Andrew Griffith's Blog, page 7

Normal cells help cancer spread, Canadian researchers find – The Globe and Mail

On the relationship between cancerous and normal cells, and improved understanding on how cancer spreads to normal cells. Treatment implications are interesting: This knowledge means that, instead of trying to kill tumours, as has traditionally been done when a person is diagnosed with cancer, treatments could be developed to target healthy cells. “We hope to [...]

Do health care workers practice what they preach? | Reuters

While not ‘logical,’ understandable given that health care workers reflect overall trends. What always struck me in my all too frequent hospital visits and stays was the contrast between my doctors, none of whom were obese, and many of the nurses and other workers who were more reflective of the general population. Quote below confirms [...]

The Power of Concentration – NYTimes.com

An overview of mindfulness and some experiments demonstrating how it helps concentration and effectiveness. Strong recommendation for more ‘uni-tasking’ rather than our normal tendency, accelerated by today’s work demands and technology, to multi-task. And another way to move into ‘slow thinking’ to use Kahneman’s phrase. Previous post on some practical tips: Mindfulness Practices to Improve Health [...]

How do you know if a second medical opinion is justified?

Good piece on reasons and considerations in seeking a second opinion, with a case study on how one doctor helps his patient go through the process. Highlights of the piece below: You might consider a second opinion: If you do not trust (for whatever reason) the first opinion you received If you have questions about [...]

Hold your disgust: A nuanced look at paternalism in medicine

A discussion of the ethical issues involved with medical tests and disclosure of the results. A lot of it boils down to good patient-doctor communications, informed consent, and doctors thinking through the implications of possible communication issues following tests. My bias is for full disclosure, with the necessary contextual information; the nature of people, however, [...]

We are exporting unnecessary and wasteful testing to the UK

Further to Not Running a Hospital: The proton beam chain reaction on the proton beam ‘arms race,’ another interesting export of bad practice – excessive screening and testing in the UK. Quote: The US sends Dell computers, Facebook, Google, blue jeans, and movies across the pond. Now it’s sending over useless and wasteful medical tests. I guess this [...]

Aider les patients sous chimio qui sont «dans le brouillard» | Actualité | LeFigaro.fr – Santé

More on chemo brain (brouillard cognitif), picking up on earlier studies mentioned (Evidence of ‘chemo brain’ verified by researchers). And citing an example of memory training to reduce the effects: Pour l’instant, la prise en charge proposée aux patients repose uniquement sur des exercices de rééducation. Isabelle Hardy-Léger, neuropsychologue, a été pionnière dans le domaine [...]

Older People Become What They Think, Study Shows – NYTimes.com

Interesting study on the impact of attitude on behaviour, lifestyles choices, and quality – and quantity – of life: When stereotypes are negative — when seniors are convinced becoming old means becoming useless, helpless or devalued — they are less likely to seek preventive medical care and die earlier, and more likely to suffer memory [...]

Ten Ways Patients Get Better Medical Treatment – WSJ.com

An interesting list, and good mix between the ‘technical’ and the personal: Doctors Are Adopting a Better Bedside Manner Heart Attacks are Being Treated Faster ERs Are Getting Better at Handling Medical Mysteries You Can Finally See What Your Doctor Is Writing About You Health Apps Are More Sophisticated Tests for Colon Cancer Are Less [...]

Immediate health risk must be weighed against radiation-induced cancer risk

Many of us are familiar with this risk calculation with respect to CT and PET scans, or Total Body Irradiation. Not easy, but most of us make the willing trade-off being living now and the longer-term risks. Trade-off is different of course for children (see CT Scans and Cancer: What Parents Need to Know and Do), and [...]