APRIL 2018

TWINSINTHENEWS
Twins diagnosed with
testicular cancer 20
days apart
the symptoms that men should
look out for. She said: “The age
group most at risk seems to be
15-45 and the message is for men
to check themselves and if they
have any symptoms then they
should get it checked out.”
NASA twins are no longer
genetically identical
It is well established that astronauts’
bodies change to adapt to
living without gravity, but it was
assumed that these changes wore
off when they returned to Earth.
The Twin Study has proven otherwise
− Scott returned in March
2016 and his body is still not back
to normal. Some of the genes that
appear to have been altered permanently
include those involving
DNA repair, bone formation and
how the cells use oxygen.
NASA have been studying
the pair to learn more about the
genetic changes caused by long
periods in space. This is the first
study of its kind to have ever been
attempted.
Fraternal twins Ryan and Sean
Collard from the U.K. were
only 23 when they were
diagnosed with testicular cancer
less than three years apart last
September.
Their mother had even asked
experts when Ryan was diagnosed
whether his brother was more at
risk and if he should be checked
too, but she was told the chances
were “extremely minimal”.
Now aged 24, the pair are urging
other young men to be on the
lookout for symptoms. Ryan said:
“First and foremost, people need
to be aware it is a young person’s
disease, you start to think about
these things later in life.
“The signs are not always obvious.
I’m an example of why you
have to think about it.”
Sean added: “No one likes getting
their bits out for the checks,
but don’t be embarrassed. It could
save your life.”
Their mother, Mrs Collard, said
the twins also want to highlight
NASA astronauts Scott and
Mark Kelly were born as identical
twins, only a few minutes apart.
However, new findings by NASA
have determined that the pair
are no longer identical after Scott
spent 340 days on board the International
Space Station.
According to experts, seven
per cent of his genes no longer
match those of his brother Mark.
But that’s not all − scientists fear
that Scott may now be biologically
older than his twin.
When he found out about this
change, Scott said: “What? My
DNA changed by 7 per cent. Who
knew?! I no longer have to call
Mark my identical twin brother
anymore.”
Healthy twin ‘felt sister’s
cancer’ months before
her sister was diagnosed
Megan Walker, 11, started
exhibiting cancer
symptoms and baffled
doctors when they could find no
cause for her illness. She suffered
for months, dramatically losing
weight and complaining of exhaustion
and nausea before her
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