What cancer does Twitch streamer Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins have? And other health questions Canadians asked this week

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From rare forms of cancer to signs of stages like menopause, health has always been something of interest to Canadians. But when you're not a health-care professional with the most extensive knowledge of medical ailments, what exactly do you do? Turn to Google, of course.

This week, Canadians have been asking health questions related to some of their favourite celebrities — and some they might be handling on their own. Continue on to read about some of the top three health-related questions asked across the country recently.

What cancer does Ninja have?

The most popular streamer on Twitch, Tyler Blevins, who's also known as "Ninja," shared on Tuesday he was diagnosed with cancer. In a post made on X, formerly known as Twitter, the American gamer stated he was "still in a bit of shock" but wanted to keep his fans — he boasts more than 19 million followers on Twitch alone — updated about his life.

Blevins explained he went to see a dermatologist for an annual check-up, particularly for a mole that was on the bottom of his foot. "It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages. ... I'm grateful to have hope in finding this early, but please take this as a PSA to get skin checkups," he wrote in a post that's been seen more than 5.5 million times.

Since he announced his diagnosis, Canadians have been Googling a variety of questions about melanoma. Since his post, there's been a 110 per cent increase in searches of people asking what melanoma is, with others seeking more information about how dangerous the illness is as well as signs and symptoms.

So, what is melanoma? It's essentially skin cancer that starts in melanocyte cells of the skin, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Melanocytes make melanin, which give colour to the skin, hair and eyes. Those cells can group together to form moles, appearing as bumps or spots that are usually pink or brown.

While moles are typically non-cancerous, melanocytes can sometimes cause melanoma. The first sign is often a change in the mole's size, shape or colour. While melanomas usually occur in areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, they can also appear in areas that are hidden, or even inside the body.

The Skin Cancer Foundation lists a good trick for recognizing the warning signs: The ABCDEs of melanoma:

A is for Asymmetry: Most melanomas will be asymmetrical, meaning if you cut it in half, one side won't match the other.

B is for Border: Melanoma borders are typically uneven, and sometimes they'll have notched edges.

C is for Colour: Multiple colours in a mole is a warning sign that it might be melanoma. Upon growth, colours like red, white or blue may also appear.

D is for Diameter or Dark: It's ideal to detect a melanoma when it's small, but it's a warning sign if the lesion is about the size of a pencil eraser, or roughly 6 mm.

E is for Evolving: If a spot on your skin changes in size, shape, colour or elevation, it could be a warning sign.

How to get over hangxiety

Most people love a good night out, especially if there's a weekend jam-packed with events like the 2024 Junos. But for anyone who's experienced the crippling sensation of waking up with dread and anxiety after a night of fun, it's clear why getting rid of what seems like an illness might be top of mind.

This week, the term "hangxiety" — a mashup of the words hangover and anxiety — spiked at more than 450 per cent south of the border, with a top trending related question asking how you get over it.

Andrew Kim, a University of Calgary assistant professor, told CBC News last year there are real, physiological reasons why hangovers make you more anxious: "Given that [alcohol] is a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows down our body, one of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is an increase in anxiety."

According to Lyres Spirit Co., the other symptoms of hangxiety include feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed about the previous night, a feeling of existential dread, an increased heart rate, restlessness, an inability to focus and paranoia.

The company also offered tips on how to prevent and manage those symptoms. Prior to enjoying a night out, it's best to eat before drinking, consume a lot of water and stick to an alcohol limit. But if you're already in the depths of your hangxiety, you should try the following:

• Rehydrate

• Eat a light meal

• Get rest

• Take pain medication

• Practice mindfulness

• Go easy on yourself

• Talk yourself through your worries

• Try stress-relieving activities

What age does perimenopause start?

Earlier this week, Halle Berry opened up about a startling health misdiagnosis. Speaking to U.S. first lady Jill Biden on Monday, the 54-year-old Hollywood star said her gynecologist initially thought she had "the worst case of herpes" they have ever seen.

"I realized, after the fact, that [the sensation] is a symptom of perimenopause," Berry said.

Since then, Canadians have been asking several questions regarding perimenopause, with many people wondering more about its symptoms, and what age it typically starts.

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, which often lasts anywhere from one to 10 years. It's a natural part of aging that's a result of a decline in the number and quality of a person's eggs. That causes hormone levels to fluctuate, and one's menstrual period becomes more irregular.

Typically in Canada, this starts around four years before one's last period, or around age 47. However, perimenopausal symptoms can begin as early as the late 30s or as high as the early 50s.

During the stage, people usually show symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, vaginal dryness and night sweats. The perimenopausal stage lasts until a person's menstrual cycle completely stops. At that point, the menopausal stage kicks in.

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