Three big dangers your doctor may not talk about and how to stay safe.
Your doctor has given you the lowdown on how to protect yourself against breast, colon, and lung cancer: Get yearly mammograms (check) and regular colonoscopies (check), and don’t smoke (double check).
But when was the last time she asked if you had any persistent mouth sores, unexplained fevers or joint pain, or discomfort during sex? These can be symptoms of three cancers—oral, leukemia, and endometrial—that don’t get the attention they deserve. Even though they are among the most common cancers affecting women over age 55, these diseases can fall through the cracks as doctors focus on the biggest killers hogging the health headlines, says Elmer Huerta, M.D., president of the American Cancer Society.
Read more for the facts behind these quiet dangers—and the simple ways you can protect yourself.
1- Oral Cancer
2- Leukemia
3- Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer
Read about these quite cancers
According to Laura Flynn McCarthy
Traveling can be tough enough, sitting for long periods of time, cooped up and cramped, with nothing but some of the most fattening, caloric food options out there.
1. Beverages: Opt for low-fat milk or water.
2. Skip the breading: Grilled chicken is always a better choice than anything coated and deep-fried.
3. Mind your fries: Reduce one of the worst sources of calories and trans fat by skipping the fries or opting for a small.
4. Watch the salad dressings: Often half the packet is plenty; the dressings may be surprisingly high in calories, fat and sodium.
According to EatingWell.com
There are pros and cons to everything, including drinking bottled water.
It’s more expensive and adds unnecessary waste to the environment, but it’s also a way to avoid drinking harmful chemicals that can even be found, in small quantities, in rich countries.
According to the Economist, the global industry “is now worth about $60 billion. As well as the plain variety, there are now bottled waters laced with all sorts of extra ingredients, such as caffeine, appetite suppressants, skin enhancers and even laxatives. Bottled-water giants such as Nestlé, the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo reckon that the market will continue to fizz. ”
Bottled water may becoming more popular because the pros outweigh the cons or it may be because water fountains are mysteriously disappearing and drink machines are appearing.
Click here to read more about the good, the bad and the ugly of bottled water.
Children as young as 2 should be tested for high cholesterol, group says
MONDAY, July 7 (HealthDay News) — In a further concession to the impact of the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, a leading group of pediatricians is recommending that kids as young as 8 years old be given cholesterol-lowering drugs in hopes of preventing heart problems later in life.The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that children as young as 2 years old start having their cholesterol levels screened if they have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol. Screening should start no later than 10, the academy said.
Dr. Steven P. Shelov, chairman of pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center and head of Maimonides Infants & Children’s Hospital in New York City, said he agreed with the new guidelines. “More aggressive screening is a good idea, and the use of [cholesterol-lowering] statins at relatively low doses will keep cholesterol at safer ranges.” Read more…
According to Steven Reinberg
The next time you take a peek in your friend’s or neighbor’s medicine cabinet, don’t be surprised if it’s a little crowded.Statistics are showing that more and more Americans are taking prescription drugs, and in increasing quantities. It’s estimated, for instance, that from 1994 to 2005 the number of prescriptions purchased increased 71% (from 2.1 billion to 3.6 billion) compared with a 9% growth in the U.S. population, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that analyzes health care issues. During roughly the same period, the average number of retail prescriptions per capita increased from 7.9 to 12.4. Read more…
According to Allison Van Dusen
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 15, 2008 — ELDR magazine and ELDR.com today released the results of a national survey of adults on the “right to die” issue or what some call “physician-assisted suicide.” The survey showed that over 80 percent believe the choice to end one’s life is a personal decision, with two-thirds of adults saying they want physician-assisted “death with dignity” legal, as in Oregon.
The ELDR Magazine “Right To Die” National Survey, conducted by Knowledge Networks and statistically projectable to the U.S. adult population, also revealed that only half of adults over 60 have a living will or advance health care directive. These legal documents specify what a person’s wishes are if, for example, they are in a persistent vegetative state. Such a document could have prevented the prolonged and agonizing situation the family of Florida woman Terri Schiavo endured.
 A painful or prolonged death is something everyone worries about  |
The survey is in conjunction with ELDR’s Summer issue cover article, “Perfect Ending,” which tells the story and reflections of a physician who had clandestinely given patients, who were terminally ill and in great physical pain, the means to end their lives. The physician profiled is not identified.
“A painful or prolonged death is something everyone worries about,” said Dave Bunnell, editor-in-chief of ELDR. “Yet too few of us plan ahead to be prepared for this possibility. Our survey is telling people if they act now, they can be in charge. You don’t have to leave this entirely to fate.”
The ELDR survey comes as Washington state proponents gather signatures for a voter initiative which, if successful, would make that state the second after Oregon to legalize physician-assisted “death with dignity.” 225,000 valid voter signatures need to be presented to Washington state officials by July 3 for the I-1000 initiative to appear on the November 2008 ballot.
