Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with Anal-Cancer: Are you aware of this Rare illness?
With the passing of Farrah Fawcett last week, anal and rectal cancer and their therapies need scrutinized. The anus is the end passage of the intestine through which waste products of the bowel is eliminated. It is about 1-2 inches long and has two muscle sphincters which relax and contract to allow stool passage. The anus has two tissues forming it: 1. the inner intestinal lining; 2. outer skin.
Discovered in 2006, she underwent standard treatment of surgical excision with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. She was declared cancer free in 2008 because the tumors in her liver were inactive. Later, new tumor was found growing in the rectum and liver. She underwent another form of chemotherapy and traveled to Germany for six herbal treatments non- approved of for US use.
Anal cancer is very rare. Rectal cancer is about twenty times more common. Bleeding, itching, pain, a mass or discharge can be symptoms. Most people think of hemorrhoids when bleeding and itching occur. A change in bowel habits is also seen. It is found more often in smokers, people over age of 50 years, and those having anal sex and with multiple sexual partners. HIV may also be related. The cancer is highly related to human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease. The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer, and may have an effect in anal cancer. However, it is not given yet to alter this cancer risk. Data is still being collected.
More men get anal cancer up to the age of 50; afterwards more women get it. Prognosis is good if found early. Five year survival is over 80%; it decreases as metastasis occurs. Only 20% of patients survive five years if the cancer is found in other organs. With re-occurrence, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are used again.
Upon learning of the re-occurrence of her tumor, she underwent treatments in Germany. They were herbal supplements and immune therapy. Mistletoe and other herbals were apparently used to attempt to boost the immune system and fight off the tumor. Mainstream American doctor agree with the theory that immune strengthening can be used to kill cancer cells. It is just that at this time we are strong on theory and weak on practice. There is not strong scientific evidence to show that we have any herbals supplements that can do that. Doctors suggest people be aware of possible medical scams. You should decide just what they want to obtain in treatment. It is pain relief or cure or something else. Finally, look at the major cancer centers in the US for new, experimental therapies that may work.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Quitting Smoking can be Harmful to your Health? The US FDA gives a New Warning
The Surgeon General of the United States makes many warnings about cigarette smoking, including the risk of cancer and heart disease. But today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns about the potential for deadly side effects of nicotine suppression drugs. The side effects are not physical like smoking, but rather mental. The drugs used to assist smokers, called Chantix and Zyban, are studied and theorized to cause “bizarre behavior” in its users.
Bizarre behavior isn’t the half of it. The aforementioned drugs are suspected to induce suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and hostility. The FDA warns users of these prescription products to be monitored closely by their physicians.
Certainly, those who aspire to quit smoking should understand that smoking is a great health risk. Therefore, doctors caution that quitting smoking is a significant health benefit. However it is recommended that those using prescription drugs to achieve that goal, be warned about reporting any changes in behavior.
Some smokers who are trying to quit smoking have asked if “cold turkey” is a safer means of stopping, meaning without any medication. According to some doctors, the act of quitting smoking itself will cause withdrawal symptoms that can cause moodiness and other behavioral changes and the cold turkey method is not highly successful.
Based on the FDA findings, it appears that the drug Chantix is the riskier or the two. Zyban has a study result of 14 suicides compared to Chantix with 98. Though these studies have not been fully completed, the FDA takes early precautions in warning the public and applying a “black box” warning on the products identifying the risk to its users.
Pfizer, the maker of the drug Chantix, explains that it will continue to conduct clinical tests on its own with respect to the dangers of the drug, but contends that the, “drug remains an important tool for people who want to quit smoking”.
This safety news is bad news for many people who seek help to quit smoking. According to a study by the American Cancer Society, deaths attributed to nicotine and tobacco use has caused nearly 20 percent of the deaths in America. Since about 43 million Americans smoke, the deaths associated with cancer and smoking will far outweigh any side effects from nicotine prevention drugs. The death and taxes argument is doubled in the case of smoking. Based on studies by several American agencies, smoking can cause death. However, the financial impact of smoking has also become a good reason to quit now. The federal government as well as the individual states has imposed additional tobacco taxes that have caused certain hardship to Americans during this economic crisis.
