MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cancer screening'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:06 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050578&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-rise-in-cancer-rates-may-not-mean-more-cancer%2F2011.07.21 Several newspapers in the UK reported this week that cancer rates have risen over the past two decades. That set into motion an analysis by the excellent “Behind the Headlines” service offered by the NHS Choices website. They found this in newspapers: “Cancer rates in the middle-aged “have jumped by almost a fifth in a generation”, according to The Daily Telegraph, which says that the increase “is thought to be mainly due to better detection of cancers rather than people adopting more unhealthy lifestyles”. The Sun takes the alternate view, saying that doctors are “blaming the rise on obesity and home boozing”. The Daily Mail similarly suggests that lifestyle changes are to blame.” You don’t have to live in the UK to learn f... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050578 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:00:13 +0100 5050578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008550&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-best-evidence-says-mammograms-should-begin-at-age-forty%2F There was much hoopla a few years ago over recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to limit mammography screening to women ages 50 to 74 every other year. But there is less fanfare over new findings coming out of a study in Sweden, which suggests that regular mammograms in women ages 40 to 49 (the age group excluded by the new task force guidelines) prevented up to 30 percent of deaths from breast cancer. People, this is significant! The task force ignored studies like these ongoing in Sweden and Canada for their model, which was based on statistical data. The Swedish mammogram study spanned 29 years and included over 130,000 women. The task force’s answer to recent studies has been to recommend a baseline mammogram for women in their forties to look at breast density,... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008550 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:39:24 +0100 5008550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008199&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcounter-intuitive-results-several-cancer-screening-tests-dont-improve-health-outcomes%2F2011.07.07 Nearly forty years ago, President Richard Nixon famously declared a “War on Cancer” by signing the National Cancer Act of 1971. Like the Manhattan Project, the Apollo program that was then landing men on the Moon, and the ongoing (and eventually successful) World Health Organization-led initiative to eradicate smallpox from the face of the Earth, the “War on Cancer” was envisioned as a massive, all-out research and treatment effort. We would bomb cancer into submission with powerful regimens of chemotherapy, experts promised, or, failing that, we would invest in early detection of cancers so that they could be more easily cured at earlier stages. It was in the spirit of the latter that the National Cancer Institute launched the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008199 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:19 +0100 5008199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975865&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-bagels-and-boobs-mammogram-party%2F2011.06.28 I don’t always practice what I preach. Regular mammograms, for instance. Last year I realized I had skipped a few, so I decided to turn my procrastination into an opportunity to reach out to those of my patients guilty of the same thing. I made arrangements with my hospital to monopolize half their schedule one Saturday morning, put flyers up in my office and talked it up like crazy to every eligible woman I saw. On the appointed day, I brought a whole bunch of bagels, half a dozen spreads (I asked the ladies to bring their own coffee), and we proceeded to have a blast! Or as much fun as you can have getting your boobs squished. Hey; it’s all in the name of early detection. Last year’s final tally was a bakers dozen (twelve patients plus me), out of which about 5 people were called b... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975865 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:00:48 +0100 4975865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872093&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffrom-the-cdc-top-ten-greatest-public-health-achievements%2F2011.05.27 The Center for Disease Control published the top ten public health achievements from 2001-2010, the first decade of the 21st century.  In no order they are: Vaccine-preventable Diseases – new vaccines for herpes zoster, pneumonia, HPV and rotavirus have saved thousands of lives  When you add in the older vaccines for diptheria, pertussus, tetanus and measles/mumps millions of lives have been saved around the world.  (I saw diptheria in Haiti and it is horrible) Tobacco Control- We have been battling tobacco since 1964 but there is finally progress with more states enacting smoke-free laws and raising cigarette taxes.  By 2010, the FDA banned flavored cigarettes and established restrictions on youth access.  We have a long way to go.  Smoking costs us all about $193 billion... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872093 Fri, 27 May 2011 11:00:00 +0100 4872093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841888&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2F2011-asco-screening-with-ca-125-transvaginal-ultrasound-does-not-reduce-ovarian-cancer-death-rate-results-in-high-number-of-false-positives%2F Findings from a large, long-term study – the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Screening Trial – showed that using a CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound for early detection of ovarian cancer did not reduce the risk of dying from the disease, and resulted in a large number of false positives and related follow-up [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841888 Thu, 19 May 2011 15:56:18 +0100 4841888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600538&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-guideline-truths-and-myths%2F2011.03.16 Colon cancer screening has a particular personal interest for me — one of my colleagues in residency training had her father die of colon cancer when she was a teenager. No one should lose a loved one to a disease that, when caught early, is often treatable. But for both men and women, colon cancer is the third most common cancer behind lung cancer and prostate cancer in men, and behind lung cancer and breast cancer in women, it’s the second most lethal. The problem is that patients are often confused about which test is the right one. Is it simply a stool test? Flexible sigmoidoscopy? Colonoscopy? Virtual colonoscopy? Isn’t there just a blood test that can be done? (No.) In simple terms, this is what you need to know: All men and women age 50 and older should be scr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600538 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4600538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592401&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnearly-12-million-cancer-survivors-in-the-u-s%2F2011.03.14 The number of cancer survivors in the United States increased to 11.7 million in 2007, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Women survive more often, and survive longer, according to the report. There were 3 million cancer survivors in 1971 and 9.8 million in 2001. Researchers attributed longer survival to a growing aging population, early detection, improved diagnostic methods, more effective treatment and improved clinical follow-up after treatment. The study, “Cancer Survivors in the United States, 2007,” is published today in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To determine the number of survivors, the authors analyze... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592401 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4592401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570544&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fquestioning-the-annual-pelvic-exam%2F2011.03.10 A new article in the Journal of Women’s Health by Westhoff, Jones, and Guiahi asks “Do New Guidelines and Technology Make the Routine Pelvic Examination Obsolete?” The pelvic exam consists of two main components: The insertion of a speculum to visualize the cervix and the bimanual exam where the practitioner inserts two fingers into the vagina and puts the other hand on the abdomen to palpate the uterus and ovaries. The rationales for a pelvic exam in asymptomatic women boil down to these: Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea Evaluation before prescribing hormonal contraceptives Screening for cervical cancer Early detection of ovarian cancer None of these are supported by the evidence. Eliminating bimanual exams and limiting speculum exams in asymptomatic patients would reduce cos... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570544 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:00:48 +0100 4570544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570713&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=35283&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.org%2FAboutUs%2FDrLensBlog%2Fpost%2F2011%2F03%2F10%2FCancer-Survivors-Are-%28Fortunately%29-Very-Much-A-Part-Of-Our-Lives.aspx An article just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their weekly publication "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" provides an assessment of the progress we have made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.   Clearly, since 1971, we have made substantial advances in the cancer treatment.  We have become a larger and older nation.  We have pushed the threshold for the diagnosis of cancer, with breast and prostate cancers as leading examples.   The result is that we have many millions more people alive with cancer today than was ever the case in our history.   But with the progress also comes cautions about what the data means, and where our journey must go if we are to address some of the key issues reflected in these statistics. &nbsp... Dr. Len's Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570713 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:40:00 +0100 4570713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532213&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-experienced-is-the-radiologist-who-reads-your-mammogram%2F2011.02.28 There’s a new study out on mammography with important implications for breast cancer screening. The main result is that when radiologists review more mammograms per year, the rate of false positives declines. The stated purpose of the research*, published in the journal Radiology, was to see how radiologists’ interpretive volume — essentially the number of mammograms read per year — affects their performance in breast cancer screening. The investigators collected data from six registries participating in the NCI’s Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, involving 120 radiologists who interpreted 783,965 screening mammograms from 2002 to 2006. So it was a big study, at least in terms of the number of images and outcomes assessed. First — and before reaching any concl... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532213 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:57 +0100 4532213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470411&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-video-poem-medical-tests-and-what-normal-means%2F2011.02.12 I’ve written a few times about Veneta Masson, a nurse practitioner who wrote in Health Affairs and the Washington Post about her decision to forego further mammograms despite the fact that she was in a higher-risk category. Veneta is also a poet. She sent me a video animation of her poem “Reference Range,” which I’m pleased to share with you. I think the poem and the video are beautiful, touching on important issues of how meaningless numbers and scores may be, subject to misinterpretation. She writes: I see no cause for alarm. “Is it normal?” you ask. Normal’s a shell game you seldom win. *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470411 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:00:04 +0100 4470411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419142&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprizes-for-prostates-have-a-psa-test-get-game-tickets%2F2011.01.30 We’ve seen it before. A couple of years ago, I wrote about Roswell Park’s Prostate Club for Men offering “Prizes For Prostates” — Buffalo Sabres hockey tickets or Buffalo Bills football tickets among other awards for men who showed proof that they talked to their doctor about prostate cancer. Now a bunch of Georgia radiotherapy centers and the Morehouse School of Medicine are among those promoting the “Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition” and luring men in for PSA blood tests by offering them Atlanta Hawks basketball tickets. They also promote this misleading statistic: “One in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.” No explanation is given of what lifetime risk means. And no explanation is given of how many of th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419142 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:00:57 +0100 4419142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399560&cid=t_125652_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FtVdI1tBW4Tk%2Fuspstf-breast-screening-guidelines.html The question continues as to when breast screening should begin.  The current pushback comes from radiologists Dr. Mark Helvie of the University of Michigan Health System and colleague Dr. Edward Hendrick of the University of Colorado. The two researchers have published an article (full reference below) in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology questioning the U.S. advisory panel’s breast cancer screening guidelines and suggesting the panel ignored scientific evidence that more frequent mammograms save lives. For the article, the two conducted a review of the risk models used by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to issue controversial breast screening guidelines in 2009.  They used Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network modeli... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399560 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:51:00 +0100 4399560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372046&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsimple-blood-test-for-cancer-breakthrough-or-nightmare%2F2011.01.19 That’s the question Dartmouth’s Dr. Gil Welch asks in a column on the CNN website. He reflects on [recent] news about a test in development that might find a single cancer cell among a billion healthy ones — as so many news stories framed it. Welch analyzes: “But it’s not that simple. The test could just as easily start a cancer epidemic. … Most assume there are no downsides to looking for things to be wrong. But the truth is that early diagnosis is a double-edged sword. While it has the potential to help some, it always has a hidden side-effect: overdiagnosis, the detection of abnormalities that are not destined to ever bother people in their lifetime. Becoming a patient unnecessarily has real human costs. There’s the anxiety of being told you ar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372046 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:00:29 +0100 4372046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304878&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-cancer-hits-a-doctors-home%2F2011.01.02 This year has been a weird one for me and cancer. In the ER, we see cancer patients pretty infrequently. The occasional chemotherapy with fever, but that’s about it. I think the oncologists try hard to keep the patients out of the ER — to everybody’s benefit. But this year, I’ve had a weird rash of cases where I’ve made primary diagnoses of cancer in the ER — several times over and over and over again. In ten years I don’t think I’ve made as many cancer diagnoses as I have this year alone. Just very strange. Unfortunately, it came home to roost. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304878 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4304878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134139&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=35283&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.org%2FAboutUs%2FDrLensBlog%2Fpost%2F2010%2F11%2F04%2FCT-Scans-Decrease-Lung-Cancer-Death-Rates-But-Look-Before-You-Leap.aspx This study does nothing to advance our treatment of lung cancer, which remains far from satisfactory.  And it does nothing for people who are not smokers and develop lung cancer.  And it doesn't say anything to us about people at lower risk of lung cancer, such as everyone who does not meet the criteria outlined for the study.   So if you are a younger person, who has "only" smoked a pack a day for 20 years, this study tells you nothing.  And if you are a non-smoker who works in a heavy smoking environment, such as a bar in some communities that don't have smoke-free laws, this study says nothing to you.   We also don't know from this study what the ideal screening program is for lung cancer.  Unlike colon cancer, where we have several studies and science that... Dr. Len's Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134139 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:32:00 +0100 4134139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133713&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscreen-everyone-for-pancreatic-cancer-what-about-evidence-and-harm%2F2010.11.03 Continuing this week’s spontaneous theme (we didn’t make the claims and write the stories) of runaway enthusiasm for various screening tests by some researchers and journalists, HealthDay news service has reported on a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the journal Nature that they say “provides new insight into the genetics of pancreatic cancer.” In the story, they let one of the researchers get away with saying, almost unchallenged: “What’s important about this study is that it’s objective data in support of why everyone should be screened for pancreatic cancer.” Mind you, this was a study that looked at tissue from just seven patients. The story continued with its breathless enthusiasm for the pancreatic cancer screening idea: &#822... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133713 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:00:41 +0100 4133713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065319&cid=t_125652_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F13%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2010-vol-304-no-14%2F This article evaluates the extent to which patients with advanced cancer continue to be screened for new cancers. The article concludes that a sizeable proportion of patients with advanced cancer continue to undergo screening tests that do not have a meaningful likelihood of providing benefit. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy of the article. Filed under: Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Cancer, Screening (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065319 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:39:23 +0100 4065319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053290&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmammogram-parties-have-a-mammogram-get-flowers-and-chocolates%2F2010.10.09 The Chicago Tribune reports on mammogram marketing tactics being used across the U.S. — some of it apparently to “woo women back to the imaging room” after confusion over conflicting advice about breast cancer screening. Yes, the tactics include “mammogram parties” offering chocolate fondue, massages, beauty consultations, wine, cheese, roses, and weekend-getaway spa packages. But there’s another side to this, the Tribune reports: Simply inviting women to “mammogram parties,” could send the wrong message, said Lynne Hildreth, department administrator of women’s oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. …”Mammograms are a medical test, and to treat it like a haircut overlooks that there are very real risks,” said Hild... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053290 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:00:08 +0100 4053290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036649&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-the-swedish-mammography-study-shouldve-been-analyzed%2F2010.10.05 We reviewed four stories on the Swedish mammography study that appeared in the journal Cancer last week. Three of the four stories gave a pretty clear indication that there were methodological concerns about the Swedish research (of the four reviewed, only HealthDay offered no such hint): • 4th paragraph of AP story: “The new study has major limitations and cannot account for possibly big differences in the groups of women it compares.” • 1st paragraph of LA Times blog story: “Critics charged that the study was poorly designed and potentially vastly misleading.” • 2nd sentence of NY Times story: “Results were greeted with skepticism by some experts who say they may have overestimated the benefit.” But none of the stories did a very complete job of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036649 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:00:34 +0100 4036649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961813&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmammography-wars-an-important-discussion-to-keep-alive%2F2010.09.12 This is a thoughtful “sounding board” piece in the New England Journal of Medicine this week: Lessons from the Mammography Wars. It is so important to keep this discussion alive. The miscommunication that took place last November of what the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force tried to convey, and the complicity of some news organizations in adding to that confusion, provide lessons from which we simply must learn to do better. *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961813 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 03:26:23 +0100 3961813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957913&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcervical-cancer-screening-the-jade-goody-effect%2F2010.09.10 The Telegraph reports that the number of screening pap smears performed in the UK has declined after an 8 percent blip upwards in 2009 when publicity surrounding the death of Jade Goody from cervical cancer may have led more women to have this important screening test: NHS laboratories processed 415,497 tests in 2009-2010, about 35,000 fewer than the previous year when 450,522. Miss Goody’s death in March last year prompted a 20 percent increase in the number of Scottish women taking tests. More than 122,000 were processed between April and June last year, the statistics revealed. The irony of course, is that British reality TV star Jade Goody did have pap smears, but chose to ignore her doctor’s recommendations for treatment when her pap smears came back abnormal. Nonetheless, the d... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957913 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3957913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3935798&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Frectal-cancer-becoming-more-common-in-younger-people%2F2010.09.05 Rates of rectal cancer in those younger than 40 have been increasing, the LA Times reported recently. Researchers studied data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Registry and looked at the change in rectal and colon cancer incidence in those under 40 from 1973 to 2005. Overall rates were low, but while colon cancer incidence remained constant, rectal cancer incidence increased by an average of 3.8 percent annually, the authors reported in the journal Cancer. The authors didn’t advocate routine screening in those under 40, but did recommend that physicians be more alert to the possibility of rectal cancer in those presenting with symptoms such as rectal bleeding, according to the Times. (LA Times) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3935798 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3935798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933088&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-ozs-first-colonoscopy-finds-pre-cancerous-polyp-what-can-this-teach-us%2F2010.09.03 By Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS Doc Dot Com (CBS) Dr. Mehmet Oz just might be the last person on earth people would expect to get a colon polyp. He’s physically fit (he left me in the dust the last time we ran together), he eats a healthy diet, he doesn’t smoke, and he has no family history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps. But several weeks ago, when Mehmet had his first screening colonoscopy at age 50, I removed a small adenomatous polyp that had the potential to turn into cancer over time. Statistically, most small polyps like his don’t become cancer. But almost all colon cancers begin as benign polyps that gradually become malignant over about 10 to 15 years. Since there’s no way of knowing which polyps will turn bad, we take them all out. The good news is there&#8... