Archive for 'Cancer'
Cancer study bill dropped, now aimed at lead-based paint removal grant.
Omaha Sen. Bob Krist won’t be getting the $650,000 he wanted for a lung cancer study involving veterans — the state budget is just too tight.
Full StoryScandal of danger chemical in baby bottles.
Britain’s biggest infant-products retailers are selling baby bottles made with a chemical banned by Canada and three US states and which scientists fear may cause breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, hyperactivity and other disorders, The Independent can disclose.
Full StoryYale study details how and why of BPA’s dangers.
Exposing a female fetus to a chemical found in plastics causes permanent changes in a daughter’s uterus that might result in cancer — and a research team led by a Yale doctor has figured out why.
Full StoryAdvocates sound alarm on cell phone radiation.
Mindy Brown is on a crusade to warn people about radiation from cell phones. It started after her husband, Fresno State football coach Dan Brown, developed brain cancer.
Full StoryMaine panel weighs cell phone cancer warning.
The Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on a bill that would make Maine the first state to carry warnings that cell phones can cause brain cancer.
Full StoryAnger mounts over incinerator plan.
The environment ministry has it wrong – a proposed incinerator will harm, not help, Durham Region residents, a panel of opponents has warned, saying health and air quality will be seriously affected, leading to increased cancer rates, reproductive problems, and learning disabilities.
Full StoryMaine lawmakers mull cell phone health warnings.
Maine’s state Legislature could soon vote on a bill making the Northeast U.S. state the first to require that cellular phones carry warnings of a possible link between mobile phone radiation and brain cancer.
Full StoryFar south side environmental activist Hazel Johnson and her daughter ‘decided to stay here and fight’.
In the early 1980s, the cancer deaths of four little girls — whose bodies were so tiny they could fit in shoe boxes — forced Hazel Johnson to shift the focus of an organization she’d recently founded.
Full StoryCancer warning as scientists find potentially harmful chemical in fruit juices.
Fruit juices drunk by millions of children each day could contain a harmful chemical linked to cancer, scientists have warned.
Full StoryArsenic-contaminated water threat to southern Punjab inhabitants.
Southern Punjab is facing serious threat due to high-level arsenic contamination in the drinking water, which is causing cancer, still births, post-neonatal mortality and other diseases.
Full StoryHow schools fail to protect pupils from asbestos danger.
Three out of four schools contain asbestos, which could be putting children at risk of cancer, a damning report warns. Many do not have appropriate protection measures in place, while management of the substance is ‘ineffective and at times dangerous.’
Full StoryTamara McClintock Greenberg: Can Overweight Women Trust Their Doctors?
Being a doctor these days is hard. But so is being a patient, especially if you happen to be female and overweight. A study last year found that more than 40% of doctors feel “frustrated” by obese patients. But feelings among doctors are not the only problem. Recent studies have found that a woman who is as little as 13 pounds overweight may receive less than optimal medical care. Women who are over 20 pounds on the wrong side of the scale are more prone to inaccurate diagnoses, have more trouble finding a fertility doctor for help with getting pregnant, and are less likely to receive early diagnosis and effective treatment for cancer. The research matches up quite accurately with my clinical experience. Over the years I have known many overweight women who have been misdiagnosed by their physicians. And though I realize that anyone can be misdiagnosed, the striking numbers of overweight women whose doctors have missed serious illness reinforces the belief that doctors think differently about those carrying extra pounds. Of course obesity is a serious problem and one that should be addressed. But weight gain is partially related to self-control, as well as genetic and biological factors. Many physicians, whom we often expect should know better, attribute being overweight solely to dietary habits. This is in spite of data on biological factors that are implicit in weight gain. Psychotropic drugs , which are taken by millions, cause people to put on pounds. Ironically, these medications are often prescribed by the very same doctors that are annoyed with their patients for being heavier than they should be. Additionally, though in need of further study, some have speculated on chemical and environmental factors that impact metabolism via hormone production. There is even speculation that environmental toxins are associated with the development of diabetes in some populations. That being said, some people simply do eat too much. And they can learn to change this behavior. But where are realistic discussions about today’s overwhelming