Bizarre behavior isn’t the half of it. The aforementioned drugs are suspected to induce suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and hostility. The FDA warns users of these prescription products to be monitored closely by their physicians.
Certainly, those who aspire to quit smoking should understand that smoking is a great health risk. Therefore, doctors caution that quitting smoking is a significant health benefit. However it is recommended that those using prescription drugs to achieve that goal, be warned about reporting any changes in behavior.
Some smokers who are trying to quit smoking have asked if “cold turkey” is a safer means of stopping, meaning without any medication. According to some doctors, the act of quitting smoking itself will cause withdrawal symptoms that can cause moodiness and other behavioral changes and the cold turkey method is not highly successful.
Based on the FDA findings, it appears that the drug Chantix is the riskier or the two. Zyban has a study result of 14 suicides compared to Chantix with 98. Though these studies have not been fully completed, the FDA takes early precautions in warning the public and applying a “black box” warning on the products identifying the risk to its users.
Pfizer, the maker of the drug Chantix, explains that it will continue to conduct clinical tests on its own with respect to the dangers of the drug, but contends that the, “drug remains an important tool for people who want to quit smoking”.
This safety news is bad news for many people who seek help to quit smoking. According to a study by the American Cancer Society, deaths attributed to nicotine and tobacco use has caused nearly 20 percent of the deaths in America. Since about 43 million Americans smoke, the deaths associated with cancer and smoking will far outweigh any side effects from nicotine prevention drugs. The death and taxes argument is doubled in the case of smoking. Based on studies by several American agencies, smoking can cause death. However, the financial impact of smoking has also become a good reason to quit now. The federal government as well as the individual states has imposed additional tobacco taxes that have caused certain hardship to Americans during this economic crisis.
Source of Taliban Funding
Afghan Poppy is a Deadly Source of Taliban Funding, US and NATO Attempting to Stop Drug Trafficking
Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium poppies, about 93% is grown in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Helmand is mostly a lawless region; it has no form of government and has been over-taken by the Taliban insurgents, who headquarter there. In Afghanistan, the poppies are not considered flowers; rather they are called crops, crops used to make the narcotic drug heroin.
It is no coincidence that the Taliban controls much of southern Afghanistan, where the poppy crop is farmed. These poppy farms keep the Taliban in control by providing it with crop sales. The sales of
the poppy crop produce enormous profits which are used by the Taliban insurgents to fight US troops by its purchase of expensive and sophisticated weaponry. The money is also used by the Taliban to recruit new jihadists or holy warriors. The Taliban is said to have control over the poppy farms by substantially taxing the farmers and taking control of the distribution of the final product.
For years, the US has attempted to eradicate the poppy farms in Afghanistan. However, this plan has backfired for the US because attempting to stop harvest and production by the Afghan farmers was only causing the farmers to join the Taliban. Why do farmers opt to join the Taliban instead of discontinuing production of the crop? While some farmers say that Taliban militants force them to grow poppies under threat of death, other farmers say that they are proud to be supporting “jihad” against Americans.
The US, concerned about the rising risk of insurgencies and weaponry in Afghanistan, are also concerned about the trafficking of this highly addictive substance. Large quantities of heroin have been spread all around Europe from Afghanistan after at stop in Iran. The drug has become widely available due to the Taliban farming and distribution. The drugs Heroin and Opium, both from the poppy, are considered to be dangerous narcotics, according to the World Health Organization which is also studying ways to prevent health risks from these drugs.
The US has been trying a dangerous new tact, the U.S. and NATO forces are attempting to stop the trafficking and warehousing of the drug before it leaves southern Afghanistan. The mission is top secret, the details are not being revealed by the Pentagon. But this might be the only way to stop the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan and return it back to its people, according to a US Envoy in Afghanistan.