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933088 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:50 +0100 3933088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737212&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=35283&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.org%2FAboutUs%2FDrLensBlog%2Fpost%2F2010%2F07%2F07%2FThe-2010-Statistics-Are-Out-And-767000-People-Have-Celebrated-More-Birthdays.aspx Every year the American Cancer Society provides a report that is one of the most widely quoted scientific articles in this country.  This year's "Cancer Statistics, 2010" report was released this morning, and provides a considerable amount of information regarding the burden of cancer in the United States, such as the expected number of new cancer cases and number of cancer deaths in the United States in 2010.   As part of the same report, my colleagues at the American Cancer Society also dissect the numbers and provide insight into the trends in cancer incidence and deaths, what is happening and perhaps why it is happening.  Statistics--no matter how good you are at writing reports--are always somewhat droll and boring.  But there are the occasional pearls that leap ou... Dr. Len's Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737212 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:50:00 +0100 3737212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794956&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator-2%2Fanother-article-about-oral-cancer%2F Yes. This morning, in my email, I found to notifications about oral cancer information, but they weren’t the same old heart wrenching statistics we already know about. Every dental professional knows that oral cancer screening is an essential part of a thorough dental checkup. The highly publicized statistics about oral cancer frequency, mortality rate, and cure rate are common knowledge in the field. A recent Web Exclusive article titled “Part 1: The importance of oral cancer screenings” appeared on www.DentalProductsReport.com this month. Written by Eileen Morrissey, a dental hygienist, the text supports the importance of oral cancer screenings and provides a good example of how a dentist can adopt new oral cancer screening technology. Morrissey provides this advice: “If you are ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794956 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:53:18 +0100 3794956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632266&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmammography-and-jack-blacks-boob-saver-5k%2F2010.06.04 This video has been available for months, but I just saw it for the first time. I suspect many women would get a chuckle from seeing the always buffed, ripped, and jacked comedian Jack Black partially disrobe to put his breast in a mammography machine — or as he calls it, the “Boob Saver 5K.” *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632266 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:00:34 +0100 3632266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499189&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fdentists-spread-disease%25e2%2580%25a6awareness-with-preventive-tests%2F As research and science continue to develop, we’re learning the importance of oral health to the health of the body as a whole. Dentistry is gaining higher regard as a necessity of good health; oral healthcare is getting off the bench and getting in the game. To further the importance of dental care, dentist-administered tests can reveal a person’s proclivity for dental decay, as well as serious conditions, like severe gum disease and HPV. Some of the tests provide early detection of conditions, like oral cancer, which allows for proactive treatment that literally saves lives. Periodontal Disease Risk Assessment: MyPerioID® PST & MyPerioPath® HPV Assessment: OraRisk SM HPV Diabetes Test: If a patient has bleeding gums, you may conduct a finger-stick blood test to check glucose le... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499189 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:28:21 +0100 3499189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408680&cid=t_125652_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fbmj-piece-asks-serious-questions-about-the-effectiveness-of-mammography%2F Last week one of my blogs focused on prostate cancer screening, and specifically the prostatic specific antigen (‘PSA’) test. For a variety of reasons, the doctor who discovered PSA says the practice of using it to detect cancer should be stopped. In that post, I mentioned that doubts have also previously been raised about the [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408680 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:47:15 +0100 3408680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383135&cid=t_125652_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2F19%2Fprostate-cancer-screening-called-into-question%2F Screening for illness is based on a simple concept: catch the disease early and more timely treatment will (inevitably) lead to better outcomes. However, as with most things in life, things turn out to be not a clear-cut as they sometimes seem. Tests are not foolproof, of course. And sometimes tests can detect things that [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383135 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:58:10 +0100 3383135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3382768&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fscreening-for-colon-cancer.html We looked a few days ago at the most cringe-making video ever produced by the NHS. Now, from the USA (thanks to KevinMD),take a look the Colonoscopy Song.I rather like it. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3382768 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:21:00 +0100 3382768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331251&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fincompetent-gps-and-prostate-cancer.html Do you remember the Nigel Molesworth "self-adjusting thank-you letter"?  OK, OK, most of you are not that old, but it amused a very young Dr Crippen. I cannot find a copy of it, but it went something like this:Dear (Aunt) (Uncle) (Stinker) (Gran) (Clot) (Pen-Pal) Thank you very much for the (train) (tractor) (germ gun) (kite) (delicious present*) (sweets) (space pistol) (toy socks). It was (lovely) (useful) (just as good as the other three) (not bad) (super)And I hav (played with it constantly) (busted it already) (no patience with it) (given it to the poor boys) (dismantled it) I am feeling (very well) (very poorly) (lousy) (in tip-top form) (sick) I hope you are too.My birthday when next present is due is on . . . . . . Love from . . . . . .All good fun. Medical and other journalist... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331251 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:31:00 +0100 3331251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235804&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8290 Tomorrow, February 4th is World Cancer Day. This year’s theme is “Cancer can be prevented too” and the UICC which is leading the campaign says that many cancers can be prevented with just some simple measures. * Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke * Limit alcohol consumption * Avoid excessive sun exposure * Maintain a healthy weight, through eating healthily and exercising regularly * Protect against cancer-causing infections Other than prevention, many cancers are curable if detected early, and some (e.g. colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer) are detectable at an early stage if appropriate screening is done. See MMR posts on Cancer screening from the Malaysian Medical Resources Cancer can be prevented (Source: Malaysian Medical Resource... