Andrew Griffith's Blog, page 18

Cancer can teach us about our own evolution | Paul Davies | Comment is free | The Guardian

A fascinating and short article capturing some of the cellular and evolutionary aspects of cancer, and how cancer is an evolutionary throwback to earlier, single-celled organisms. Others are more qualified to comment on the merits of this hypothesis and treatment applications. Quote: Charles Lineweaver, of the Australian National University, and I [Paul Davies] have proposed [...]

Smartphones make Top 10 Health Tech Hazards List | The Ethical Nag

Not sure how widespread smartphone use for personal reasons during medical procedures is (never run across it personally), but ‘where there is smoke, there is fire.’ Would strike me fairly simple to have operating rooms smartphone-free zones and the like, if common sense is not that common. My question is this: why would it even [...]

When Treating Cancer Is Not an Option – NYTimes.com

Further to the study showing that many patients did not understand that chemo could not ‘cure’ them in cases of advanced terminal cancer (Why Do People With Advanced Cancer Undergo Chemotherapy?), some practical suggestions on how to improve patient-doctor communications. I particularly like the ‘replay’ idea, and have found that helpful in my case. Quote: [...]

Year 1, Week 14: A Movie Week: Skyfall, Argo, Dans la maison

1:14 A relatively relaxed week, although we have been starting going for 2 hour walks through the wonderful urban and rural mix that is Geneva. My leg muscles feel the increased effort, not to mention my lungs and heart, but it is a good feeling. Some of the fatigue, as noted earlier, is a normal [...]

Why I don’t exercise – Sunrise Rounds | Sunrise Rounds

A nice collection of excuses by Sunrise Rounds: I am too tired The weather is too cold, too hot, too wet, too dry et al. I get bored when I exercise. I am too busy. And my favourite: Recently this whole issue was made clear by the honest and accurate excuse of a 58-year-old woman [...]

Catch and release | Harvard Gazette

A cool development with potential in cancer treatment, highlighting our increased knowledge of cancer, improvements in microchip technology, with a nice natural model – the jellyfish – that expresses the concept. Some time away before clinical trials and the like. Quote: “What most people don’t realize is that it is the metastasis that kills, not [...]

8 Most Common Myths About Counseling | Online Psychology Degree Resource Guide

While written for a university setting, most of these are generally applicable. We found some sessions with our clinic counsellors helpful as we worked through some of the issues. The myths: Counselling is for people who are mentally ill. Seeking counselling is a sign of weakness. My professors, friends and school administration will know I [...]

Denmark scraps fat tax in another Big Food victory

Good commentary on the likely impact of Denmark’s decision to scrap the fat tax on other governments: While we don’t know know if Denmark’s fat tax would have had its desired impact on pubic health, the worry is that other governments may see Denmark’s short-lived and un-evaluated experiment as a political failure and a warning [...]

Recours collectifs: les cigarettiers isolés | Le Devoir

For those who follow litigation against the tobacco industry. The industry had tried to get the court to rule that the Federal Government would need to share in any costs awarded to the provinces (in this case Quebec). Chutzpah, given that Canadian governments of different stripes have all been strong on anti-smoking policies. Fortunately, the [...]

Why Listening Is So Much More Than Hearing – NYTimes.com

Some Some good points on the distinction between hearing and listening, and the need to develop the latter: Listening is a skill that we’re in danger of losing in a world of digital distraction and information overload. And yet we dare not lose it. Because listening tunes our brain to the patterns of our environment [...]