guidelines about what is required of all of us to stay healthy? At last count, recommendations for crucial self-care behaviors for reducing heart disease, cancer and dementia include the following: manage weight, get plenty of exercise, avoid high fat and high cholesterol foods, eat several vegetables and fruits a day, floss at least once a day, get regular teeth cleaning, reduce meat consumption, don’t smoke, avoid sugar and other simple carbohydrates, and take medications strictly as prescribed. And then there are the more confusing recommendations– vitamin D intake (which experts don’t agree on), drinking alcohol (the amounts vary depending on the kind of disease you are trying to avoid) and eating a lot of fish (but not too much, because of mercury). And regarding mercury, how do we manage this potentially dangerous metal? Should we all rush to get our fillings replaced? And in this economy, who can afford it? As if that list weren’t comprehensive enough, for those of us especially worried about both the environment and our health, we are told that we should avoid foods with preservatives, eat organic, and ingest meat that is responsibly raised and without hormones. Though I personally agree with many health recommendations, this dizzying list of behaviors is quite frankly out of reach for most people. Work commitments, time and finances limit many from achieving these ideals. Doctors know this. Many physicians have trouble doing all that is needed to take care of themselves. Presumably, like the rest of us, they are too busy or too confused to follow the guidelines. But still, why do some doctors give up on patients who have trouble controlling their weight, especially if they happen to be women? Since doctors are human, they are subject to the same biases many of us share. And with almost half of medical patients in the U.S. being noncompliant with medical advice, doctors are understandably frustrated. Why this gets taken out on women, however, remains curious. We can look at our fascination with women in the popular media as a guide. Dramatic weight loss post-pregnancy is a major source of hits on websites that profile the famous. And let’s face it, we expect our women role models to be thin, despite how busy they might be trying to raise a family or deal with post-partum hormones and mood. Maybe if things were more balanced on the gender scale for us in society, then doctors would follow. Although medical clinicians are an easy target of our derision, holding them to a higher standard is not working, at least for overweight women who need care. While doctors certainly need to come to terms with their biases, the rest of us need to come to terms with our own. We should stop holding women to higher standards in terms of weight and beauty. Let’s talk about how healthcare guidelines are useful, but more realistic for people who have the time and money to follow them. Read more: Women , Aging , Physicians , Nutrition Guidelines , Obesity , Diet , Healthcare , Women's Health , Doctors , Health Care , Living News
Full StoryThis Silent Killer Now Verified in Non-Smoker’s Lung Cancer
Radon exposure is the number two cause of lung cancer in the U.S., second only to cigarette smoking. It is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Full StoryAnother study finds no link between mouse virus and chronic fatigue syndrome
For the second time in as many months, researchers have been unable to replicate a controversial study which showed that many patients with chronic fatigue syndrome carry a virus that might be linked to the disease. Researchers are now trying to figure out whether the discrepancies result from studying different patient populations or from fundamental problems between the laboratories involved. Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS),
Full StoryRodent of the Week: Green tea and good vision
The substances found in green tea — called catechins — are associated with a number of health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health. The substances are antioxidants that are thought to protect various body tissues from damage. It has been unclear, however, whether catechins migrate to all parts of the body, including the eyes. A new study in mice shows that they do. Researchers in Hong Kong gave rats green tea extract. The rats were then killed, and their eyes dissected into cornea, lens, retina and other parts. The extract was found in these tissues at various levels. The retina absorbed the highest levels of the catechins. This means green tea could yield benefits in protecting against certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Other antioxidant substances, such as vitamins C and E, lutein and zeaxanthin are also know to reach eye tissue. It's unclear just how much green tea might be needed to bolster eye health in humans. A typical cup of green tea has about 150 to 250 milligrams of catechins. The study was published this week in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . — Shari Roan Photo credit: Advanced Cell Technology Inc.
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