All Checked Up

All Checked Up Private health & cancer screening tests at home or in-clinic Fast, affordable, and convenient access to quality healthcare at-home or in-clinic.

“Is male menopause real?”It’s a term often used — but it doesn’t tell the full story.Some men in midlife experience:- Lo...
01/03/2026

“Is male menopause real?”

It’s a term often used — but it doesn’t tell the full story.
Some men in midlife experience:
- Low mood
- Low s*x drive
- Erectile issues
- Muscle loss
- Weight gain around the middle
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Poor focus

Testosterone levels do slowly decline as men age — but it’s usually gradual and steady.

When symptoms are significant, it could be late-onset testosterone deficiency. Or it could be something else entirely.

Either way — it’s not “just aging.” And it’s not something you should ignore.

If you’ve noticed changes, start the conversation. Proper testing > guessing

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK. But only 27% of cases of are diagnosed in the earl...
23/02/2026

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK. But only 27% of cases of are diagnosed in the early stages

Pioneered by the University of Southampton, the trial is looking at whether a specialist medical tampon could help improve early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Named the Violet Study, vaginal fluid samples will be collected from women undergoing risk-reducing ovarian cancer surgery, using a diagnostic tampon and vaginal swabs.

In addition, tissue samples from the removed ovaries and fallopian tubes will be used to compare from women with the earliest signs of ovarian cancer to those without cancer

Scientists will check for alterations in biomarkers known as microRNAs — These are small biological signals found in both ovarian cancer cells and vaginal fluid. If these microRNAs are detected, this could suggest a potential approach for predicting ovarian cancer in the future.

02/02/2026

FAQs for Bowel Cancer Screening. The modern QFIT test does not require you to be on a restricted diet or to come off your medications, that's why its a great test to do at home, because it can fit in so easily with your daily routine. The only thing to remember is you shouldn't take your test if you have an active haemorrhoid/piles, diarrhoea, or during menstruation (for women). This is to ensure an accurate test result.

A full blood count is the world's most common blood test, with an estimated 3.6 billion + tests being performed worldwid...
15/01/2026

A full blood count is the world's most common blood test, with an estimated 3.6 billion + tests being performed worldwide each year.

So why is it so popular? Simply because it can provide a broad insight in to a number of disorders such as anaemia, infection, inflammation, nutritional status, bleeding and many other diseases. 

A FBC is actually comprises of a number of different panels red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  Red blood cells are involved in carrying oxygen around the body via the protein haemoglobin. White blood cells are our defence mechanism for fighting infections and alike. They also control the immune process and are involved in allergy response. Platelets help the blood clotting process by plugging holes in broken blood vessels.

Unlike some tests such as Cholesterol, a FBC test result is rarely affected by lifestyle changes unless there is an underlying deficiency (such as vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or iron deficiency) or increased alcohol intake. Therefore it can provide an good indicator of your overall health.

You can also get an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) panel alongside your FBC, which is useful in detecting non specific inflammation, however CRP is usually a better marker nowadays.

It's cervical cancer awareness month and to kick start the series of posts on cervical cancer we want to talk about a vi...
05/01/2026

It's cervical cancer awareness month and to kick start the series of posts on cervical cancer we want to talk about a virus or more accurately a group of viruses called HPV which are responsible for nearly all of cervical cancer cases. We break down exactly what is HPV, the myths and facts and why regular screening is important in order to help prevent cervical cancer.

HPV is actually a common group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Most HPV infections don’t cause symptoms or problems and are cleared naturally by our immune system, but persistent infection and reinfection of some types of HPV can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.

HPV Is mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as through a s*xual partner. Because HPV often causes no symptoms, someone can unknowingly pass it to others.

HPV can be grouped into high risk and low risk depending on their association with development of cervical cancer.

The most important ones to note are HPV 16 and 18, which together cause around 80% of cervical cancers. The rest of cancers are caused by 11 other high risk groups.

The low risk HPV types (like HPV 6 and 11) don’t cause cancer but are associated with other conditions such as genitial warts.

The mere presence of high risk HPV does not cause cancer, because the body often clears the infection naturally within about 1–2 years.

Cervical cancer develops when high-risk HPV infection persists and causes abnormalities in cervical cells over many years. These can progress from mild changes to more serious pre-cancerous conditions and, if untreated, eventually to cancer.

Not all HPV detections mean a new infection — in some cases it can be the reappearance of a previously acquired virus that was below detectable levels.

Cervical screening plays a crucial role in prevention as it tests for the presence of high risk HPV. If high risk HPV is found, further checks can be done to see if there are any abnormal cell changes which can be treated to help prevent cervical cancer from developing.

Bowel cancer screening saves lives, and understanding how the test works can reduce unnecessary fear while encouraging t...
02/01/2026

Bowel cancer screening saves lives, and understanding how the test works can reduce unnecessary fear while encouraging the right follow-up.

The bowel cancer screening test is called a quantitative faecal immunochemical test (QFIT). Its purpose is to detect tiny amounts of blood in your poo — something that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

Importantly, blood can be present for several reasons, not just bowel cancer. That’s why a positive result does not automatically mean cancer is present.

