Amanda Platel claims to have spent £2,000 on a comprehensive health check-up.

When you reach your 60s, something peculiar occurs. After leading a relatively healthy life, you start noticing that your once robust friends begin experiencing health issues – and you yourself are not in the best condition either.

A friend of mine has experienced a recurrence of breast cancer, while another suffered a severe heart attack and now relies on stents to support his veins. Additionally, two individuals have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, fortunately at an early stage. The frequency of hip and knee surgeries among everyone has become too numerous for me to keep track of.

Thankfully, there is a solution for the continuously increasing waistlines and the issue of obesity – the new weight-loss medication Wegovy. Three individuals are currently taking advantage of its benefits.

There comes a time in our lives when we attend more funerals for people our age than weddings. Recently, I received devastating news that a former colleague, whom I held dear, suffered a fatal heart attack while playing football with his sons. He was just 60 years old.

Shocks like that start to haunt you and you wonder whether you’re doing enough to look after your own health. Guilty as charged. 

Despite engaging in boxing and weight training three times a week, as well as walking frequently, I am aware that I could and should make additional efforts to maintain my fitness and overall health. This includes shedding some weight, starting with losing half a stone. Approximately a month ago, as I neared my 66th birthday, I didn’t experience any significant signs of poor health. However, I did feel somewhat unwell: lacking energy, experiencing general body discomfort, and occasionally feeling chest pains near my heart when pushing myself too hard during training.

To be frank, the most challenging issue I faced during mid-life was the gradual onset of bloating, which had been occurring over the course of the past year.

I am currently carrying some extra weight around my abdomen, which I attribute to getting older. However, I am puzzled as to how my stomach can suddenly appear significantly larger, resembling a pregnant belly, shortly after eating.

Upon conducting a brief search on Google, my initial concern revolved around ovarian cancer due to the limited presence of symptoms other than bloating.

I had concerns about the condition of my lungs because I have been smoking on and off for many years. Additionally, I was worried about the health of my liver due to my excessive consumption of Chablis wine. It crossed my mind that these habits may have caused long-term harm. It’s interesting how we don’t consider these things when we are young.

After reaching your sixties, you suddenly become concerned about the potential harm you may have caused to your body throughout the years. A subtle anxiety arises, suggesting the possibility of an unnoticed and dreadful illness silently developing within you, only to be discovered when it is already too late.

I made the decision this year to not spend over £2,000 on a two-week vacation in a villa in Majorca. Instead, I chose to stay in my home country and use the money to get a comprehensive health check-up.

I do not need to undergo mammograms more frequently as I already have them every three years. Additionally, I received a negative result from the NHS poo test, which is offered to individuals aged 60 to 74 and gradually being extended to those in their 50s.

While we’re all entitled to a free NHS health check between the ages of 40-74, it’s not what most people would consider a full health MOT – and when I spoke to an NHS GP friend, it was clear there was no point going to my local practice for anything more as I had no specific symptoms of illness and with their current workload, what could they do: I’d be wasting their valuable time and mine. 

After having my blood pressure checked by Dr. Daniel Wright, a private doctor, and finding it to be a healthy 120/80, he proceeded to take a few vials of my blood for testing.

I had planned to undergo a comprehensive examination to assess my liver health and iron levels. Additionally, I made an appointment for a heart and lung scan. Last year, as a precautionary measure due to a family history of bowel cancer, I had a thorough colorectal scan done privately. Given my previous experience with skin cancer, I separately scheduled an appointment with a specialist in that field.

My MOT, with the scans, was essentially a premium version of those you can get from a private healthcare provider. 

(I am aware that the NHS is overwhelmed and understandably frustrated with individuals who visit clinics with private test results, causing congestion in the system. However, I must clarify that I personally funded all the tests and have private health insurance.)

First off was a CTCA – CT coronary angiogram, a scan predominantly for the heart but which also includes the lungs. 

Prior to the scan, a dye is administered into your arm, which becomes visible on the scanner and enhances the visibility of blood vessels and the heart. The overall process was relatively painless, except for the expensive price tag of £1,200.

Why did I undergo a heart scan despite not experiencing any symptoms?

I am aware that cardiovascular disease is responsible for 35 percent of female deaths, surpassing both breast cancer and the combined total of all cancers.

And women are less likely to be taken seriously when they present with symptoms because doctors are still often painfully slow in detecting the signs in women (women having a heart attack have around a 50 per cent greater chance of misdiagnosis compared with men, according to research published in 2018). 

My lungs held greater significance to me than my heart. I began smoking in my late twenties, but I have quit multiple times, once for a period of ten years. Currently, I only indulge in the occasional cigarillo after dinner or during moments of stress while working on my column.

The CTCA scan takes place inside a cylindrical structure that is approximately 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. It has a flat bottom that moves back and forth, and the most challenging part is maintaining complete stillness while being moved into the scanning tube, anxiously holding your breath.