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235804 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3235804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092900&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fone-last-fling.html Cancer is really cool in one, specific way: it slows time, crystallizing life in the still frames, making each moment sweeter and more precious. When life is good, life is really, really good. It's that old dog, Perspective, barking at my door. One last day to soak up my kids, one last day to make everything count. One last day to make memories. It always feels like it could be the last day of your life, as you pack your bags and their bags so that you can be apart for a week just before Christmas. It brings home the reality that you've been ignoring for the past three months: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32)Rosenmunnar: an old Swedish recipe that has only three ingredients: 1 cup butter, 1/2... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092900 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:55:00 +0100 3092900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019205&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=38061&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBreastCancerReconstructionBlog%2F%7E3%2F0lpNqFbIHA8%2Fmammogram-screening-for-breast-cancer.html The current mammogram screening recommendation put forward by the American Cancer Society is for yearly mammograms for all women aged 40 years and older. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer are urged to start mammogram screening from the age of 35. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government-appointed expert panel, recently made new recommendations for mammogram screening for breast cancer: Women between 40 and 49 years old should not be having routine screening mammograms.  Instead, they say that women should make an informed decision about screening mammography before 50, and weigh their potential risks and benefits with their doctors. Women who are 50 to 74 years old should be having a screening mammogram every other year (not yearly), because t... Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019205 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:39:52 +0100 3019205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008038&cid=t_125652_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.annals.org%2Fcontent%2Fsuppl%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2F151.10.DC1%2Fannals_20091117.mp3 Kaleidoscope is a new series, with a “kaleidoscope” of facts, findings, views and news gathered over the last 1-2 weeks. Most items originate from Twitter, my Google Reader (RSS) and sometimes real articles (yeah!). I read a lot, I bookmark a lot, but only some of those things end op in a post. Since tweets have [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008038 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:44:07 +0100 3008038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003685&cid=t_125652_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F18%2Fdirect-link-to-the-breast-cancer-screening-recommendations-that-have-been-in-the-news%2F U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Screening for Breast Cancer Release Date: November 2009 The following bullet points are copy/pasted from the page, but more explanation of the recommendations and how “strong” they each are is available in the supporting documents. Summary of Recommendations The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient’s values regarding specific benefits and harms. The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additiona... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003685 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:53:37 +0100 3003685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999778&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flimiting-breast-cancer-screening-is-an-assault-against-women%2F There is no question more women than ever before are surviving breast cancer. This is happening because of early screening and better and more aggressive treatment. So I was absolutely shocked today to hear that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (a committee appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) is now recommending that women do not get regular mammograms until their fifties and even then limit screening to every other year. In addition they are suggesting that breast self exams not be taught. ARE THEY CRAZY? There is no way to completely express my feelings about this. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 44, and the tumor was discovered through self breast exam and confirmed through a mammogram. This was only 18 months since a p... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999778 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:25:20 +0100 2999778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920458&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Feasy-fun-ways-to-prevent-cancer.html As a cancer patient/survivor, I am passionate about telling people about cancer and how to prevent it. I thought I would summarize in a few quick bullet points. Please go down the checklist and make sure you are maximizing your chances of catching cancer early by checking your own body for signs of changes. You can find more resources about screening services available through your medical doctor here. Lastly, to assess your own cancer-specific risk, fill out this simple screening tool and read up about the cancers you may be most at risk for.Neck Thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer in women in the U.S. Your thyroid gland should be felt by a skilled care provider at least once a year. You should also perform a monthly neck self-exam along with your monthly breast or testic... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920458 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +0100 2920458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862716&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=38061&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBreastCancerReconstructionBlog%2F%7E3%2FKhQK7csAF_E%2Fcan-breast-cancer-be-found-early.html Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations from the American Cancer SocietyScreening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms. The goal of screening exams, such as mammograms, is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Breast cancers that are found because they can be felt tend to be larger and are more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. In contrast, breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be small and still confined to the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are important factors in predicting the prognosis (survival outlook) for a woman with this disease.Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each yea... Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862716 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:31:53 +0100 2862716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621917&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fneed-oral-cancer-pictures-for-your-dental-website%2F Remember when DentalBlogs covered the new oral cancer screening technology, Identafi? Well, the maker of Identafi, Trimira, is now offering FREE (that’s right, free) clinical pictures of oral cancer cases. If you have a dental website, you may know just how difficult it can be to get your hands on quality clinical photos. Trimira has it right - pictures are a great marketing tool, and they should be free! Anybody can access the picture demo, but, of course, the really sweet stuff is reserved for registered Trimira clients. Here’s the press release… Trimira™ Offers Online Library of Oral Cancer Images HOUSTON, TX: July 15, 2009 Trimira™ LLC, manufacturers of the Identafi 3000™ Oral Cancer Screening Device, have developed the Trimira Clinical Image Library, a comprehe... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621917 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:16:26 +0100 2621917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376459&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Foral-cancer-awareness%2F Over the past few years, we’ve seen ViziLite, then VELscope, hit the market. Dr. Joe Blaes publicized the importance of oral cancer screening and patient education last year through his editor’s articles in Dental Economics . OralCancerFoundation.org tells us some striking statistics that make oral cancer seem like a significant problem. Over 30K people are diagnosed annually, and 7500 die. Even with increased awareness, early detection, and publicity, the mortality and incidence rates for oral cancer have not decreased. Now the ADA and CDCP are stepping up their game. Earlier this month, a panel conveniened to discuss how to provide dentists with the best evidience on oral cancer screenings.  Read about the panel here. (Source: dental blog for dentists about dentistry) dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376459 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:12:58 +0100 2376459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353778&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6775 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Binge Drinking Most Common Among Higher Income White Males, Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer Screening Ineffective, Stem Cells Could Repair Heart Damage (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353778 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2353778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347669&cid=t_125652_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F13%2Fstill-confusion-about-the-usefulness-of-psa-screening%2F Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer affecting older men and second-biggest cancer killer. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a protein mainly produced by the prostate gland, is often elevated in prostate cancer - and often proportional to the prostate cancer volume. Since more men are diagnosed with prostate cancer by using PSA screening, middle-aged [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347669 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:53:03 +0100 2347669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320737&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Flarry-emmott%2Fkeeping-you-plugged-in-dr-larry-emmott-oral-cancer-screening%2F Here at DentalBlogs, we’ve covered ViziLite and VELscope in the past. Dr. Larry Emmott takes the topic a bit further in his Dental Products Report column, “Emmott on Technology” (April 2009). Dr. Emmott reminds us that the new and improved oral cancer screening technology can’t actually diagnose oral cancer - only a biopsy can. However, these tools do, indeed, improve detection. He also says that the traditional exam simply isn’t enough. “It is the routine patient with no obvious risk factors who is most likely to be missed,” says Dr. Emmott. In addition, your patients may not know that in the head and neck exam, you check soft tissues for oral cancer. Using a ViziLite or VELscope provides an ideal situation to educate the patient about oral cancer... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320737 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:21:58 +0100 2320737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2299063&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F25%2Fto-screen-or-not-to-screen-ultrasound-ca125-blood-test-fail-to-detect-early-stage-ovarian-cancer%2F On March 10, 2009, Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ reported on the preliminary findings of a large British study that suggest that the combination of transvaginal ultrasound and CA125 blood test (a blood serum marker for ovarian cancer) can detect early ovarian cancer.  A recent U.S. study, published in the April 2009 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, found [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2299063 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:48:19 +0100 2299063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284443&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2Fdesire-to-detect-prostate-cancer-early.html I never cease to be amazed at the sense of superiority that drips from the pores of some people who work in the sciences. I find this quite irritating, which was brought to a head for me this morning when I read a story about prostate cancer screening.For years, we have been told repeatedly and often to get screening tests for cancer because, logically enough, the earlier you catch the disease the greater the likelihood of surviving. That remains true of cancers such as of the breast--get those mammograms--and the colon--get those colonoscopies. But apparently, research increasingly indicates that this general rule may not necessarily apply to the early detection of prostate cancer.Whether this is true or not is worthy of reasoned discussion. But catch this looking-down-his-nose comment by... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284443 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:33:00 +0100 2284443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290614&cid=t_125652_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventing-and-detecting-colon-cancer%2F March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and as it’s such an important issue I’d like to bring it up today.  I’ve written on this topic several times before but according to the American Cancer Society it is the third most common cancer found in men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States so I think it warrants attention. If you are over the age of 50 (or over 40 with risk factors), you should be screened for colon cancer on a regular basis. The schedule for the various screening methods is shown here (discuss this with your physician and decide which one is best for you): Tests that find pre-cancer and cancer: • Colonoscopy every 10 years • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years • Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years • Double-contra... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290614 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:57:27 +0100 2290614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2277206&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhow-to-get-a-mammogram-if-you-cant-afford-one%2F My husband and I really enjoy grocery shopping together. Yesterday we spent some time going through our huge supermarket and kept adjusting our meal plans based on some of the high prices and choosing sale items instead. A lot of American families are doing this right now. Fortunately, our main chain originates in Michigan and is trying to accommodate the shrinking budgets of families here. Trying to balance food, bills, utilities and health costs for a family is placing huge strain on households throughout the nation. Not many household budgets today include screening for a mammogram. I think a lot of women are forgoing important tests so they can feed their kids, and you can’t blame them. I had to rethink my blog of Friday urging everyone to tell someone to get a mammogram. It occurred... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2277206 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:06:41 +0100 2277206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263929&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fjade-goody-lessons-to-be-learnt.html Details of the tragedy of Jade Goody have now reached the United States. As so often via Kevin, (and if you ever want a quick overview on what is happening in the USA medical world, Kevin MD should be your first port of call) I arrive at a thoughtful, though in places wildly incorrect, article by Dr Margaret Poplaneczky an American physician and gourmet who lives, works and cooks in New York. She writes the excellent “Blog that ate Manhattan”Margaret writes sympathetically about Jade.Whatever you think of Jade, the publicity generated by her illness has led to a 20% upswing in the number of women getting Pap smears in Britain.And this is a good thing. Because if Jade's story causes even one young woman to get the smear that saves her life, it will mean Jade’s death will not have been... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263929 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:57:00 +0100 2263929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2204977&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fjade-goody-professor-michael-baum.html Jade Goody & Professor Michael BaumThe media loves nothing more than building something up only to knock it down again. Occasionally, it will do the opposite. Jade Goody provides the classic example. She has been universally derided by the media for years but now, because she is seriously ill, suddenly she can do no wrong. Private Eye has long been aware of this phenomenon :Private EyeEven cynical old Dr Crippen has been taken aback by the obvious hand-rubbing pleasure that the main-stream media has taken in jumping on the “let’s criticise the breast screening programme” bandwagon. It all comes courtesy of Mike Baum. I know Mike Baum. Once upon a time, Mrs Crippen was a hospital registrar and worked closely with him. Make no mistake, Professor Michael Baum is one of the most ou... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2204977 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:04:00 +0100 2204977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121514&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fvizilite%25c2%25ae-plus-and-tblue%25c2%25ae-win-hygienetown-award%2F If you subscribe to the online or print versions of Dentaltown or Hygienetown, you’re familiar with the Townie Awards issue that premiered in December 2008. Hygienetown awarded ViziLite (by Zila Pharmaceuticals, AZ) in the Dental Hygiene/Oral Cancer Screening category. In addition, Zila’s ProSelect® Platinum Ultrasonic Scaler and Heated Irrigator was honored in the Periodontics/Power Scalers/Ultrasonic Piezo category. The awards are based solely on clinicians’ votes. At DentalBlogs, we’ve had significant coverage of ViziLite over the past year. Awareness of shocking oral cancer statistics – 30,000 new cases in the US annually - prevention, and detection was a hot topic in 2008, and it continues to grow in popularity. ViziLite’s oral cancer detection tool, ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121514 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:04:52 +0100 2121514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2087257&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2FQ5E8hMOMI4c%2F It’s not such an odd gift, if you think about it. If you’re celebrating a birthday, why not increase your chances of seeing many more by using that time to go for check ups and cancer screening, particularly for colon cancer, prostate, skin, and breast cancer - although there are several more that are easily tested. This isn’t just speculation. Researchers, who published their findings in a recent issue of BMJ.com, found that annual reminders around birthdays and Christmas did increase participation in screening programs. It was a large study, almost 30,000 participants. What the researchers found was interesting. People who were invited to a screening in the week of or after their birthday responded at a rate of 67.9% compared with those who had random invitations, who h... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2087257 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:19:31 +0100 2087257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1938926&cid=t_125652_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fnews-and-facts-about-oral-cancer%2F Early this year, we learned that the human papilloma virus (HPV-16), a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer in women, also contributes to the incidence of oral cancer in men. Merck & Co. offers the only HPV vaccine, but it is available for young women, not young men. New research has prompted the company to pursue government approval to extend the inoculation to males, as well. Usually, oral cancer is thought to be a disease contracted by older people who smoke and drink - those in the high-risk group. The disease commonly affects people who are not considered high risk, though. Oral cancer screenings save lives. Here are the facts: In the US, oral cancer strikes about 35,000 people per year In the US, about 7,500 people die from oral cancer each year Once ... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1938926 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:48:24 +0100 1938926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806604&cid=t_125652_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvirtual-colonoscopy-ready-for-prime-time%2F Virtual colonoscopy is an x-ray examination of the colon used to screen for cancer. It is also called CT colonography because the x-ray test used is a CT scan (also called computed tomography or CAT scan for computed axial tomography). Virtual colonoscopy is in the news because of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that compared the x-ray test to traditional colonoscopy and found comparable results in terms of identifying abnormal growths. But while the headlines will tout the positive findings, there are a few things you should know before undergoing one of these procedures. First off let me say that screening for colon cancer is an extremely important and life-saving yet underutilized undertaking that I’ve written about before, and which you should unde... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806604 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:29:44 +0100 1806604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779892&cid=t_125652_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmany-colon-cancer-patients-dont-get-proper-follow-up%2F After surgery for colon cancer, you are still at risk, both for cancer recurrence and for development of another new colon cancer. Because of this it’s important for colon cancer survivors to be followed closely and monitored carefully. But new research has found that many such survivors aren’t getting the proper follow-up care. And it looks as though the fault lies more with the doctors than it does with the patients. If you or someone you love is a colon cancer survivor, it’s important to know the guidelines for follow-up in order to ensure you’re getting the right tests. In the study, published online in the journal Cancer on September 8, 2008 - only 40 percent of colon cancer survivors who were followed for three years had all the right doctor visits and tests. But since 92 per... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779892 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:05:55 +0100 1779892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696483&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbrilliant-idea-universal-screening-for-breast-cancer%2F It is still baffling to me that in other countries like Norway, Canada and France, every woman can be screened regularly for breast cancer. Right now with the treatment options that are available like surgery and chemotherapy, detecting breast cancer early is key to surviving the disease. So doesn’t it make sense that every woman over the age of 40 be given the opportunity to get regular screening? You would think the richest most powerful country in the world would have been one of the first to figure that out. When women in Canada and Norway are living to an average age of 83 and women in France to 84, isn’t it a red flag that in the United States the life expectancy of women is only 80? (Life expectancy estimates for 2007, according to the Population Reference Bureau). One o... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696483 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:48:39 +0100 1696483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1275002&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F244900625%2F Amidst last week’s frenzy, I might have overlooked some important stuff involving cancer. The following are still in my week-old (!!) notes: Smokers Might Benefit From Earlier Colon Cancer Screening New evidence suggests screening for colorectal cancer, which is now recommended to begin at age 50 for most people, should start five to 10 years earlier for individuals with a significant lifetime exposure to tobacco smoke, a University of Rochester Medical Center study said. An examination of 3,450 cases found that current smokers were diagnosed with colon cancer approximately seven years earlier than people who never smoked. The study is also one of the first to link exposure to second-hand smoke, especially early in life, with a younger age for colon cancer onset. What’s Good F... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1275002 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:24:31 +0100 1275002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156938&cid=t_125652_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F218040975%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Related articlesLack of Health Insurance Increases Risk of Cancer DeathDecrease in US Cancer DeathsThe Best of Highlight HEALTH 2007 - The Year in ReviewQuitWinLive - The Great American SmokeoutSmoking Duration vs. Intensity and the Impact on Lung Cancer Risk (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156938 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:48:00 +0100 1156938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1134201&cid=t_125652_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F212653017%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1134201 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:03:22 +0100 1134201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1091575&cid=t_125652_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-important-yet-underutilized%2F Colorectal cancer, which is a cancer of the large intestine (also called the colon or bowel) or the rectum, is, unfortunately, both common and deadly. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. The good news is that most colon cancers develop slowly over many years and there are a variety of screening tests that allow early detection, before symptoms are present, and when the cancer is at an early, treatable stage. The bad news, however, is that screening for colon cancer is underperformed. A recently published study found the shocking fact that the vast majority of Americans in Medicare aren’t getting proper screening, even though it is a covere... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1091575 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:14:50 +0100 1091575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044208&cid=t_125652_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F188576210%2F The Digene® HPV Test is the only such test approved by the FDA that uses advanced molecular technology to detect the DNA (genetic material) of 13 high-risk types of HPV (the virus shown to actually cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer.) Approved by the FDA in 2003 for cervical cancer screening in conjunction with a Pap, in women age 30 and older - Digene® HPV Test – is based on proprietary “Hybrid Capture” technology, which combines two innovations from the rapidly evolving field of life sciences – DNA/RNA probes and monoclonal antibodies – to allow rapid, standardized gene testing in virtually any laboratory setting. Sounds great. I only have one question: Do most insurance providers in the U.S. cover this HPV test? ( Because I am not based in the U.S, and where I am i... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044208 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:37:54 +0100 1044208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=948751&cid=t_125652_155_f&fid=36522&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpathtalk.org%2Farchives%2F28 The National Cancer Institute has commissioned the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, to the tune of 50,000 participants and $200 million. This huge and expensive trial comparing patients screened by CT scan with those screened by X-ray hopes to definitively answer the question of whether lung cancer screening is beneficial. The US Preventative Services Task Force currently rates the evidence for (or against) screening as “insufficient“. The study is to be completed in 2009. However, motivated critics are not waiting to discredit the effort. The Lung Cancer Alliance has cried foul because two of the academics on the study have previously testified for tobacco companies regarding the lack of evidence for lung cancer screening: Since late last year, the Lung Cancer Alliance, a... pathtalk.org blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=948751 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:43:42 +0100 948751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=795094&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F13%2Fpreventative-steps-could-save-100-000-lives%2F Filed under: Prevention, Research, Daily newsIncreased use of five preventative services would save more than 100,000 lives in the U.S. every year, according to Partnership for Prevention, a nonprofit health policy group.The services and behaviors are taking a low dose of aspirin every day for the prevention of heart disease, offering more services to help smokers quit, offering more colorectal and breast cancer screenings and offering flu shots for those over 50.The report also uncovered racial disparities in the use of preventative care. For example, Hispanic smokers are 55 percent less likely than whites to get help to quit smoking and Asian-Americans are the least likely to take aspirin and get screened for breast and colorectal cancer.The study found that 42,000 lives a year would be ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=795094 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 795094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682732&cid=t_125652_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F19%2Fbritish-women-denied-breast-cancer-screening%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, All Cancers, Opinion, Daily newsIt's something that's painful and infuriating to me in my own experience, and thus something I feel very strongly about: people getting denied tests and treatment because of long line-ups of patients and limited resources. It happens all the time in countries where healthcare is public, though we don't always hear about it. But here's one instance where we do: thousands of women are being denied breast exams in Oxfordshire, UK, because of staffing shortages. Women there between 50 and 70 are rightly entitles to a screening every 6 months but the NHS can't keep up with the demand and is turning women away. This has outraged cancer specialists and survivors, though they can't do much about it at this point. Say what you will about t... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682732 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486515&cid=t_125652_131_f&fid=34996&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.genesanddrugs.com%2F2006%2F12%2F15%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-in-a-conservative-town%2F Many years ago Uncle Sam sent me to Rockford Illinois to repay my National Health Service Corps scholarship by providing medical services to the medically indigent population of Winnebago County. Rockford population about 150,000 was the second largest city in Illinois and, to this California boy, rather provincial. At the time I arrived, the HIV epidemic was raging. In Rockford, most of the victims were iv drug users, their partners, and their children. HIV wasn’t really a gay thing in Rockford because when a gay Rockfordian was old enough to leave town, he did—usually for Chicago. Faced with the epidemic, I asked my Rockford colleagues why no one had started a needle exchange program. “Oh,” I was told, “we can’t do that here. Rockford is a conservative town…” But I digres... Genes & Drugs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486515 Sat, 16 Dec 2006 01:55:26 +0100 486515