Other results from the ELDR Magazine “Right To Die” National Survey include:
Complete survey results can be found at http://www.eldr.com.
Take a baby boom, add six decades, and what have you got? A booming market for home healthcare companies, which provide a low-cost, long-term alternative to hospitals at a time when medical costs are rising.
As if to illustrate the point, Amedisys surprised Wall Street Wednesday with better-than-expected earnings and an increase in its guidance for the rest of the year. The company, which bought rival TLC Healthcare Services in late March for $395.0 million, said it was looking forward to growing on its own and through further acquisitions. Read more
TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire - March 27, 2008) -
Following a highly successful fundraising collaboration last year, The Body Shop and MTV are once again joining forces to target the under-25 age group in a campaign raising HIV and AIDS awareness. The launch of the campaign is marked by the introduction of a new Limited Edition Guarana Lip Butter ($8.00).
Unmissable with its eye-catching, multi-coloured Pop Art design, this handy little pot of lip relief does more than make your lips irresistibly smooth and moisturized. At least $5.00 from the sale of the Guarana Lip Butter will go to the Staying Alive Foundation, funding HIV and AIDS prevention awareness for young people across the world.
Just as the Guarana berry is renowned for its stimulant and energy-enhancing properties, The Body Shop and MTV hope that this effective little product will become renowned for stimulating debate, discussion and interest in the under-25 age group on the devastating issue of HIV and AIDS.
Many young people believe HIV will never touch their lives, yet globally over 40 million people live with HIV and AIDS. Shockingly, half of all new HIV infections are among young adults, under the age of 25.
Starting March 27, eye-catching advertisements promoting the “Move Your Lips” campaign will run on all of MTV’s networks to more than 508 million households in 160 countries to raise awareness among young people about how HIV/AIDS can affect them.
The Staying Alive Foundation is committed to fighting stigma and discrimination and empowering young people to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. MTV and The Body Shop have together raised approximately $860,000 towards the Staying Alive Foundation to-date. The funding from last year’s campaign went directly to the Staying Alive Foundation Awards, giving small grants to 85 young people to mobilize HIV prevention efforts who are working to educate their peers and influencing and inspiring others to think about HIV/AIDS.
So today, make a difference and ‘Move Your Lips’ about HIV/AIDS, the greatest epidemic the world has ever faced - log onto www.moveyourlips.com (launches March 27, 2008) to find out more about the campaign, watch the Canadian public service announcement or step in-store, and with your purchase you can make a real and positive impact on lives all over the world.
The product
New Limited Edition Guarana Lip Butter has a unique formula to restore moisture levels and protect delicate lips, and contains guarana berry from the Amazon Basin in Brazil. For ultimate moisturization, this Lip Butter also contains Community Trade shea butter from Ghana and beeswax from Zambia. Both ingredients are sourced through The Body Shop Community Trade program, ensuring communities get a fair deal for their ingredients and accessories. Available nationwide In Store and online March 27, 2008.
About The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc has more than 2,200 stores in over 55 markets worldwide including 122 locations in Canada. A global retailer of toiletries and cosmetics, we are committed to environmental protection and respect for human rights; we develop trading relationships with communities in need; we are against animal testing in the cosmetics industry; and we encourage education, awareness and community involvement among our staff and customers.
All The Body Shop products and ranges are suitable for vegetarians, meaning they contain no animal slaughter by-products. Select ranges are suitable for vegans as they contain no animal derivatives, such as beeswax, honey and lanolin.
Community Trade: Twenty years ago, The Body Shop launched its Community Trade programme to create sustainable trading relationships with disadvantaged communities around the world. The aim of the programme is to satisfy our demand for natural ingredients, gifts and accessories in a fair way and, in doing so, to bring sustainable benefits to as many people and their communities as we can. From Brazil to Zambia, the breadth and range of the Community Trade programme is vast. The Body Shop trades with Community Trade suppliers in more than 20 countries and, in turn, the programme provides essential income to more than 15,000 people across the globe. As a result suppliers can build their livelihoods and introduce educational and health benefits to their communities.
Shop When You Like, Where You Like: We’ve got all your favourite products for 24/7 shopping, delivered direct to your door. Shopping with The Body Shop(R) online couldn’t be any easier. Visit www.thebodyshop.ca for more information.
LOS ANGELES, March 14 /PRNewswire/ — Award-winning singer and actress Vanessa Williams and renowned evening wear designer Carmen Marc Valvo, who is a colon cancer survivor, appear in a new public service campaign to educate people about the importance of screening. The PSAs also note that with advances in treatment, more people are surviving colorectal cancer than ever before and highlight the potential benefit of working with a multidisciplinary team of specialists for those who are diagnosed with the disease. Ms. Williams and Mr. Valvo participate in the initiative as volunteer ambassadors for the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF’s NCCRA).