That said, the QFIT test is still highly reliable. It has an accuracy of just over 84% in detecting bowel cancer. Research from Edinburgh University also found that completing two QFIT tests two weeks apart increased accuracy to nearly 97%. This makes it a very effective screening tool.

A positive QFIT result may also be linked to:
•Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
•Peptic ulcer disease
•Haemorrhoids
•Gastritis

If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of IBD, it’s important to be assessed. IBD often requires treatment to control inflammation and prevent complications if left unmanaged.

It’s also worth noting that IBD is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), although symptoms can appear similar. This is why positive results should always be followed up with further investigations to identify the true cause. These often include more specific diagnostic tests.

Screening doesn’t provide final answers — it provides vital direction.
Taking part in bowel cancer screening, and following up results appropriately, remains one of the most effective ways to protect long-term bowel health.

Share this post to help others understand bowel cancer screening and reduce unnecessary fear around test results.



Another year has flown by and 2026 presents new opportunities, a fresh start and those new year's resolutions. But let's...
01/01/2026

Another year has flown by and 2026 presents new opportunities, a fresh start and those new year's resolutions. But let's be honest, how many of us stick to our new year's resolutions. According to a YouGov survey only 19% of Britons say they intend to make New Year’s resolutions for 2026 with health-related pledges topping the list. 23% of those making NY resolutions intend to get fit or exercise more, followed by improving health and mental wellbeing.

So here's 5 things we can do in our everyday lives to help our health and mental wellbeing. From simple walking, eating healthier and improving sleep. But the main takeaway is just to be happy, healthy and you.

Happy New Year everyone!

06/12/2025

Medical terms ... USA Vs UK. These are some we can think of, can you think of anymore?


04/12/2025

Early‑stage prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. This is because of how the cancer grows.

Early signs typically appear only when the cancer expands toward the urethra—the tube that carries urine—pressing on it and altering urinary flow. As most prostate cancers usually start from the outside of prostate gland and work their way inwards, it rarely contacts the urethra at first, so symptoms are uncommon.

Some prostate cancers grow very slowly so these symptoms may not develop for many years.

When prostate cancer progresses beyond the gland (locally advanced disease) or metastasizes to distant sites (advanced disease), additional symptoms may emerge, such as:

• Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvic region
• Difficulty achieving or maintaining an er****on
• Blood appearing in the urine or semen
• Unexplained weight loss

Changes to the way you go for a wee usually get more common as you get older but this can be caused by non-cancerous conditions such as an enlarged prostate, or another health problem.

A PSA blood test is good at detecting early stage prostate cancer but it does have its limitations. See our video on PSA test for more information.

It's important to keep an eye on any of the symptoms noted above even and get medical advice even if you have a normal PSA level.

This post is not intended to constitute as any medical advice.




You may have seen in the news today that Prostate Cancer Screening for the general population in men has not been recomm...
28/11/2025

You may have seen in the news today that Prostate Cancer Screening for the general population in men has not been recommended on the NHS in the draft guidelines given by the UK National Screening Committee.

It was recommended that men with mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes who are between the ages of 45 and 61 should be screened for prostate cancer.

BRCA is not commonly known but can increase the risk of Prostate Cancer in Men. It is also increases the risk of Breast and Ovarian cancer in women.

What are BRCA genes?

Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2, they help keep your cells growing normally and stay healthy while stopping the growth of cancerous cells. If there is a mutation (variant) in these genes, it means they don't work as they should.

Think of them as a set of instructions telling your cells what to do. Any change in the gene will cause the wrong set of instructions to be given.

It is estimated that around 1 in 260 men have this faulty gene but very few of actually know they have it, because it is not widely tested for.

Evidence suggests that men with the variant of the BRCA2 have a higher lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, and those with a BRCA1 variant, have a slight increase in lifetime risk, but this evidence still remains unclear. Having either variant may also increase the risk of having prostate cancer at an earlier age or become a more aggressive form of prostate cancer meaning it is likely to spread faster.

Screening for prostate cancer usually involves a blood test known as a PSA test. Its a relatively inexpensive test and yes it does has its limitations, but it can be praised for helping detect early stage prostate cancer.





This is why we keep on doing what we do, because this for me is the best part of the job... helping patients in anyway w...
07/05/2025

This is why we keep on doing what we do, because this for me is the best part of the job... helping patients in anyway we can.

A really nice testimonial from one of our patients that I wanted to share with you (and with their permission of course). It's also a nice testimony to all the healthcare teams that come together to improve patient care on a daily basis.

Heard this on the radio this morning. It comes from recent research by Randall Bell, that suggests that making your bed ...
31/03/2025

Heard this on the radio this morning. It comes from recent research by Randall Bell, that suggests that making your bed each morning is linked to a 206% higher chance of achieving millionaire status. I think the main point is that making your bed each morning instills practical discipline which is really important trait for success in business and in life in general.

What's your thoughts?

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