It’s Women’s Health Week 5 – 11th September hosted by Jean Hailes. I subscribe to this each year and there is always so much valuable information for Women’s Health.
Are you up to date with your health checks? If not, what is stopping you?
Fear, lack of time, lack of urgency or embarrassment because you haven’t had your regular checks can be barriers stopping us from looking after our health and well-being.
According to Jean Hailes National Women’s Health Survey 2022:
- Nearly 1 in 3 women have not visited the dentist in the past 12 months because of the pandemic.
- 1 in 5 women have missed a health check with their GP
I’ve recently moved house and am in the process of finding a new doctor, dentist and other allied health professionals. As I have a family history of various forms of cancer, I am conscious of always being up to date with my screenings, in particular, Mammograms and Colonoscopies. I’m due for my colonoscopy but with the move and settling in I’ve not had time to make an appointment. This will be a priority for me over the next week as not having time shouldn’t be an excuse for delaying screenings or looking after our health.
I found this poster on the Jean Haille’s website which I wanted to share because it is a great resource. It is quite comprehensive and there are obviously some that no longer relate to me (such as pre-pregnancy care) but that really is the only thing on the list that I don’t require now.
Joining “Wednesday’s Words & Pics” for a link up on Denyse Whelan Blogs.
24 Comments
Hi Sue, The one-page guide is useful as a checklist and to start a conversation with our GP if we have questions about any of the health checks on the list. Thank you for sharing it. #WW&P
Yes I thought it was a great resource Natlie and a checklist is always easy to follow. x
I have to admit Sue, that I’m not up to date. Breast screen and bowel test are definitely overdue so thanks for the reminder. I appreciate you sharing the Health Check poster. It will be helpful
Hi Jen, yes I’m overdue for a couple so it was a good reminder for me too. x
What a great resource Sue, I’m happy to say I’m on top of most of my checkups and although it can be a pain sometimes to do them all (and remember to book them in) it’s well worth the investment in ourselves. Thanks for the reminders. Visiting from Denyse’s new Wednesday linkup!
Hi Deb I need to have a couple of tests this year but with the move I’ve not made the appointments. I will be doing that before I go away x
You have just reminded me of someone I first came across during the late 1980s – Jean Hailes. (Remember I’m a generation above all you young ‘uns😊)
Reading her book The Middle Years and occasionally listening to her on the radio made my ‘time’ pass by much more easily than it had for many others. Taking onboard all she wrote, discussed, explained, suggested was the best thing I ever did. “Keep fit and look after yourself” – not that easy when running a household and working part time.
Take care
Cathy
Hi Cathy, I’ve only recently discovered Jean Hailes and always subscribe to her Women’s Health Week. It is so difficult to find the time for ourselves when we are working, running a household and having a family isn’t it? It is important though for us to make some time for self care and taking care of our health and well being. Lovely to hear from you x
Hi, Sue – Thank you for this excellent reminder. I did miss some healthchecks during the pandemic but I am all caughtup now. I am grateful to have an excellent doctor who stays on top of all this and has her office staff phone me to ensure that I stay up to date with my checkups!
Hi Donna, I’m sure many of us went off track with our checkups during the pandemic. You are fortunate to have an excellent doctor who will remind you when check ups are due. x
Hi Sue, hope you’re keeping well. I see you have moved. I’m guessing back to Brisbane? I haven’t kept up with everyone I’m afraid as I’ve been so busy caring for Mum. This is a good reminder for some checks I need to get done. I need a skin check as I have a couple of things on my leg that have been worrying me. Bowel cancer check I need to do too. I’m off to the dentist next week and all other checks up to date – except i’ve never had a bone density test done. That will be something I’ll raise with my GP next time I go. Hope you’re all settled in your new home & neighbourhood soon!
Hi Min, lovely to read your comment and yes we have moved back to Carina in Brisbane. We felt that being close to family was more important than a beautiful ocean view. We are now only 4 minutes drive from my grandsons and I’ve discovered Minnippi Parklands which I can run or walk to. It is lovely.
Good printable. I might keep that handy!
It is a handy reminder, isn’t it Lydia?
Thanks for the reminder, Sue. I’m out-of-date with all these things. Screenings, dentist (going to be expensive), even hairdresser, optician etc etc. Because we moved to Ireland and I needed to find where to go, how it works and so on, and before I got anywhere with it, then came the pandemic, and now when it’s relatively safe to do normal things I’ve been too busy! But I’ll get started with it asap.
Moving back to Brisbane means we need to re-establish our medical requirements Susanne. I found this resource a great reminder. x
I’m very overdue for a dentist check-up but am paranoid about going as I’ve had some bad experiences. I did have my breastscreen appt recently AND saw my cardiologist, so I can tick them off my list.
I’m not a fan of dentists either Deb and I really need a check up. Let’s both make an appointment xx
I can see by the responses to this post Sue, that everyone has found it a good reminder to care for ourselves. We women tend to put everyone else first. I am first to admit whilst I don’t “like” the dentist, it was having a good dental check routine that eventually found my cancer. We have an excellent GP here on the coast, and he ensures we are up to date with female checks and male health checks. When we return to Sydney, we are going back to the large Family Medical practice which has seen some of our doctors retire, but they are all fine to put us back on their books.
Thank you so much for joining in the first week of Wednesday’s Words & Pics Link Up!
I am glad to have reconnected a lovely blogging community here and look forward to more sharing as we move forward.
See you next week, on Wednesday 14 September 2022 if you have a post to link up!
Warmest wishes and appreciation from
Denyse.
Glad you can get back to your previous Medical practice when you move Denyse. It can be difficult getting appointments can’t it? Mike and I have to re-establish our medical requirements now that we are back in Brisbane. x
Sue, I hope the comment went through… fingers crossed, adding this though: Thank you so much for joining in the first week of Wednesday’s Words & Pics Link Up!
I am glad to have reconnected a lovely blogging community here and look forward to more sharing as we move forward.
See you next week, on Wednesday 14 September 2022 if you have a post to link up!
Warmest wishes and appreciation from
Denyse.
Hi Denyse, yes the comment came through. I am having problems with WordPress as it sends all comments, even mine, to be approved which is a bit annoying. See you on Wednesday x
Hi Sue, what a helpful post and great reminder for us all to update our check ups. I would highly recommend everyone getting regular skin checks done. I just had mine and had a nasty caught early which I hadn’t even noticed. Prevention is so much easier than having to deal with invasive treatments later. Thank you for sharing
Hi Janine, yes of course regular skin checks are definitely on to add, aren’t they? I am guilty of not prioritising this so thanks for the reminder. x