Diabetes - a death sentence
The last time I posted, we had just been to the nephrologist. I wrote this:Gave him 3-5 years before he will need dialysis. That's interesting because only 2 years ago he was told that he needed dialysis then. I think this just confirms to me that labs really can't forecast what you do and don't need as they can quickly change for the good or the bad.Could I have been in any more denial? I think it finally hit both of us that that's exactly what we did - we made up excuses to "prove" the doctor was wrong.So what if he only has 3 - 5 more years before dialysis? And what if he still doesn't want dial...
Source: Wife of a Diabetic - August 19, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: blogs
Rural Tobacco Control and Prevention
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in the United States and is responsible for over 400,000 deaths each year. Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States. Those who smoke regularly are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. About 50% of smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This new Rural Tobacco Control and Prevention Toolkit from the Rural Health Information Hub provides information, strategies, and resources to help rural communities implement tobacco control and prevention programs. Divided i...
Source: BHIC - August 9, 2017 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Patricia Devine Tags: Rural Source Type: blogs
We Need To Raise The Bar To Improve Cancer Treatments. What ’s The Best Way To Do It?
Over the past 20 years, we have witnessed an unprecedented development of new life-science technologies. Although clinical outcomes have also improved, the benefits often remain out of reach for many patients. Translating scientific and technological gains into clinically meaningful outcomes that are accessible and affordable to all who need them is one of the great challenges of our time.
Several prominent voices have called on the field to “raise the bar” and aim higher in research efforts, to measurably and meaningfully lengthen and improve patients’ lives. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), for exa...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - July 26, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Jacqueline Zummo Tags: Drugs and Medical Innovation clinical trials Source Type: blogs
The Nephrologist
Yesterday we drove 3 hours to visit a nephrologist. Kidney specialist. I liked the doctor. He spent 2 hours with us. I don't know that the hubby will do anything he was told to do, but he will now get labs done every quarter. That's great.The doc changed some of the meds, added some new ones. Gave him some anti-nausea meds. Said that he probably has gastroparesis (which I thought might be the case) and that's what's causing him to vomit so much.His GFR has improved from zero in 2011 to 44 which is incredible. Is is the marijuana? I've read that it helps treat kidney disease and ...
Source: Wife of a Diabetic - July 25, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: blogs
How Soon To Start Treatment?
I never realized how important starting cancer treatment quickly was. I remember my surgeon telling me at one point I had plenty of time to wait before making decisions for my treatment. I guess that wasn ' t true.There is a new study (because we always need new studies) to focus on the TTI (Time to Treatment Initiation) from date of diagnosis. As that increases, the cancer death rates increase as well. How nice. So don ' t wait, start NOW!Research by the Cleveland Clinic showed a increase from 21 to 29 days showed increased mortality." Longer delays between diagnosis and initial treatment were associated with worsened ove...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - July 24, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer treatment cancer research Source Type: blogs
I'm so tired of all of it!
Think about my last post. He dropped his concentrated humbling by 75%. i should have anticipated problems.Highs. Lows. Rollercoaster emotions. Outbursts. Sleeping. We've had it all these past few weeks.Today he got physical in his rage. He grabbed me. Tried to prevent me from going through a door. After he calmed down I explained that was a red line for me. I explained that he will never touch me again when he is angry. And if a single bruise appears, I will report this incident to the police.He wants me to sell the house. I won't. He wants to separate w...
Source: Wife of a Diabetic - July 22, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: blogs
Health Affairs – Advanced Illness & End-of-Life Care
The July 2017 issue of Health Affairs is a special issue on Advanced Illness & End-of-Life Care.