The poppy is widely used to make the drug heroin. However, the poppy has medical uses as well. It is used to make pain medicines such as morphine and codeine.
Poppies are a decorative flower that comes in many different colors. The seeds of the poppy are used for all sorts of culinary recipes. However, the drug is harvested from the milky latex sap of the mature seed bulbous capsule. When the pod is cut, the sap drips from the fresh cuts. Once the sap oxidizes in the air it turns black, the net result is the resin to make heroin.
Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium poppies, about 93% is grown in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Helmand is mostly a lawless region; it has no form of government and has been over-taken by the Taliban insurgents, who headquarter there. In Afghanistan, the poppies are not considered flowers; rather they are called crops, crops used to make the narcotic drug heroin.
It is no coincidence that the Taliban controls much of southern Afghanistan, where the poppy crop is farmed. These poppy farms keep the Taliban in control by providing it with crop sales. The sales of
the poppy crop produce enormous profits which are used by the Taliban insurgents to fight US troops by its purchase of expensive and sophisticated weaponry. The money is also used by the Taliban to recruit new jihadists or holy warriors. The Taliban is said to have control over the poppy farms by substantially taxing the farmers and taking control of the distribution of the final product.
For years, the US has attempted to eradicate the poppy farms in Afghanistan. However, this plan has backfired for the US because attempting to stop harvest and production by the Afghan farmers was only causing the farmers to join the Taliban. Why do farmers opt to join the Taliban instead of discontinuing production of the crop? While some farmers say that Taliban militants force them to grow poppies under threat of death, other farmers say that they are proud to be supporting “jihad” against Americans.
The US, concerned about the rising risk of insurgencies and weaponry in Afghanistan, are also concerned about the trafficking of this highly addictive substance. Large quantities of heroin have been spread all around Europe from Afghanistan after at stop in Iran. The drug has become widely available due to the Taliban farming and distribution. The drugs Heroin and Opium, both from the poppy, are considered to be dangerous narcotics, according to the World Health Organization which is also studying ways to prevent health risks from these drugs.
The US has been trying a dangerous new tact, the U.S. and NATO forces are attempting to stop the trafficking and warehousing of the drug before it leaves southern Afghanistan. The mission is top secret, the details are not being revealed by the Pentagon. But this might be the only way to stop the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan and return it back to its people, according to a US Envoy in Afghanistan.
The poppy is widely used to make the drug heroin. However, the poppy has medical uses as well. It is used to make pain medicines such as morphine and codeine.
Poppies are a decorative flower that comes in many different colors. The seeds of the poppy are used for all sorts of culinary recipes. However, the drug is harvested from the milky latex sap of the mature seed bulbous capsule. When the pod is cut, the sap drips from the fresh cuts. Once the sap oxidizes in the air it turns black, the net result is the resin to make heroin.
Obama prepares for talks in Moscow amidst Rumors of Relationship strain between Putin and Obama
US President, Barack Obama, has scheduled a visit to Moscow, Russia to discuss various political issues and reconciliation with Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin and with Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev. President Obama aspires to update the approach of diplomacy between Russia and the United States.
Obama describes Putin’s approach with the US as still having, “one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new.” Since Obama feels that the “old Cold War approaches” are “outdated”, he will attempt to develop a more timely relationship with Russia. Obama believes that Putin still has a lot of influence in Russia and hopes to reconcile as many differences as possible between them.
In April 2005, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s then-president, made a speech stating that Russia will develop democracy at its own pace and will not tolerate any outside interference from the United States. Since that speech, Putin has not progressed his views about relations with the United States. This is an attitude that Obama hopes to correct.
A motivating factor in Obama’s upcoming visit to Moscow is partly attributed to his outreach vow to foreign leaders. Obama is looking to develop a “very good relationship” with Medvedev, Russia’s president. Part of Obama’s approach with Russia is to reduce nuclear arms in the world.
