extremely likely.

Hyperparathyroidism and Thyroid Cancer

A study published in BMC Surgery showed that the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer is high in patients with primary and secondary HPT. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, which usually forms on one lobe of the thyroid gland. The study also found that thyroid tumors more than 1 cm in size were seen only in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Thyroid cancer spreads very fast and can affect the lungs, bones and other body parts. Its symptoms include persistent cough, hoarseness of voice, neck pain which radiates to the ear, swelling in the neck, and difficulty breathing and swallowing. If you experience any of these symptoms alongside the symptoms of HPT described above, it is likely your HPT may have led to thyroid cancer. Consult a thyroid specialist immediately.

Hyperparathyroidism and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is among the leading cancers in women in the US. Around 30-40% of women with malignant breast cancers do show high calcium levels in blood at some point during their illness. In these cases, high calcium levels in blood usually indicate spread of cancer to the bones, but it may also be caused by primary hyperparathyroidism. Moreover, women with primary hyperparathyroidism are more likely to have breast cancer than women who don’t. In women with breast cancer and high serum calcium levels, parathyroid hormone levels are usually checked to find out if the underlying cause of high calcium levels is HPT.

The Hyperparathyroidism and Cancer Connection—Possible Theories

So, we know that HPT and cancers are associated, but how do we explain the link between them? There are several theories that have been proposed so far.

Some research shows that high calcium levels in blood triggers cell division. Cancer cells, by nature, do not stop multiplying or die off, so runaway cell division caused by high blood calcium levels could conceivably lead to cancerous growth.

A few studies have also pointed out that high parathyroid hormone levels promote tumor development and inhibit cell death. Some other studies say that low levels of vitamin D, which is a prominent feature of HPT, may also increase cancer risk.

The evidence shared by these studies, however, is unfortunately not yet definitive. Scientists are still trying to find out the exact mechanisms that explain why cancer and HPT coexist, so for the moment these theories are not yet proven.

When to See a Doctor about HPT

As noted above, untreated HPT may lead to serious health issues. Many studies have shown that in addition to cancer, HPT is also linked with life threatening heart and kidney disease. Hence, it is important to be watchful for hyperparathyroidism symptoms and signs, and if you have HPT, get it treated early to prevent complications.

If you experience symptoms of HPT and your blood reports show alterations in P and calcium levels, you should get an appointment with a parathyroid expert. Dr. Babak Larian of the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery is a parathyroid expert in treating HPT safely and effectively. He performs a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) with a high success rate and minimal scarring. An MIP can usually be completed in under 20 minutes and is followed by a four-gland assessment that ensures patients can maximize their surgery results.

References:

1. HyperparathyroidMD. Is there a connection between hyperparathyroidism and cancer. Available at:

2. Pickard AL, Gridley G, Mellemkjae L, Johansen C, Kofoed-Enevoldsen A, Cantor KP, Brinton LA. Hyperparathyroidism and subsequent cancer risk in Denmark. Cancer. 2002 Oct 15;95(8):1611-7. doi: 10.0.3.234/cncr.10846. PMID: 12365007.

3. Serena Palmieri, Letizia Roggero, Elisa Cairoli, Valentina Morelli, Alfredo Scillitani, Iacopo Chiodini, Cristina Eller-Vainicher . Occurrence of malignant neoplasia in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. European Journal of Internal Medicine. Volume 43, September 2017, Pages 77-82

4. Michels KB, Xue F, Brandt L, Ekbom A. Hyperparathyroidism and subsequent incidence of breast cancer. Int J Cancer. 2004 Jun 20;110(3):449-51. doi: 10.0.3.234/ijc.20155. PMID: 15095313.

5. Rodrigo Arrangoiz, et al. Is Breast Cancer Associated with Primary Hyperparathyroidism?. American Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.2019. Volume 2(1). Article 1033

6. Goswami S, Ghosh S. Hyperparathyroidism: cancer and mortality. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Dec;16(Suppl 2):S217-20. doi: 10.0.16.7/2230-8210.104042. PMID: 23565381; PMCID: PMC3603029.

7. Karaköse M, Kocabaş M, Can M, Çalışkan Burgucu H, Çordan İ, Kulaksızoğlu M, Karakurt F. Increased incidence of malignancy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Aug 30;51(4):2023-2028. doi: 10.0.15.66/sag-2012-18. PMID: 33957725; PMCID: PMC8569777.

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Change

I’d love to hear more about what you want to achieve in this community and how you're going to modify your lifestyle to meet those personal goals. How can we better help each other?

Finally, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

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Silence

If you want to be good at anything, such as mastering how to have a peaceful mind, it requires practice. Does anyone practice resting in silence?

In the beginning, silence may be the most uncomfortable, agitating, or boring and exhausting experience. Please trust the process.

Finally, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

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What types of physical therapy have you tried?

There are so many different types of physical therapies depending on your symptoms and/or specific needs. What is right for you may not be right for someone else, and that's OK.

What types have you tried? Share using either the emojis below or with your own experience!

💖 Orthopedic physical therapy
🌸 Neurological physical therapy
🌻 Geriatric physical therapy
☀️ Pediatric physical therapy
✨ Sports physical therapy
💎 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
❤️ Woman's health physical therapy
🐞 Other specialized type (aquatic, vestibular rehabilitation, wound care etc.)
🦋 Unconventional types (dance/movement, functional electrical stimulation (FES), yoga etc.)

⭐ Need more insight and information? Check out this article by Mighty staffer @chronicallymeh here: themighty.com/topic/other/types-physical-therapy

#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #Disability #Caregiving #RareDisease #Migraine #Stroke #CardiovascularDisease #AutonomicDysfunction #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Spoonie #Lupus #Endometriosis #Cancer #Anxiety #PTSD #CheckInWithMe

Which Type of Physical Therapy Is Best for You?

Maximize your recovery by selecting the right physical therapy for your needs.
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Preanticipatory Grief

Have you ever felt #Grief before the person who is terminally ill has passed away? I know that it will happen, but I also know that my brain is unable to really focus. Since I am on #prozac it makes it difficult for some internal emotions to be displayed.

I am feeling #sad and feeling a sense of #Loss without actually experiencing it yet. I think that it is because my Aunt is very ill and should make it through the holidays if we are blessed enough for that. I am #scared because I know what it is like to lose a parent as I lost my Dad last year to #Cancer and it hurts like crazy.

It is also #horrible when you #Lose a job because you called out so many times. It is not a good feeling at all whatsoever. That is grief as well. I am struggling and I really would like a #friend .

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