In this newsletter update, we’ll explore with you what we’ve been up to over the last month, as we hear from some past clients, take a look at the medical tourism industry & more..
Yet another month full of meetings, decisions and experiences at The Health Store Turkey.
Over the past month, we have channelled much of our energy into creating and laying down some great plans for consultation day events which we look forward to holding in various locations.
Some of the destinations we have arranged to visit in May include Glasgow, Halsted and Berlin. As always, these consultation days are an opportunity for us to connect & reconnect with both previous clients and current/future clients. We treasure the chances that we get to catch up with all of you, observe and discuss your progress, and hear about your newfound lifestyles.
Alongside this, one of our booking agents accompanied 8 clients on their journey to Izmir for surgery. Those same clients were then interviewed about their feelings and experiences of the journey so far.
As we enter the first month of summer, we are excited to see what the season has to hold. We look forward to welcoming so many of you to Turkey and we want each of you to know that we are here to support and empower you throughout your journey both before, during and after your visit to Izmir and The Health Store Turkey.
We hope you have a wonderful month of May.
Risk For Breast Cancer Reduced After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery for obesity is associated with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, new data suggests.
The study was a matched cohort study that included over 69,000 Canadian women. The researchers retrospectively matched women with obesity who had undergone bariatric surgery with women without a history of bariatric surgery, and participants were matched by age and breast cancer screening status. The population included women with an average age of 45 years.
The findings of the study suggest that the risk of incident breast cancer at 1 year was 40% higher among women who had not undergone bariatric surgery compared with those who had.
Additionally, the risk remained higher through 5 years of follow-up. The authors of the study stated that the patients who underwent bariatric surgery had better cancer outcomes than patients who weighed less than they did, which suggests that there was more at play than just weight loss. This effect was durable, showing how powerful the surgery is, and we haven’t even explored all of its impacts.
The study also demonstrated that the protective association between substantial weight loss via bariatric surgery and breast cancer risk is sustained after 5 years following surgery and that it is associated with a baseline risk similar to that of women with a body mass index (BMI) less than 25.
It is important to note that the benefit of surgical weight loss may not be universal. In addition to lifestyle factors, several nonmodifiable risk factors, such as a genetic predisposition, strong family history, personal history of a high-risk breast lesion, or history of chest wall radiation, impart significant elevation in risk, and the data remains mixed on the impact of weight loss for individuals in these high-risk cohorts.
Further study is needed to clarify the underlying connections associated with obesity, weight loss, and breast cancer risk to guide strategies for risk reduction that are specific to unique high-risk cohorts because modifiable risk factors may not portend the same benefit among all groups.
In conclusion, the study provides evidence of an association between bariatric surgery and reduced breast cancer risk, but further studies are needed to understand the underlying reasons and to determine if the benefit is universal
Meet Amy, who visited Turkey for a gastric sleeve which has completely changed her life!
From my teenage years, I noticed that I was always the bigger friend. Even though at the time, I was probably a 12-14, I was always the bigger sister or bigger friend. I started dieting at 16 and from then until I was 31 I had an awful battle with food addiction and my weight. I joined every diet club and tried all the fads, and the training sessions and though I might have lost a pound here and there each week, one huge thing that I realised was that my relationship with food was completely ruined. The weight was slowly but surely piling on and I was just feeling worse and worse about myself. A friend had previously had a gastric sleeve with The Health Store Turkey, but at the time I was very uneducated about it. I was happy she had done it for herself but it was never something I thought I would do.
I got married in 2021 and I absolutely killed myself for over a year trying to “diet”, I managed to lose just over a stone and then weighed 17 stone 10lbs. After my wedding, I just lost all motivation & my weight went up to 21 stone. I then spoke to another girl who had the gastric sleeve (also with The Health Store Turkey) and she told me in great detail about how life had changed for her, her mental health & her children. After that talk, I decided to reach out to the clinic to enquire.
Nihal was having a Dublin consultation day and I headed along. She spent a good few hours with me discussing everything in detail with me. After this talk, I knew it was the right decision. After discussing it with my husband and family I decided to book! I travelled alone in August 2022 for my procedure and haven’t looked back since. I am now almost 9 months out & 91 lbs down! I never thought my life would be like this! I can finally head out with my girlfriends and not feel like the fat friend anymore, I can go and have a spa day and not worry about the robes! But finally, my mind is clear and free. My life doesn’t revolve around food anymore. I really feel at 32 that I have hit the reset button and I’m starting all over again! People think your life is over after the gastric sleeve, I know that was a worry for me, but in actual fact, my life is just beginning!
I can’t thank the team enough. The care I received was next to none and I know I wouldn’t have received the same care had I had the surgery at home in Ireland! Even now, 9 months out, if I have a question the team is on hand via WhatsApp or the excellent Facebook support to help!
Thank you to The Health Store Turkey, you really have given me my life back and I will forever be grateful to you all
Hierapolis-Pamukkale – Denizli
Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a unique natural site located in the Denizli Province of Turkey. It is known for its white travertine terraces filled with turquoise mineral-rich water, which gives the appearance of a snow-covered hill. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, and it is a popular tourist destination in Turkey.
The thermal springs in Hierapolis-Pamukkale have been in use since ancient times, with the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis being founded around the springs in the 2nd century BC.
The city was also an important centre of Christianity in the early years of the religion, with St. Philip being one of its first bishops. Visitors can explore the ruins of the ancient city, including the amphitheatre, the necropolis, and the Roman baths. The highlight of the site, however, is the travertine terraces, which are fed by the hot springs an+d create a stunning natural landscape that visitors can walk on and even swim in. Overall, Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a must-visit destination for anyone travelling to Turkey, offering a unique mix of history and natural beauty.
We hope you enjoyed this newsletter update. Don’t forget to check back in for our next publication.
Thank you, as always, for being with us.
from all the team at The Health Store Turkey.
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