The problem of overtreatment of prostate cancer is well-known. Many invasive, aggressive treatments are performed on men whose cancer would never pose a threat to their lives anyway. And they are often left with nasty side effects, physical and emotional. So a well-known PC pathologist, Dr. Jonathan Oppenheimer, proposes a solution: Let's call the low-grade tumors [...]
A few years ago, I was with my father in the ICU of a community hospital when I noticed that he seemed worse than usual and had a rash all over his body. I tried to get the attention of the doctors, but they had better things to do than tend to non-life-threatening issues. I was [...]
Here is some good news on the doctor-patient relationship front. Research has shown that gifts from drug companies influence doctors prescribing habits. New York Times, May 6, 2008 To the Editor: The Association of American Medical Colleges should be applauded for its proposal to prohibit companies from offering free food, gifts and other perks to doctors, staff [...]
This is encouraging. It should become regular practice in all medical institutions. Giving doctors gifts influences their judgment and interferes with the doctor-patient relationship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From The Daily Pennsylvanian By David Kanter, April 11, 2008 Medical institutions should follow HUP's lead and prevent drug reps from influencing doctors with gifts When you grow up in a [...]
Hospital ratings have been issued before by the government's Department of Health and Human Services. However, these having been based on objective factors such as mortality rates. This is the first time patients were asked for their opinions. In today's NY Times: Study Finds Many Patients Dissatisfied With Hospitals By ROBERT PEAR, Published: March 29, 2008 [...]
As a follow-up to the previous post I am posting a speech delivered by a prominent cancer researcher and advocate comparing resources devoted to the war on cancer versus the war on terrorism. I would add my own comment: shouldn't we should finish one war before we begin prosecuting another? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fighting the terrorist within [...]
I would like to share with you a response I just posted to a question posed by a woman in the Prostate Problems mailing list (PPML, see acor.org). The woman's father underwent RP (surgery) today, and she wanted to know how soon she could get a copy of Dad's "Surgical Pathology Report." This woman is [...]
Robert B. wrote in PPML about his experiences with PC doctors and our healthcare system in general. I am reposting some of his remarks because they sounded to me like "deja vu all over again." "The other thing that we have to address is how our medical system encourages docs to deal with us. As I have said [...]
Experts at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recently reported that whole foods, not dietary supplements, play a role in lowering cancer risk. Citing a huge and comprehensive AICR report on cancer prevention, the panel of experts cautioned against relying on pills and powders as a means of protection. "When the panel examined the accumulated evidence [...]
Tom Droege died last week. He was a special guy, thoughtful and outspoken. Also a real brain, rocket scientist, and intrepid, in that he ventured into areas of conversation where few dared tread. For example, Tom was active in Acor.org's PPML listserv (prostate problems mailing list), where he described his final illness in detail. Tom [...]
