RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

“Just earlier this week, we reported that a new study showed promise for ovarian cancer screening. A combo of transvaginal ultrasound and a CA125 blood test found early, treatable cancers, according to the research published in The Lancet Oncology. Study authors admitted that they weren’t sure how the findings would translate into mortality or balance against the risks of screening.”

Read the complete blog to find out results of a second study. Is screening really reducing mortality?

Regular Screening for Colorectal Cancer Remains Effective in Preventing and Detecting Disease Early

As the nation marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March, the American Cancer Society is encouraging Americans to get lifesaving screening tests that have been proven to reduce the risk of the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

Stanford researchers have published the results of a study that reinforces the link between postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and increased incidence of breast cancer.

According to the study results, women who take combined estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy for at least five years after menopause, have twice the annual risk of developing breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer is not associated with women who only take estrogen.

Read the entire blog for the rest of the study highlights.

“Paul Levy’s post regarding unnecessary deaths is something about which I am also passionate. While it may not currently be mainstream, I believe it is enormously effective.
Some of you might say that our theory is Pollyanna in nature, but there is quantifiable information that definitively demonstrates its effectiveness. And I believe that by embracing a philosophy that creates an optimal healing environment, many workplace “never” incidents will ultimately be resolved.” This blog focuses on inspiring us to be the best we can be and to approach life in a positive frame of mind centering on the healing elements of nature in patient care.

“First, a little background about prostate cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, between 27 percent and 37 percent of men between 55 to 74 years of age have prostate cancer. It is a very slow growing cancer; most men who have it end up dying of something else.
The ugly truth about prostate cancer testing is it doesn’t work. The most common test, a blood test known as PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is terribly inaccurate. Men who have been tested have no better survival rate than men who have not.” This blog explores the ethics behind knowing whether you have prostate cancer or not when you will end up dying of something else. Why agonize over a diagnosis you can live the rest of your life with. It is a very real ethical issue in the area of medicine today.

“Cochrane has published a meta-analysis on exercise for cancer-related fatigue in adults. Unlike our previous complaints about Cochrane reviews this one had a good number of trials (28, with 2000 patients), but like my most recent griping includes an astonishing variety of patients and treatments (graded exercise training, tai chi, yoga, home-based and supervised aerobic exercise programs, strengthening programs; patients range from youngish breast cancer patients having received curative therapy to stem-cell transplant patients to a variety of ’stage IV’ patients). Of course there’s also the variety of fatigue measures used…. I’m going to leave all that behind however.” This blog centers on a very positive approach to fighting cancer fatigue. . . and practical too. It seems like exercise is being prescribed for a variety of ailments, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, weight loss, PCOS, anxiety and now cancer fatigue.

The regimen advocated by Nicholas Gonzalez is a variation of a “detoxification” treatment for cancer that has been around, in one form or another, for more than 50 years (”Gerson Therapy” is another example). There is no evidence that this therapy works and is just one more example of a complementary therapy failing the tests of science. Despite its lack of usefulness, practitioners kept it around for an unusually long time.

With the majority of cancer patients over the age of 65, why are we not including this older group of individuals in our study groups? This leaves a wide gap in knowledge about how best to treat the geriatric patient. This is an informative blog about a wide gap in our research protocols . . . age.