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+--- Thread: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! (/showthread.php?tid=131459)
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - Ca Bob - 02-04-2012
Just a comment that is not meant to be picky or snarky. Breast cancer is a collection of diseases that have different molecular signatures, different cellular origins, and sometimes very different prognoses. There are some forms that are likely cured by the first snip. There are others that seem to leave their victims OK, but after radiation and/or chemotherapy. And finally there are some cases that don't get cured and lead to a very unhappy outcome.
In other words, there are already cures for some forms, there are effective treatments for others, and there is at present no one single concept of "the" cure, since any such cure involves a multiplicity of cures for a multiplicity of diseases. That leaves us at present with the currently optimal approach, which is to look for early cases which can mostly be cured with minimal surgery. There is a huge amount of research testing variations on this and that and doing statistics to see which works better. Beyond the clinical testing aspect, there is a remarkable effort going on in basic science labs intended to identify the root causes of these diseases down at the molecular level. It's really remarkable that no gene sequence was known when I started grad school, and now we have the basic human genome and are accumulating huge amounts of information about every little variation in human DNA, and how some of these variations are pathological.
Perhaps Komen is correct in putting about two-thirds of their spendable money into active surveillance and the other third into research, since finding new cases at a curable stage prevents a lot of pain and suffering and saves lives.
What's hopeful is that science is bit by bit identifying the molecular pathways that become deranged and how they become deranged. Out of this will come a more precise diagnostic process which will point to the best treatment for any one version. That's the brighter side of things.
Now for the picky part: There is a lot of work remaining to be done, and most of the research funding in this country comes out of federal sources such as NIH. But much more could be done if funding were higher. The move by this congress to actually cut NIH funding is to lack perspective. I understand that every interest group has the same complaint about losing funding during a recession, but somehow the priorities get mixed up sometimes.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - OWC Jamie - 02-04-2012
May the curse of Molly Malone and her nine blind illegitimate children chase you so far over the hills of Damnation that the Lord himself can't find you with a telescope.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - Lux Interior - 02-04-2012
Can god make something so small that even he can't see it?
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - Pam - 02-04-2012
I think the money needs to go into finding causes, prevention, and figuring out which cancers need any treatment at all. Not bolstering the huge business behind screenings, biopsies, and drugs.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - haikuman - 02-05-2012
Not bolstering the huge business behind screenings, biopsies, and drugs.
Screenings and Biopsies are a very important part of prevention and the reduction of advanced stage cancer occuring . . . ymmv
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - JoeH - 02-05-2012
However they are becoming a big business pushing for more expensive procedures than indicated by medical necessity. There a re a large number done either more frequently than needed, or when other indications do not point to the need for a biopsy.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - haikuman - 02-05-2012
JoeH wrote:
"However they are becoming a big business pushing for more expensive procedures than indicated by medical necessity. There a re a large number done either more frequently than needed, or when other indications do not point to the need for a biopsy."
These are symptoms of Medicine today/Practioner's, Insurance companies, Non Regulation and Tort.
The procedures when utilized with proper protocols and 2nd opinions are to/for a patients benefit . . . me thinks . . . ymmv
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - Pam - 02-05-2012
JoeH wrote:
However they are becoming a big business pushing for more expensive procedures than indicated by medical necessity. There a re a large number done either more frequently than needed, or when other indications do not point to the need for a biopsy.
Exactly. Follow the money. The radiologists and surgeons aren't the bad guys here. This isn't healthcare related. These are big money business decisions being made solely to turn a profit. Sell more machines. Sell more meds.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - JoeH - 02-05-2012
h'man there are many clinics and hospitals that have been sold machines that are not needed in their area for the numbers of patients. The places with machines have administrators who want to recover the expenses related to having them, they push for more exams to pay off the purchase. Regulation has been opposed by big business, and that includes the Komen Foundation, on grounds they are limiting access to the diagnostic machines. Results are many areas with 2-3 times as many machines as needed.
As a recent example, look at the outcry they raised when the NIH(?) recommended that screening mammograms start at 50 instead of 40 for women who otherwise had no risk factors. There was no change in the recommendation for those with risk factors such as a detected lump or familial breast cancer. So many will go for medically unnecessary mammograms and the extra radiation involved.
And if you think Komen is only interested in the best cancer prevention, detection and treatment, there have been some allegations made that board members are invested in some of the technology and drugs either funded for research or recommended for treatment. That includes Nancy Brinker. That line of investigation may turn out to be very interesting if substantiated. As it is, most of their research has gone to treatment, apparently very little to research into dietary and environmental causes of breast cancer. Hence very little spent towards prevention.
As a P.S., having gone through cancer treatment recently I have seen just how distorted the climate around cancer treatment is these days. You would think from the number of support groups and other material related to breast cancer that most cancers were breast cancer. I found that aspect of Komen and related single issue advocacy groups to be the most troubling. The reality is a woman is more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer. Yes it is a serious disease, but the reaction is going all out of proportion to the medical reality.
Re: Eat fried chicken FOR THE CURE! - haikuman - 02-05-2012
I am not advocating Komen . But it seems you are advocating collusion between hospital administrators and doctors. That seems like a very long stretch. Komen made a huge mistake. But you do not throw out years of factual studies because of Komen. The diagnosis, treatment, and early detection procedures are not built around Komen. Yes there is likely graft and corruption in isolated instances. One of the fundamental codes/tenets of medicine is when the benefits out weigh adversity procedures are done
I do not believe there is a conspiracy as you describe it, I do agree there is abuse in the system.
Rudie
PS I hope you are recovering Joe. I hope that everything possible is being done for you.
I wish I could do and say more.