carypresant

03 Nov

Smoking Increases the Risk of Colon Cancer

carypresant Cancer, Smoking 0 0

We all know that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. But recent evidence also shows that smoking increases the risk of colon and rectal cancer by 18 to 26% http://bit.ly/Vd8csw .

Importantly, the risk continued to be increased for up to 25 years after a person stopped smoking! In smokers, the risk of colon cancer was less if that person was not obese or if the person had above normal fruit intake.

Here…

28 Oct

Have a Good Relationship with your Doctor and Improve your Medical Care

carypresant Doctors, Healthcare Reform, Physician Communication, Uncategorized 0 0

It is logical that having a good physician with whom you have a close relationship can improve your sense of confidence in your medical care. But does it result in improved outcomes?

In an important scientific article, K. Trevino and co-authors studied the relationship between young adults with advanced cancer and their physicians. In 95 young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old, who had advanced cancer, having a strong relationship with…

21 Oct

Have You had Your Genes Tested Yet?

carypresant Gene Testing, Physician Communication 6 0

Genetic predisposition to disease is very important. About one-third of all cancers are due to genetic predisposition. Also, about 10% of all cancers may have been caused by an abnormal gene for which doctors today have genetic tests available. Consequently, making certain that you get tests for a gene mutation that can cause cancer when you have a high family risk is important for you and your family.

In a recent article, C. Bellcross and…

14 Oct

Have You Been Exposed to Arsenic?

carypresant arsenic, Toxins 0 0

Millions of people in the world have been exposed to arsenic through contamination of drinking water. Arsenic can cause a higher risk of cancers, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, and skin cancer.

Many people grew up in countries other than the United States. C. Steinmaus and co-authors (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 2013, Volume 22, Page 623), reported on studies of patients who lived in Northern Chile. Since over a quarter million people were exposed…

10 Oct

Drugs are Getting More Expensive

carypresant Chemotherapy, Drug Cost, Medication 0 0

Prescription medicines are becoming more expensive. New medicines may cost up to $10,000 per month, and even older generic medicines have had price increases, or been moved to specialty drugs with higher copays.

Because of this many patients are making the error of not taking all the medicine as prescribed, or taking only half doses, or even stopping the medicine without letting the doctor know. This is dangerous.

For a discussion of the problem and…

07 Oct

How Does Having Medicaid Insurance Help Patients?

carypresant Health Insurance, Healthcare Reform 0 0

One of the major types of insurance available to patients with low incomes is Medicaid. Access to Medicaid is being expanded through the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). The question is, how does Medicaid insurance really help people?

The answer is in part provided by an excellent article by K. Baicker and co-authors (New England Journal of Medicine 2013, Volume 368, Page 173) and an accompanying editorial by R. Kronick and A. Bindman (New England Journal…

25 Sep

Conversations between doctors and patients

carypresant Doctors, Physician Communication 3 0

Communication between physicians and patients is crucial to delivering high quality medical care. However, it is the experience of most patients that communicating with their physicians has become more difficult.

With healthcare reform, physicians often have less time to discuss things with their patients. An informational brochure may be handed out, or physicians may simply say, “talk to my nurses for more information.”

In a recent set of articles in the Journal of the American…

18 Sep

Are you really taking your medications?

carypresant Drug Cost, Health Care, Medication 0 0

When physicians prescribe medications, the doctors assume that patients will take their medications on a regular basis. However, when patients are actually studied, 30% to 50% of adult patients are not consistently taking their long-term medications. This leads to approximately $100 billion in extra health care costs nationally, dollars that could be better used to provide better and more comprehensive care for people. When patients don’t take their medicines, results are worsening of their medical…

09 Sep

Are you now at higher risk of prostate cancer?

carypresant Cancer, prostate cancer 2 0

Prostate cancer occurs in one of every six men in the United States. It is the most frequently cancer diagnosed in men, and it results in one out of every nine cancer deaths in men.

Who is at higher risk of getting prostate cancer? It is

well-known that having a family history of prostate cancer or being African-American results in a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men with those characteristics are usually screened more intensively…

02 Sep

Logical Healthy Lifestyle Factors Can Improve Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors.

carypresant Cancer, Uncategorized 0 1

The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research have recommended guidelines for cancer prevention. It is recommended that all people utilize these logical suggestions which include:

Maintaining lean body weight. Being physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Limiting consumption of high caloric or sugary foods. Eating more vegetables and fruits and grains and beans. Reducing red meat and avoiding smoked meats. Limiting alcoholic drinks to (for men two per…

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