Health
Actress ignored subtle cancer symptom for years before onstage emergency
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Alex Kingston, known for her roles on hit shows like “ER” and “Doctor Who,” revealed her battle with uterine cancer in a recent interview.
In the first sign that something was wrong, the actress began hemorrhaging onstage in 2024, then ultimately carried on with the show. It wasn’t until six weeks later that doctors diagnosed her with cancer.
“Your body does try to warn you,” the star, 62, told The Independent. “It just depends on whether you can read the warning signs.”
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“I had assumed that the way I was feeling was old age, and I just sort of accepted it,” Kingston went on, noting that she had experienced bloating and achiness for years.
Kingston brushed off the telltale signs of uterine cancer as typical aging, a mistake experts say can cost women their lives.
Alex Kingston, known for her roles on hit shows like “ER” and “Doctor Who,” revealed her battle with uterine cancer in a recent interview. (Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
Uterine cancer, sometimes referred to as “womb cancer,” is a general term describing cancer that forms in the uterus. It most often develops after menopause, according to Cleveland Clinic.
There are two forms: endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Endometrial is one of the most common reproductive cancers, while uterine sarcoma develops in the muscle wall of your uterus. Uterine sarcomas are very rare, the above source stated.
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About 3% of women will receive a diagnosis of uterine cancer at some point during their lives. Each year, about 65,000 women are diagnosed.
Symptoms to watch for
Symptoms of uterine cancer can resemble other conditions, which could be why it can go undetected or even ignored, as in Kingston’s case.
About 65,000 women receive a uterine cancer diagnosis annually, with 3% of women affected during their lifetime. (iStock)
Symptoms can include the following, according to Cleveland Clinic.
- Vaginal bleeding between periods before menopause
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause
- Lower abdominal pain or cramping just below your stomach
- Thin white or clear vaginal discharge for postmenopausal women
- Prolonged, heavy or frequent vaginal bleeding after 40
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Risk factors
Researchers aren’t sure of the exact cause of uterine cancer. The condition occurs when cells in the uterus mutate and multiply uncontrollably, which can form a mass called a tumor, Cleveland Clinic states.
Many uterine cancer risk factors are associated with hormonal imbalances — such as obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), both of which can increase estrogen exposure.
Other factors include age (most cases occur after age 50), diet (a high-fat diet can increase cancer risk), and family history of the disease. People who haven’t been pregnant also have a higher risk, experts say.
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There are a range of treatment approaches for uterine cancer. In Kingston’s case, she underwent radiation therapy and a hysterectomy. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy may also come into play during treatment.
Kingston ignored bloating and achiness for years before a diagnosis forced her life-saving surgery, she shared. (Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi/BAFTA via Getty Images)
During a hysterectomy, surgeons often perform procedures to remove ovaries and fallopian tubes. Most people need this extra step to make sure all cancer gets removed, per Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors may also perform a procedure to remove lymph nodes and determine whether cancer has spread.
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Early intervention
While uterine cancer can be fatal, an early diagnosis means potentially faster treatment and better outcomes.
Those experiencing any symptoms should speak with a healthcare provider and undergo a pelvic exam, experts recommend.
Uterine cancer symptoms include irregular bleeding and pelvic pain, but early diagnosis through medical evaluation can lead to better treatment outcomes. (iStock)
A provider may also use a combination of blood tests and imaging scans to confirm a diagnosis.
“Uterine cancer is really tricky because it is so sneaky,” Kingston told The Independent.
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“What I would say is, the body does know — and that was the body saying to me, ‘Help! There’s something really wrong.’ It’s so important to seek advice and have a check-up.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Kingston’s representative for comment.
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Just four minutes of daily strength exercises can dramatically improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, per new research from the Penn State College of Medicine.
Standard public health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, the study suggests that fewer than one in five older adults meet the recommended muscle-strengthening guidelines.
The research team designed a home-based program called Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST-2. They evaluated 97 sedentary participants 65 and older, with an average age of 74.
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Before entering the study, these individuals were averaging just 18 minutes of total physical activity each week.
The older adults were randomly split into two groups, with one group performing the daily exercise routine and the other serving as a control group that received no intervention, according to the study’s press release.
Just four minutes of daily home strength training can significantly improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. (iStock)
Participants performed four basic movements for 30 seconds each, separated by 30-second rest intervals. The entire routine lasted exactly four minutes. The circuit consisted of push-ups, chair stands, two-arm resistance-band rows and stair stepping.
To keep the routine accessible, researchers provided written explanations and simple modifications. For example, participants could perform push-ups against a kitchen counter or wall, or use their hands on their knees for support during chair stands.
Participants were also given four elastic resistance bands and an adjustable step platform.
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“Exercise is actually really complicated, because you have to decide how many repetitions, how far, how many sets, how much rest and how many times per week,” co-author Smita Dandekar, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, said in the press release.
“It’s hard work … so if we can make it short, we’re part [of the] way there.”
The program consisted of four basic movements: push-ups, chair stands, resistance-band rows and stair stepping. (iStock)
As the participants grew stronger, they were encouraged to progress to higher levels of difficulty, such as transitioning away from modifications or increasing the height of the stepper.
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After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits. In a 30-second chair-stand test, the exercise group performed an average of 4.2 more repetitions than the control group.
“These indicators … give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
The adults doing the exercises also shaved 2.3 seconds off their time during a test measuring how they could stand up and sit down five times consecutively. Furthermore, they extended their one-legged balance time by an average of 3.6 seconds.
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The researchers emphasized that these specific measurements are critical medical indicators of an older adult’s future health.
By keeping the routine ultra-short, researchers eliminated common barriers like time constraints and exhaustion, resulting in an exceptionally high 81% workout completion rate. (iStock)
“These indicators predict your future ability to go into a nursing home, your future likelihood of falling and of developing difficulty walking,” noted lead author Christopher Sciamanna, professor of medicine and of public health at Penn State College of Medicine, in the press release.
“They give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
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While traditional home exercise programs generally see low engagement, the participants in this study successfully completed their workouts on 81% of the tracked days, according to the researchers.
After 12 weeks, exercising seniors gained the ability to complete an average of four more chair-stand repetitions than those who did not exercise. (iStock)
The study had several noted limitations. As it tracked a relatively small sample size of fewer than 100 individuals over a brief 12-week time frame, it is unknown whether these mobility gains can be sustained long-term.
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Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
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Because the final trial results reflected a specific group of participants who met the entry criteria, further investigation is required to determine whether the short routine can safely benefit older adults facing more severe physical limitations or cognitive decline.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
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Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
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“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
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Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
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“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
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About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
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Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
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