Obama admits that Russia has not been an obstacle in confronting Iran or North Korea in their zeal to amass nuclear arms. However, Obama would like open communication with Russia instead of propaganda, posturing or messaging.
Indeed, communication and good relations are in order. As of last week, Russia debuted its 16 year-old project, its strategic nuclear-powered Yury Dolgoruki submarine. Testing has uncovered that the submarine vessel cannot accommodate Russia’s Bulava rocket, but nonetheless Russia’s Defense Ministry reports that this will be corrected in the next year.
Another challenge for Obama, standing in the way of a successful meeting with Russia, is the underground whispers of dissension between Putin and Medvedev. There are rumors between the two cabinets in Russia that “they may be playing various games” with each other.
Just in the last few days, the two leaders have confronted each other on gambling matters and retail sales. Another hurdle for Obama is the on-going conflict between the country of Georgia and Russia. Last August, the two countries engaged in a war lasting five days. Though the two countries publicly disagreed today in Geneva about their politics, more talks are scheduled to resume in Geneva on July 14 and on Sept. 17. It is Obama’s goal to further discuss a solution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.
As Obama plans to visit Moscow this month, he might not receive the adulation that he did in Germany and in Cairo, inspiring his audience toward conflict resolution. Obama is predicted to be disappointed by Russia’s confidence in him. A recent poll by the BBC found that only 23 percent of Russians felt confident that Obama will “do the right thing in world affairs.”
Obama describes Putin’s approach with the US as still having, “one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new.” Since Obama feels that the “old Cold War approaches” are “outdated”, he will attempt to develop a more timely relationship with Russia. Obama believes that Putin still has a lot of influence in Russia and hopes to reconcile as many differences as possible between them.
In April 2005, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s then-president, made a speech stating that Russia will develop democracy at its own pace and will not tolerate any outside interference from the United States. Since that speech, Putin has not progressed his views about relations with the United States. This is an attitude that Obama hopes to correct.
A motivating factor in Obama’s upcoming visit to Moscow is partly attributed to his outreach vow to foreign leaders. Obama is looking to develop a “very good relationship” with Medvedev, Russia’s president. Part of Obama’s approach with Russia is to reduce nuclear arms in the world.
Obama admits that Russia has not been an obstacle in confronting Iran or North Korea in their zeal to amass nuclear arms. However, Obama would like open communication with Russia instead of propaganda, posturing or messaging.
Indeed, communication and good relations are in order. As of last week, Russia debuted its 16 year-old project, its strategic nuclear-powered Yury Dolgoruki submarine. Testing has uncovered that the submarine vessel cannot accommodate Russia’s Bulava rocket, but nonetheless Russia’s Defense Ministry reports that this will be corrected in the next year.
Another challenge for Obama, standing in the way of a successful meeting with Russia, is the underground whispers of dissension between Putin and Medvedev. There are rumors between the two cabinets in Russia that “they may be playing various games” with each other.
Just in the last few days, the two leaders have confronted each other on gambling matters and retail sales. Another hurdle for Obama is the on-going conflict between the country of Georgia and Russia. Last August, the two countries engaged in a war lasting five days. Though the two countries publicly disagreed today in Geneva about their politics, more talks are scheduled to resume in Geneva on July 14 and on Sept. 17. It is Obama’s goal to further discuss a solution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia.
As Obama plans to visit Moscow this month, he might not receive the adulation that he did in Germany and in Cairo, inspiring his audience toward conflict resolution. Obama is predicted to be disappointed by Russia’s confidence in him. A recent poll by the BBC found that only 23 percent of Russians felt confident that Obama will “do the right thing in world affairs.”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Swine Flu Economics
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on June 11 that it has classified the rapidly spreading H1N1 swine flu virus as a pandemic event, the highest level of intensity on its six point scale of severity.
