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Bladder Cancer No Longer a Death Sentence
At 51, Charles Daniels had a lot to live for. A thriving construction business, a precious 11 year old daughter and a happy long-term relationship. When he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, he was determined to beat the odds. According to TMD, a medical tourism corporation, Daniels case is typical - he tried conventional medicine until they had nothing left to offer but a poor prognosis, and then went out of the country for alternative cancer treatment and is cancer free today.
Just before Christmas 2007, Daniels urinated blood. He went right to his primary care doctor, who did an ultrasound and X-rays, which were inconclusive. Suspecting an infection, his doctor gave him antibiotics. Within 24 hours, the blood was no longer visible. But a follow up visit showed microscopic blood in his urine, and he was sent to a urologist. A cytoscopy exam (where a small camera is inserted into the bladder) and intra-venous pyelogram (an X-ray with contrast that provides pictures of the entire urinary system)
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June 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Letter Highlights Probiotics, Carotid Artery and Breast Cancer Treatments
Here are highlights from the June issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771.
Probiotics: Bacteria That Offer Health Benefits
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Not all bacteria are bad. Human digestive tracts are loaded with trillions of bacteria that aren't harmful and can be beneficial or even crucial to health.
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Clovis Unified loses health care ruling
Clovis Unified School District must change the way it cares for students with health problems, a decision by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights says.
The ruling, made public in April, says the district is responsible for providing medical services for students. Parents occasionally must accompany their children on school-sanctioned overnight trips, so the ruling also says the district must pay for those parents' expenses.
The ruling stemmed from a parent's complaint against the district last year. She said the district was required to allow her to attend the Sierra Outdoor School, near Sonora, for free if she was providing medical care for her child.
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Did toxic chemical in Iraq cause GIs' illnesses?
Larry Roberta's every breath is a painful reminder of his time in Iraq. He can't walk a block without gasping for air. His chest hurts, his migraines sometimes persist for days and he needs pills to help him sleep.
James Gentry came home with rashes, ear troubles and a shortness of breath. Later, things got much worse: He developed lung cancer, which spread to his spine, ribs and one of his thighs; he must often use a cane, and no longer rides his beloved Harley.
David Moore's postwar life turned into a harrowing medical mystery: nosebleeds and labored breathing that made it impossible to work, much less speak. His desperate search for answers ended last year when he died of lung disease at age 42.
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Denosumab Demonstrates Superiority Over Zometa(R) in Pivotal Phase 3 Head-to-Head Trial in Breast Cancer Patients With Bone Metastases
Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced that a pivotal, Phase 3, head-to-head trial evaluating denosumab versus Zometa(R) (zoledronic acid) in the treatment of bone metastases in 2,049 patients with advanced breast cancer met its primary and secondary endpoints and demonstrated superior efficacy compared to Zometa. Superiority was demonstrated for both delaying the time to the first on-study Skeletal Related Events (SREs)(fracture, radiation to bone, surgery to bone, or spinal cord compression) (hazard ratio 0.82, 95 percent CI: 0.71, 0.95), and delaying the time to the first-and-subsequent SREs (hazard ratio 0.77, 95 percent CI: 0.66, 0.89). Both results were statistically significant.
Overall, the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events was consistent with what has previously been reported for these two agents. Of note, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which had not been observed in previously reported Phase 3 studies with denosumab, was seen infrequently in both treatment groups. There
In defense of "older" physicians who are still practicing [story Nov. 12]: I'm 46 years old and a patient of Dr. Norman Sigel's. For 13 years, I had some very debilitating symptoms involving my heart and no one could find the cause.
When I first started going to Dr. Sigel four years ago, he said, and quite appropriately, that many of the younger doctors are learning to practice medicine the way the insurance companies allow them to. I had been to three internists, all of whom sent me to specialists. Eleven doctors, and still no diagnosis.
Our pediatrician referred me to Dr. Sigel. He said if anyone could find it, Dr. Sigel could and he did. I had a very rare adrenal tumor, pheochromocytoma, causing my irregular heartbeat and other symptoms. It was especially difficult to diagnose because I didn't have the requisite high blood pressure primarily associated with this tumor and other odd symptoms that didn't fit. He had a gut feeling and went with it. This tumor could have killed me.
It was only because of Dr. Sigel's experience and his way of practicing medicine, as opposed to "insurance influenced medical care," that I am well today.
Sally Strong
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