Advanced Illness And End-Of-Life CareAlan R. Weil
Advance Care Planning With Alzheimer’s: A Tortuous PathRebecca Gale
Epidemiology And Patterns Of Care At The End Of Life: Rising Complexity, Shifts In Care Patterns And Sites Of DeathMelissa D. Aldridge and Elizabeth H. Bradley
A National Profile Of End-Of-Life Caregiving In The United StatesKatherine A. Ornstein, Amy S. Kelley, Evan Bollens-Lund, and Jennifer L. Wolff
Medicare Beneficiaries With Advanced Lung Cancer Experience Diverse Patterns Of Care F...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - July 6, 2017 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD Tags: Health Care syndicated Source Type: blogs
NIAAA Prostitutes Its Scientific Integrity and Helps Alcohol Industry Promote Drinking
This study could completely backfire on the alcoholic beverage industry, and they’re going to have to live with it,” Dr. Koob said. “The money from the Foundation for the N.I.H. has no strings attached. Whoever donates to that fund has no leverage whatsoever — no contribution to the study, no input to the study, no say whatsoever.” "What a bunch of crap!The money hashuge strings attached: namely, the money is to be used for a trialto examine the potential benefits of drinking! In other words, the alcohol industry doesn ' t need any further leverage because they have already won. They have succeeded in gettin...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - July 6, 2017 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
My patient is dying, and I don ’t know what to do
The patient in front of me is trying to die. Elderly and frail, he is lying in bed. His ribs outlined under the skin that should be smooth. His temples are concave where they should be flat. Both are an outward display of internal damage from his lung cancer. More striking than his cachexia are the strained muscles in his neck and his pursed-lip breathing. He is working hard for each breath, drowning in the air around him. From his cancer or pneumonia or more likely both. It is my first night on call as a senior resident in the ICU.
It’s early in my second year of residency at the University of Chicago, where I am splitt...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 5, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Hospital Intensive care Source Type: blogs
Medical Imaging Might be Coming to an Airport Near You
Going through TSA ’s full body scanner has become an expected part of air flight. However, the Department of Homeland Security isworkingto make these scanners more accurate as a way to prevent checkpoint hold ups with passengers. In collaboration with Kaggle, DHS has announced a $1.5 million contest to build deep neural networks that will provide more precise body scanner images.Back in May, we wrote aboutKaggle ’s $1 million Science Bowlchallenge for scientists to develop algorithms that would detect lung cancer. Now the competition organization has launched a six-month initiative to get scientists to create systems t...
Source: radRounds - July 2, 2017 Category: Radiology Authors: Julie Morse Source Type: blogs
The Future of Radiology and Artificial Intelligence
What if an algorithm could tell you whether you have cancer based on your CT scan or mammography exam? While I am certain that radiologists’ creative work will be necessary in the future to solve complex issues and supervising diagnostic processes; AI will definitely become part of their daily routine in diagnosing simpler cases and taking over repetitive tasks. So rather than getting threatened by it, we should familiarize with how it could help change the course of radiology for the better.
Radiologists who use AI will replace those who don’t
There is a lot of hype and plenty of fear around artificial intelligence an...
Source: The Medical Futurist - June 29, 2017 Category: Information Technology Authors: nora Tags: Future of Medicine Radiology AI artificial intelligence cancer CT scanning gc4 Health Healthcare ibm watson Innovation medical imaging MRI technology Source Type: blogs
The Contribution of Decreasing Cancer Mortality to Gains in Life Expectancy
This study provides an assessment of the impact of improvements in cancer prevention and cancer therapies over the past few decades, based on observed changes in life expectancy. In the opinion of the authors, better prevention is the more important contribution to these results - which doesn't say much for the current high level strategy in cancer research aimed at production of better therapies, given the vast sums devoted to that industry. Because of its focus on cancer, an unusual life expectancy construct is used in this study, considering only ages 40 to 84; cancer has a very low incidence at younger ages, and the ri...
Source: Fight Aging! - June 29, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Men ’ s Health Month: Getting Back to the Basics
You know the type. The macho guy who’s rough, tough, go-it-alone, leader-of-the-pack, help-not-wanted. Macho man may put off seeing a doctor for a checkup – because he thinks he’s invincible, doesn’t get sick, it’s a waste of time, only for the weak.
Physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center say some men only give in when they have symptoms, when major treatments are required, or when preventive steps are more demanding. Even so, it’s never too late to start on the road to health.
June, Men’s Health Month, is a great time to focus on preventable health problems and encourage early detection and ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - June 28, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Health Tips Heart/Cardiac Care heart health mens health Source Type: blogs
A lung health service: Doncaster pharmacy direct referral for chest x-ray
This report presents a summary from the Doncaster site which piloted a pharmacist direct referral to chest x-ray pathway which aimed to improve the diagnosis of lung cancer. It outlines early findings from the pilot project and suggestions for rolling out a similar pathway.ReportFurther information (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 23, 2017 Category: UK Health Authors: The King ' s Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Local authorities, public health and health inequalities Source Type: blogs