WHO applies that classification only when a dangerous pathogen appears on a significant scale in numerous countries and at least two major world regions. As of mid-June, almost 30,000 cases of H1N1 infections and 144 related deaths have been confirmed in 74 countries around the world.
The swine flu has had a significant effect on tourist-related industries in Mexico, where the H1N1 virus is believed to have originated. But its macroeconomic impacts in the U.S. and other countries have been relatively minor to date. This reflects the relatively mild impact of the H1N1 virus. Less then 10 percent of its victims require hospitalization, very few of them die, and most recover quickly.
In fact, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) Pandemic Severity Index, the current swine flu barely qualifies as a category one event, on the CDC’s rising scale of one to five. Its current case-mortality rate is low, and its illness rate as a percent of our population is very low.
The only generally recommended U.S. public health response to date is to call for voluntary isolation at home of those who are infected and for the general public to pay close attention to simple hygienic measures such as frequent hand-washing.
If and as the scope and/or the virulence of the swine flu escalates here, the CDC can be expected to step-up its alert levels and recommend progressively more intense and economically costly interventions. However, unless the virus mutates into a far more dangerous pathogen, it is unlikely to have global macroeconomic effects.
Unfortunately, world health experts believe that a deadly mutation of the H1N1 virus is possible. If that happens, and if its global incidence mounts dramatically when the normal flu season begins this fall in the northern hemisphere, the swine flu could then trigger a more serious global recession than the one we are currently experiencing.
That, in turn, would conjure up images of prior deadly global flu outbreaks, such as the Spanish flu of 1918, which created a major global recession in addition to infecting more than over one-fourth of the world’s population and killing more than 50 million people.
However, the likelihood of a truly catastrophic flu pandemic being driven by the H1N1 virus in its current form is, thankfully, quite small.
By way of comparison, the bird flu (H5N1) virus, to date has about a 60 percent mortality rate for the confirmed global cases.
Fortunately, that virus has not yet mutated into a strain that can be transmitted from person-to-person like the swine flu. If the bird flu were in play today globally, rather than the much less dangerous swine flu, the economic threat it poses would be dramatically greater.
Aside from killing relatively fewer infected people (in economic terms, workers and consumers), the H1N1 virus also is less harmful to the world economy because, as noted above, most infected people recover quickly.
Compared to the bird flu cases or the Spanish flu, this results in far fewer deaths and also fewer lost workdays. Most importantly, the currently milder nature of H1N1 puts less strain on the world’s limited supply of medical personnel and facilities which could be easily overwhelmed by the global spread of a more virulent virus.
But the relatively benign current outlook could change dramatically should the swine flu mutate into a more virulent virus. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.
WHO applies that classification only when a dangerous pathogen appears on a significant scale in numerous countries and at least two major world regions. As of mid-June, almost 30,000 cases of H1N1 infections and 144 related deaths have been confirmed in 74 countries around the world.
The swine flu has had a significant effect on tourist-related industries in Mexico, where the H1N1 virus is believed to have originated. But its macroeconomic impacts in the U.S. and other countries have been relatively minor to date. This reflects the relatively mild impact of the H1N1 virus. Less then 10 percent of its victims require hospitalization, very few of them die, and most recover quickly.
In fact, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) Pandemic Severity Index, the current swine flu barely qualifies as a category one event, on the CDC’s rising scale of one to five. Its current case-mortality rate is low, and its illness rate as a percent of our population is very low.
The only generally recommended U.S. public health response to date is to call for voluntary isolation at home of those who are infected and for the general public to pay close attention to simple hygienic measures such as frequent hand-washing.
If and as the scope and/or the virulence of the swine flu escalates here, the CDC can be expected to step-up its alert levels and recommend progressively more intense and economically costly interventions. However, unless the virus mutates into a far more dangerous pathogen, it is unlikely to have global macroeconomic effects.
Unfortunately, world health experts believe that a deadly mutation of the H1N1 virus is possible. If that happens, and if its global incidence mounts dramatically when the normal flu season begins this fall in the northern hemisphere, the swine flu could then trigger a more serious global recession than the one we are currently experiencing.