I felt a great sense of relief when the results indicated that my lungs are healthy and there are no signs of emphysema or interstitial lung disease. I was not familiar with the term “interstitial lung disease,” but it refers to lung scarring which can be caused by smoking.

Additionally, there is a presence of a healthy heart with well-functioning veins, and no indication of any blockage or plaque buildup in the arteries.

Although there were no shadows on my lungs, the result was a clear incentive to give up while they are still healthy, so I’m now re-reading Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking, which worked for me about 20 years ago when I was a 30-a-day smoker. 

Everything is going well up until now, but now it’s time for the blood tests. The initial outcome brought a burst of laughter as it revealed that I am free from HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and any other sexually transmitted infections.

I was unaware that I was being examined for those conditions, but it’s reassuring to be informed, especially considering the increasing prevalence of STIs among older adults. The test result I was most anxious about was the blood test for ovarian cancer, specifically for a marker known as CA125.

I was unaware of the existence of this test until I consulted with Dr. Dan. Although he mentioned that it is not completely reliable, it serves as a useful indicator for cancer. Fortunately, my test results came back normal.

The outcomes for kidney, thyroid, and bone health were also satisfactory. (I cannot reword)

My uric acid levels were normal – a build-up of uric acid can lead to painful kidney stones and gout; ditto, my blood sugar. 

Unfortunately, there was some unfortunate news – the levels of two enzymes in my body, GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase), were slightly elevated. This increase is typically linked to alcohol consumption and potential harm to the liver. Ah, the Chablis – I frequently enjoy a few generous glasses during dinner or opt for a vodka and slimline tonic while socializing.

Dr. Dan suggested reducing my alcohol consumption by a small amount. I was relieved that he didn’t recommend quitting drinking altogether.

I was on the verge of toasting to that.

My good (HDL) cholesterol was slightly low and my bad (LDL) cholesterol was slightly raised, so for the past month I’ve been on a Mediterranean diet of oily fish – which I hate: if I see another salmon, mackerel, trout or sardine I will scream – fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grains, tomatoes, salads and good protein. 

Dr. Dan mentioned that we would reevaluate my blood test results after six months. If my cholesterol levels have not returned to normal by then, we would contemplate using statins.

He informed me that my vitamin D levels are extremely low, almost non-existent, which could explain my lack of energy. It’s not surprising since I rarely expose myself to sunlight, and it is the sunlight that triggers the production of vitamin D in the skin. As a result, I now take a combination of potent omega-3 oil and liquid vitamin D with B in the morning.

The results of the blood tests also indicated that I do not have any intolerance to gluten or lactose, and I do not have coeliac disease. It appears that the bloating was caused by my diet, as it has disappeared since I completely eliminated highly refined carbohydrates like white bread. I have now switched to German rye bread, known as Roggenbrot, and it has made a noticeable difference.

I observed significantly elevated levels of ferritin, a protein in the blood that carries iron. Excessive amounts may indicate overall inflammation in the body.

Dr. Dan mentioned that inflammation can be influenced by enhancing the bacteria in my gut. As a result, I have started consuming a probiotic on a daily basis. Additionally, I have incorporated kefir into my routine, which is a fermented milk drink with a taste resembling sour cottage cheese. Surprisingly, kefir is considered more beneficial than live yogurt (which is also beneficial) due to its diverse array of microorganisms. These microorganisms aid in deactivating the molecules responsible for promoting inflammation in the gut.

When I initially encountered Professor Julia Scarisbrick, a specialist in skin cancer, on Harley Street, it wasn’t the best news. Having grown up in Australia, I have undergone numerous procedures to remove benign basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) by freezing or cutting them out since the age of 25.

She identified four more BCCs on my chest and two suspicious new moles on my back — I’ve always been on the lookout for deadly melanoma as my dad had them later in life, but of course I couldn’t see these and was blissfully unaware of them. 

The professor eliminated the BCCs using cryotherapy, which involved applying liquid nitrogen to the cancerous area through a peculiar device resembling an old-fashioned soda fountain. It may cause a slight stinging sensation, but the wounds healed within a few weeks.

I returned the following week to have the moles removed using local anesthesia. A biopsy and subsequent appointments confirmed that they were not cancerous, which was another positive outcome.

Who knows what might have happened if I hadn’t gone to see her. So what have I learnt from my midlife MOT? 

I may seem foolish to some for spending so much money on getting myself examined, but I have not regretted it at all. My goal was to detect any initial indications of health issues before they developed into significant problems. The outcome of all these tests has compelled me to confront the need for significant changes in my diet and lifestyle.

I have been following my new routine for almost two months. The feeling of bloating has vanished, except when I quickly eat a bacon sandwich with white bread. I have also managed to shed around 5 pounds and now experience a significant increase in energy levels.

My skin is clearer and my hair shinier. And I have a spring in my step again. Of course, like any MOT, the old chassis or an engine part could blow at any time, you can’t insure against everything or the fatal hand of God. 

However, my MOT has provided me with reassurance and the chance to make decisions that will help me maintain good health in the exciting future phase of my life.