Freelance Medical Communications
If you’re a busy professional who loves finding new recipes that are not only tasty and relatively simple, but also offer even a vaguely healthy, nutritious twist, you might enjoy these taste buds!
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The fall is my favorite season, and I’m a devoted lover of all things pumpkin (especially my pumpkin spice latte!), so that’s the running theme of these recipes. Hope you all like pumpkin!
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Here are this week’s three tried & tested options:
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Pumpkin & Ricotta-Stuffed Shells
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I work in a cancer research group at MIT that investigates the development of gastrointestinal cancers in particular. Consequently colorectal cancer is just one such type of this disease that has become a regular part of my everyday work life. This deadly condition, however, is anything but routine.pp
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What Is Colorectal Cancer?
This form of cancer develops in the large intestine. The colon is the first 4-5 feet of the large intestine, and represents the largest portion of it – it is divided into ascending, descending, and sigmoid regions. The rectum comprises only the last few inches of the large intestine.
The colon acts to remove water and nutrients from partially digested food that enters the colon from the small intestine, turning the remainder into waste material. This waste material is the stool that passes through the colon into the rectum, then leaving the body via the anus.
Collectively, cancers arising at either location are known as colorectal cancer. Cancer begins when cells lining these regions of the large intestine are transformed and begin to grow abnormally and out of control. These abnormal cells continue to proliferate, and eventually form a mass of tissue that we know as a tumor. A tumor can be benign or malignant. The adenomatous polyps that can arise in the large intestine are typically benign. They can, however, progress to become malignant (cancerous) if they are not removed.
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Incidence Of Colorectal Cancer
It is estimated that in 2011, over 140,000 people in the USA will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and at least 49,000 of them will die as a result of the condition. This is the 3rd most common type of cancer in this country, and represents the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Over the past 20 years, however, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been decreasing, largely due to increasing use of established diagnostic screening techniques, among other factors.
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“Long Interdialytic Interval and Mortality Among Patients Receiving Hemodialysis”
Robert N. Foley et al, N Engl J Med 2011; 365:1099-1107
This article in the September 22nd edition of the New England Journal of Medicine stirs up further controversy over the traditional schedule of hemodialysis for patients with end-stage kidney failure.
For most patients who require it, maintenance dialysis tends to be performed three times a week – typically “Monday, Wednesday, and Friday”, or “Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday”. This leaves most patients with two 1-day intervals between sessions, and one 2-day interval (either between Friday and Monday, or Saturday and Tuesday).
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Some Background
Since the occurrence of cardiovascular complications is high in these patients, the group of researchers hypothesized that the risk of such problems would be heightened after the longer, 2-day interval between dialysis sessions.
What They Found
They studied 32,065 patients with end-stage renal disease who were receiving hemodialysis three times weekly from 2004-2007. They compared the rates of death and cardiovascular-related hospital admissions on the day after the 2-day interval. They found an increase in morbidity and mortality on the day after the long dialysis weekend. Events that were increased at this time included:
So clearly a longer interval of 2 days between dialysis presents an increased risk for patients. What the study didn’t address, however, was whether what the patients were doing on that “day off” could have played a role in the events leading up to morbidity or mortality. Regardless, however, the long dialysis weekend still seems to spell trouble for patients.
What Does It All Mean?
Consequently, it seems that more dialysis is better – although this is not a new concept to healthcare professionals who deal with such patients on a daily basis. Despite being widely known that the end of the long dialysis weekend is a time of heightened risk to dialysis patients, relatively few studies have actually evaluated the association. It has gained more interest in recent years, however, allowing some clinical trials to demonstrate improved outcomes in patients as a result of daily dialysis sessions.
Although the answer seems to lie in providing daily dialysis sessions, it probably isn’t as simple as it sounds. Inevitably, problems such as patient compliance, and the mechanics of providing daily dialysis will likely come into play. Additionally, as is the case with all-things-medical, no doubt the sheer business and financial implications of such daily treatment will continue to hinder the situation.