That, in turn, would conjure up images of prior deadly global flu outbreaks, such as the Spanish flu of 1918, which created a major global recession in addition to infecting more than over one-fourth of the world’s population and killing more than 50 million people.
However, the likelihood of a truly catastrophic flu pandemic being driven by the H1N1 virus in its current form is, thankfully, quite small.
By way of comparison, the bird flu (H5N1) virus, to date has about a 60 percent mortality rate for the confirmed global cases.
Fortunately, that virus has not yet mutated into a strain that can be transmitted from person-to-person like the swine flu. If the bird flu were in play today globally, rather than the much less dangerous swine flu, the economic threat it poses would be dramatically greater.
Aside from killing relatively fewer infected people (in economic terms, workers and consumers), the H1N1 virus also is less harmful to the world economy because, as noted above, most infected people recover quickly.
Compared to the bird flu cases or the Spanish flu, this results in far fewer deaths and also fewer lost workdays. Most importantly, the currently milder nature of H1N1 puts less strain on the world’s limited supply of medical personnel and facilities which could be easily overwhelmed by the global spread of a more virulent virus.
But the relatively benign current outlook could change dramatically should the swine flu mutate into a more virulent virus. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.
Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
Maybe you saw the reported botched prostate cancer therapy report in the news this weekend. Prostate cancer kills 25,000 men each year. Twenty per cent of the male population develops the cancer over their lifespan. While very common, only 3% of those who get it actually die from the disease.
Brachytherapy is a new type of therapy in which radioactive implants are placed directly in the tumor field of the diseased prostate gland. The radiation kills the nearby cancer cells. It is generally very safe with few side effects. Usually, the risk of anesthesia is the riskiest part of therapy.
Apparently, a doctor and surgical team in the Philadelphia VA hospital did not place the implants correctly and caused some severe problems. Over six years, 92 of 116 procedures were incorrectly performed as reported by Walt Bogdanich in THE NEW YORK TIMES (June 21).
The radioactive seeds are placed n the gland with the use of an ultrasound images that are put together to produce a three dimensional representation of the gland by a computer. The surgeon then places a needle into the gland and manually inserts the radioactive seed into place. Hundreds of seeds can be used. You want the majority to be placed within the gland.
The computer displays placement of the seeds. If the surgeon decides they are in the right position, then the procedure is considered successfully completed. However, the seeds can be placed outside the gland near other tissue like the bladder or rectum.
This can cause radiation damage to the local tissue. One of the patients in the article suffered radiation injury to the anal canal. If not placed in the gland, the cancer is not treated properly and the procedure needs to be repeated.
It appears that peer review and other safety procedures failed in the hospital to detect these failed procedures. The radiation dosing machine that measures the adequacy of the radiation therapy was broken. Even so, the treatments were still done. There also was inadequate peer review of the procedure. The program opened in 2002 and was ended after these results become known.
The most frightening thing in this whole episode is that it may not have even been discovered if an order for seeds had not gone awry. A clerical error led to the problem’s discovery.
Lower dose seeds were incorrectly ordered and used for implantation. The nuclear commission noticed this and asked the hospital to investigate. What they found was that the seeds had been improperly placed in several cases. They looked at more cases and found more problems: 45 in all.
The program was stopped. The nuclear commission concluded that many case had undertreated the prostate as seed had been placed in the wrong areas or some other non-prostate tissues had been overdosed by radiation. None of this was reported to proper officials. The cases mismanaged mounted.
A major system failure occurred here. The nuclear commission did not feel they were responsible to report this as they did not regulate medicine. Peer review by doctors of the surgeon and his team also failed. There is no excuse for this. What do you think?
Brachytherapy is a new type of therapy in which radioactive implants are placed directly in the tumor field of the diseased prostate gland. The radiation kills the nearby cancer cells. It is generally very safe with few side effects. Usually, the risk of anesthesia is the riskiest part of therapy.
