"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
A recent study of skin cells, in the journal Science, demonstrated that UV-exposed skin cells harbor a multiplicity of genetic mutations that can develop into cancer. By sequencing the genes in skins cells obtained at the time of plastic surgery on the eyelids (to remove drooping skin), the researchers were able to demonstrate multiple genetic …
Colon cancer has a large preventable component through early screening and detection, and despite the general safety and tolerability of colonoscopy, many people hesitate due to the preparation required, or due to the perceived risk of the test (which is small..but real.) Other ways we screen for cancers and polyps is through testing for microscopic …
This weeks Sunday New York Times had a great article titled “Why Everyone Seems to Have Cancer” and the summary is….as we live longer and reduce the greatest killer of people, HEART DISEASE, Cancer comes to dominate as the major cause of death. The statistics clearly show reductions in premature death from heart disease and …
Vitamin D is riding high these days, as there have been many reports in the medical literature that low levels of Vitamin D are associated with everything from cancer to reduced longevity. As a result, supplementing Vitamin D has become all the rage, with patients actually developing Vitamin D overdose, as it is a fat …
Turns out that despite high calories, nuts appear to be a great health food. A recent NEJM study showed increased longevity in those who ate nuts daily, with a 30% reduction in heart disease and 11% in cancer. Nut eaters are also more slender than the rest of us….so not to worry about the extra …
Dr. Lakin; My dentist likes to do xrays once a year, to help in caring for my teeth, but I’m concerned about excessive radiation. What do you think? Chevy Dear Chevy; This is a great question, and one we should all think about when we are exposure to radiation or xrays. Now that it …
Read More “RADIATION CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE, BUT KNOW THE DOSE”
Chantix (varenicline) is a great ‘stop smoking’ medication. It works by stimulating nicotine receptors in the brain, but it was given a black-eye when there were concerns that it caused suicidal thoughts in people and might worsen depression in those who are susceptible. Now, a new study, shows this medication to be safe, and that …
Two large studies have shown that screening for colon cancer is an effective tool in reducing your risk for dying from colon cancer. Both articles appeared in the respected New England Journal of Medicine. One study looked at colonoscopy, and found a 70% reduction in your chances of dying from colon cancer. A second study …
Read More “GET YOUR COLONOSCOPY ON….OR AT LEAST CHECK THE BOWELS FOR MICROSCOPIC BLOOD”
OK…that’s an exaggeration. But, his recent passing was the occasion of my reading is obituary in the NYTIMES, and there I discovered that he was another link-in-the-chain in the story of Gleevec, a cancer therapy breakthrough that has cured patients of a form of leukemia that was previously uniformly fatal. Tony Pawson focused his research …
A recent study in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) has raised questions about the safety of one of our most commonly prescribed blood pressured medications, the CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS. In a case-control study, the researchers demonstrated at 2.5x greater risk of breast cancer in those women on the medication for 10 years or more. …
There has been controversy about screening for lung cancer. This has gone on for many years, as the chest xray has been deemed quite imperfect in screening for this issue. On the other hand, the overdiagnosis of benign nodules with it’s attendant unnecessary lung biopsies and complications, as well as the radiation from CAT scanning …
Supplementation with Omega 3 fatty acids, the healthy fats that come naturally from fish sources and also are used as supplements like Mega Red, has shown an association with prostate cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute report shows a statistical increase in men with high levels of Omega 3’s, having more ‘low grade’ and …
Read More “OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS MAY INCREASE RISK FOR PROSTATE CANCER IN MEN”
In a recent study of oiver 1,000 patients with colon cancer, discovery at colonoscopy proved to be an important factor in longer survival. Patients who were discovered to have colon cancer by colonoscopy were found to have an earlier stage of disease and a longer life-span. This is just another study suggesting the benefits of …
Pap testing is a superb method for screening for cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus), but there is potential promise for the pap smear as a screening test for ovarian and uterine cancer, and in a recent scientific article from Johns Hopkins, research have performed initial innovative research showing ‘proof of concept’ …
Read More “EXCITING NEW RESEARCH FROM HOPKINS …MAKING THE PAP TEST BETTER”
A large Danish study demonstrates a reduced cancer risk in people on statin medications like Lipitor. This good news should be interpreted with some caution as study does have some limitations, but the fact that the medication did not show an increase risk of cancer issues is great news for those millions of us on …