This new campaign, which includes both print and broadcast announcements, was created by EIF’s NCCRA and sanofi-aventis. The print version of the PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines starting in the spring. The 30 and 60 second spots will begin airing this March during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Director Jeff Wadlow created the spots with the support of the creative team behind his new feature film NEVER BACK DOWN, including Composer Michael Wandmacher, Director of Photography Lukas Ettlin and Editor Debra Weinfeld.
“Colon cancer isn’t glamorous, but we have to be vigilant about getting people comfortable with talking about it,” says NCCRA Ambassador Williams. “My good friend Carmen is living proof that colorectal cancer is treatable. As a first step, we want to encourage people to talk to their doctors about getting screened.”
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in the United States; almost 150,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed within this year. Yet, this is one of the only cancer types that is often entirely preventable through screening. People should be screened starting at age 50, and for those with a family history of the disease, testing should begin even earlier.
“I didn’t have any typical symptoms of colon cancer but I just knew something was wrong,” says NCCRA Ambassador Valvo. “I insisted on having a colonoscopy and that’s part of the reason I’m alive today. Once I was diagnosed, I took an active role in working with my medical team to select the best treatment for me. Become your own champion, like I did, and it could save your life.”
Directing the PSA was very personal for Wadlow, who lost his uncle Jay Monahan to the disease 10 years ago. “My aunt Katie Couric has made the fight against colon cancer one of the central commitments in her life. I’m honored to contribute to the work she and the Entertainment Industry Foundation do to make the public aware that colorectal cancer screening saves lives.”
The PSA encourages diagnosed patients to be their own advocates and take an active role in working with their healthcare providers. One key to better treatment outcomes may be working with a multidisciplinary team of specialists — an oncologist, surgeon and gastroenterologist — in partnership with a primary care physician, to decide the best treatment path.
“We’re delighted to work with sanofi-aventis on this PSA that both encourages screening and provides a survivor’s perspective on what people facing a colon cancer diagnosis should do to try to ensure the best outcome,” said Lisa Paulsen, EIF’s president and CEO. “To have stars with the stature of Vanessa and Carmen in our PSA helps make it fashionable to talk about colon cancer, a topic that was considered taboo not long ago. We are incredibly grateful to both of them. Jeff Wadlow is a tremendously talented feature film director; we so appreciate that he and his team volunteered their time to produce the broadcast PSA.”
To learn more about colorectal cancer and screening, visit www.nccra.org.
About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in this country. In 2007 in the U.S., more than 52,000 deaths resulted from colorectal cancer, representing 10% of all cancer deaths. In 2008, 108,070 new cases of colon cancer and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed.
About the Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social issues.
National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
EIF’s NCCRA is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by promoting education about the importance of medical screening and funding cutting-edge research to develop better tests, treatments and, ultimately, a cure. The NCCRA was co-founded by journalist Katie Couric, cancer activist Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in 2000. As a result of the attention focused on colorectal cancer since the NCCRA was established, the number of colonoscopy screenings has increased almost 20 percent, a phenomenon dubbed the “Couric Effect” by the University of Michigan researchers who documented it.
Source: Entertainment Industry Foundation
Most executives know when it’s time to fire an employee. Whether he or she constantly misses deadlines, doesn’t take responsibility for mistakes or just isn’t up to the job, the signs are usually pretty obvious.
But evaluating your doctor’s performance can be a little more difficult.
That’s partly because people don’t tend to treat doctors’ visits like business relationships. Whether you’re going for a physical or treatment for a specific condition, instead of focusing on how to get the most out of an appointment, you’re probably tense–maybe even intimidated.
There’s something about playing the role of a patient that can make the most powerful CEO, stripped of his Dior Homme suit and told to put on a skimpy cotton gown, feel vulnerable. Whether it’s because you’re nearly naked or afraid of what the doctor might say, you suddenly may not be able to clearly explain your symptoms, ask the list of questions you brought or decipher all of those medical terms, let alone tell if your doctor is doing a good job.
If a person behind the counter at a retail store doesn’t have the right attitude, you’ll probably confidently walk away with your business, says Dr. Phyllis Hollenbeck, a Seattle-based fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and author of the new book Sacred Trust: The 10 Rules of Life, Death and Medicine.
“But,” says Hollenbeck, “you lose that sense of being connected to your gut in the doctor’s office.”
Putting up with poor patient-doctor relationships can have consequences ranging from potentially billions of dollars squandered nationwide on unnecessary medical tests each year to outright substandard care. It also can be, quite simply, frustrating.
Check out Mojo’s Top 10 Reasons why it’s time to fire your Doctor
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