Apparently, a doctor and surgical team in the Philadelphia VA hospital did not place the implants correctly and caused some severe problems. Over six years, 92 of 116 procedures were incorrectly performed as reported by Walt Bogdanich in THE NEW YORK TIMES (June 21).
The radioactive seeds are placed n the gland with the use of an ultrasound images that are put together to produce a three dimensional representation of the gland by a computer. The surgeon then places a needle into the gland and manually inserts the radioactive seed into place. Hundreds of seeds can be used. You want the majority to be placed within the gland.
The computer displays placement of the seeds. If the surgeon decides they are in the right position, then the procedure is considered successfully completed. However, the seeds can be placed outside the gland near other tissue like the bladder or rectum.
This can cause radiation damage to the local tissue. One of the patients in the article suffered radiation injury to the anal canal. If not placed in the gland, the cancer is not treated properly and the procedure needs to be repeated.
It appears that peer review and other safety procedures failed in the hospital to detect these failed procedures. The radiation dosing machine that measures the adequacy of the radiation therapy was broken. Even so, the treatments were still done. There also was inadequate peer review of the procedure. The program opened in 2002 and was ended after these results become known.
The most frightening thing in this whole episode is that it may not have even been discovered if an order for seeds had not gone awry. A clerical error led to the problem’s discovery.
Lower dose seeds were incorrectly ordered and used for implantation. The nuclear commission noticed this and asked the hospital to investigate. What they found was that the seeds had been improperly placed in several cases. They looked at more cases and found more problems: 45 in all.
The program was stopped. The nuclear commission concluded that many case had undertreated the prostate as seed had been placed in the wrong areas or some other non-prostate tissues had been overdosed by radiation. None of this was reported to proper officials. The cases mismanaged mounted.
A major system failure occurred here. The nuclear commission did not feel they were responsible to report this as they did not regulate medicine. Peer review by doctors of the surgeon and his team also failed. There is no excuse for this. What do you think?
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
794 swine flu cases confirmed across the world, none in Romania
Some 794 swine flu cases are confirmed across the world but none in Romania, Romanian Health Ministry State Secretary Aurel Nechita informed this weekend, presenting a European Center for Virus Control report. 23 people lost their life due to the virus that spread to 20 countries already. In Mexico there were 568 cases, US 226 and Canada 101.
Among EU countries, Spain registered 44 cases and Great Britain 18. In Germany, another two cases were conformed on Sunday, raising the number of cases to 8. New cases sprang in Austria and Hong Kong.
Other confirmed cases:
Columbia - 1 case
South Korea - 1 case
Costa Rica - 4
Denmark - 1
France - 2
Israel - 4
Ireland - 1
Italy - 2
New Zealand - 4
Salvador - 2
Switzerland - 1
Netherlands - 1
Moreover, all countries are investigating possible swine flu cases. In Romania 33 people returning from countries were confirmed not to have contacted the virus. Romania's Health ministry decided that, started Saturday, it will set up a permanent information service. Plus, a public information campaign will be launched, to inform the population on the way it can prevent contacting the virus and what are the symptoms.
Among EU countries, Spain registered 44 cases and Great Britain 18. In Germany, another two cases were conformed on Sunday, raising the number of cases to 8. New cases sprang in Austria and Hong Kong.
Other confirmed cases:
Columbia - 1 case
South Korea - 1 case
Costa Rica - 4
Denmark - 1
France - 2
Israel - 4
Ireland - 1
Italy - 2
New Zealand - 4
Salvador - 2
Switzerland - 1
Netherlands - 1
Moreover, all countries are investigating possible swine flu cases. In Romania 33 people returning from countries were confirmed not to have contacted the virus. Romania's Health ministry decided that, started Saturday, it will set up a permanent information service. Plus, a public information campaign will be launched, to inform the population on the way it can prevent contacting the virus and what are the symptoms.
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