VA suspends prostate cancer treatment programs at four hospitals (10/15/08) -- www.GovernmentExecutive.com

[Guest guest]

After a months-long inquiry into why dozens of prostate cancer treatment patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia received lower-than-prescribed radiation doses, VA has suspended similar treatment programs at three other hospitals.

The three additional VA hospitals to suspend brachytherapy programs, in which radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate, are in Cincinnati; , Miss.; and Washington. Those hospitals were found to have similar problems as those in Philadelphia, where the treatment program was suspended this summer.

News of the suspensions came from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has launched a special inspection of VA's radiation treatment program. VA spokeswoman Laurie Tranter said she could not say when the programs were suspended, how patients were notified, or why the problems might have occurred.

The agency planned to put out a press release late Wednesday or Thursday, she said. Until then she said she was not permitted to provide any details about the decision.

To read entire article follow link below.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41201 & dcn=todaysnews

[Guest guest]

Why does this not suprise me? The govt has always promised its fighting men that they would be taken care up. What a joke, everytime it is the bottom line. But when we were serving there was no bottom line with our lives. Oh well we were cannon fodder. They gave us a flag maybe.

Subject: VA suspends prostate cancer treatment programs at four hospitals (10/15/08) -- www.GovernmentExecutive.comTo: "Kathy Meade" Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 6:12 PM

After a months-long inquiry into why dozens of prostate cancer treatment patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia received lower-than-prescrib ed radiation doses, VA has suspended similar treatment programs at three other hospitals.

The three additional VA hospitals to suspend brachytherapy programs, in which radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate, are in Cincinnati; , Miss.; and Washington. Those hospitals were found to have similar problems as those in Philadelphia, where the treatment program was suspended this summer.

News of the suspensions came from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has launched a special inspection of VA's radiation treatment program. VA spokeswoman Laurie Tranter said she could not say when the programs were suspended, how patients were notified, or why the problems might have occurred.

The agency planned to put out a press release late Wednesday or Thursday, she said. Until then she said she was not permitted to provide any details about the decision.

To read entire article follow link below.

http://www.govexec. com/story_ page.cfm? articleid= 41201 & dcn=todaysnews

[Guest guest]

Why does this not suprise me? The govt has always promised its fighting men that they would be taken care up. What a joke, everytime it is the bottom line. But when we were serving there was no bottom line with our lives. Oh well we were cannon fodder. They gave us a flag maybe.

Subject: VA suspends prostate cancer treatment programs at four hospitals (10/15/08) -- www.GovernmentExecutive.comTo: "Kathy Meade" Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 6:12 PM

After a months-long inquiry into why dozens of prostate cancer treatment patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia received lower-than-prescrib ed radiation doses, VA has suspended similar treatment programs at three other hospitals.

The three additional VA hospitals to suspend brachytherapy programs, in which radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate, are in Cincinnati; , Miss.; and Washington. Those hospitals were found to have similar problems as those in Philadelphia, where the treatment program was suspended this summer.

News of the suspensions came from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has launched a special inspection of VA's radiation treatment program. VA spokeswoman Laurie Tranter said she could not say when the programs were suspended, how patients were notified, or why the problems might have occurred.

The agency planned to put out a press release late Wednesday or Thursday, she said. Until then she said she was not permitted to provide any details about the decision.

To read entire article follow link below.

http://www.govexec. com/story_ page.cfm? articleid= 41201 & dcn=todaysnews