Are we getting too much medical attention?

[Guest guest]

This article strikes at the heart of every patient, and I strongly urge you to

read all of it by going to the original web site:

Written by: RON WINSLOW And PETER LOFTUS of Wall Street Journal (WSJ), June,

2010.

" More medical care won't necessarily make you healthier — it may make you

sicker. It's an idea that technology-loving Americans find hard to believe.

Anywhere from one-fifth to nearly one-third of the tests and treatments we get

are estimated to be unnecessary, and avoidable care is costly in more ways than

the bill: It may lead to dangerous side effects. It can start during birth, as

some of the nation's increasing C-sections are triggered by controversial fetal

monitors that signal a baby is in trouble when really everything's fine. It

extends to often futile intensive care at the end of the life.

" In between: — Americans get the most medical radiation in the world, much of it

from repeated CT scans. Too many scans increase the risk of cancer. Thousands

who get stents for blocked heart arteries should have tried medication first. —

Doctors prescribe antibiotics tens of millions of times for viruses such as

colds that the drugs can't help.

" As major health groups warn of the limitations of prostate cancer screening,

even in middle age, one-third of men over 75 get routine PSA tests despite

guidelines that say most are too old to benefit. Millions of women at low risk

of cervical cancer get more frequent Pap smears than recommended; millions more

have been screened even after losing the cervix to a hysterectomy. — Back pain

stands out as the No. 1 overtreated condition, from repeated MRI scans that

can't pinpoint the trouble to spine surgery on people who could have gotten

better without it. About one in five who gets that first back operation will

wind up having another in the next decade.

" Overtreatment means someone could have fared as well or better with a lesser

test or therapy, or maybe even none at all. Avoiding it is less about knowing

when to say no, than knowing when to say, " Wait, doc, I need more information! "

The Associated Press combed hundreds of pages of studies and quizzed dozens of

specialists to examine the nation's most overused practices. Medical groups are

starting to get the message. Efforts are under way to help doctors ratchet back

avoidable care and help patients take an unbiased look at the pros and cons of

different options before choosing one. "

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,594082,00.html?cmpid=partner_baynote_Overtre\

ated

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" Scientists have discovered that treating tumours with the Salmonella bacteria

can induce an immune response that effectively kills cancer cells – and also

vaccinates against further growth. Cancer cells are especially dangerous because

they evade the body's immune system that usually tracks down and kills any

abnormalities "

" Treating these cancer cells with salmonella effectively makes them " visible " to

the body's immune cells and therefore open to attack. Researchers at the

University of Milan have made the system work in mice in the laboratory and are

now looking to carry out trials in humans next year. Dr. Rescigno said

that the salmonella, which was in too low a dose to cause harm in itself, acted

as a " red flag " highlighting dangerous cancer cells. She said the immune cells

suddenly recognised and killed tumour cells in the mice.

They also protected mice from cancer spreading to other parts of the body–a

“vaccination” style preventive strategy. We are very excited about the results, "

said Dr. Rescigno who hopes that trials will begin in May. "

This work was published in the journal of Science Translational Medicine &

written by: By Alastair son & Published: 7:00AM GMT 16 Feb 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4633116/Cancer-alert-for-immune-sys\

tem-discovered-by-researchers-in-Britain.html

FYI,

Lottie Duthu

" Scientists have discovered that treating tumours with the Salmonella bacteria

can induce an immune response that effectively kills cancer cells – and also

vaccinates against further growth.

" Cancer cells are especially dangerous because they evade the body's immune

system that usually tracks down and kills any abnormalities. Treating these

cancer cells with salmonella effectively makes them " visible " to the body's

immune cells and therefore open to attack. Researchers at the University of

Milan have made the system work in mice in the laboratory and are now looking to

carry out trials in humans next year.

" Dr. Rescigno said that the salmonella, which was in too low a dose to

cause harm in itself, acted as a " red flag " highlighting dangerous cancer cells.

She said the immune cells suddenly recognised and killed tumour cells in the

mice. They also protected mice from cancer spreading to other parts of the

body–a “vaccination” style preventive strategy. "

" We are very excited about the results, " said Dr Rescigno who hopes that trials

will begin in May. "

The work was published in the journal of Science Translational Medicine.

FYI,

Lottie Duthu