“Science Careers”, from the Journal Science published this great article today – it’s a content collection comprising links to their best resources on careers in science writing. They all make for interesting reads in general for anyone in the medical communications field, but they’re especially valuable for anyone thinking about transitioning into medical writing.
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Image Credit Digital Art @FreeDigitalPhotos
Continuing in the spirit of this month being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the lovely Cathy Miller invited me to write this guest post on breast cancer risk factors on her Simply Stated Health Care business blog. I was delighted that she invited me back into her blogosphere – it must mean I was well-behaved enough when I was her guest for the first time a few weeks ago when I discussed the health benefits of volunteering!
If you’re someone who should have a mammogram (whether because of your age group or risk factors), but haven’t already done so, don’t delay any longer – speak to your doctor about screening.
How Can You Help Others?
Again, if you literally have $2 to spare (or more!), please consider donating to the Susan G. Komen “3 Day For The Cure” – Cathy Miller is about to embark upon her 8th of these walks in the fight against cancer. She still needs a wee bit more by way of donations to allow her to undertake the walk, so dig around under the sofa or in that old never-used-teapot! Any spare few dollars that you can find will be massively welcomed! Visit her page to make a small donation today. Your few dollars will make a world of difference.
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Image credit Free Digital Photos.
If you’re a busy professional who loves finding new recipes that are not only tasty and relatively simple, but also offer even a vaguely healthy, nutritious twist, you might enjoy these taste buds!
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Here are this week’s three tried & tested options:
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Strawberry Rhubarb Streusel Cake
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THIRTY YEARS AGO
Do you remember the summer of ’81? Right now, chances are some of you may be conjuring up fun and pleasant memories to share.
Doctors in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco at that time, however, would have some very different memories. Strange clusters of cases of pneumonia and cancer were arising there in gay men – diseases typically only seen before in immunosuppressed patients. Diseases that were killing these patients.
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FAST FORWARD TO TODAY
Thirty years on, however, and we now know that these were not primary conditions in their own right, but were secondary, in association with the disease that we now know as AIDS.
Thankfully a diagnosis of HIV infection today no longer has to represent the kind of death sentence that it did 30 years ago, but millions of people do continue to suffer around the world. Despite decades of promises of a vaccine, this sadly still remains but a promise.
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THE GENDER EPIDEMIC
We now also know that AIDS is not just a disease of gay men. In contrast today, women account for almost half of all people with HIV/AIDS. Tragically, this condition represents the leading cause of death in women or reproductive age.
HIV contraction thus clearly poses very different risks and consequences for girls and boys around the globe. Frighteningly, there is an escalating risk of HIV infection/AIDS in young women and girls, with half of all new infections arising in the 15-24 year old age group. And in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, young females in this age group are twice as likely to have HIV/AIDS than their male counterparts.
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WHY THE ESCALATION IN YOUNG GIRLS?
The feminization of the epidemic highlights the gender inequalities at the root of this trend, with socioeconomic issues, as well as biological factors coming into play.
Socioeconomic Issues:
Biological Factor
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WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Women have inevitably now become the face of HIV/AIDS across the world, constituting an increasing proportion of adults (15-49 years of age) living with the condition. To help protect women across the globe, and reduce the unique effect that the AIDS epidemic has on them we must:
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WHAT MOVES ARE UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION?
UNAIDS for example has various strategy goals in place for 2015, which include addressing HIV-specific needs of women and girls, as well as a zero tolerance for gender-based violence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is in agreement, and similarly aims “to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care interventions for all in need”, through their Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV/AIDS (2011-2015).
The WHO rightly calls on the world “to build on the collaboration, innovation and investment that have forged hard-won progress to date, establishing the foundation for success over the next five years.”
Read more about the Girl Effect, and see what you can do for the movement.
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Image Credit morgueFile
This month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, representing an opportunity to promote and encourage screening for, and therefore aid early detection of breast cancer. p
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor of the breast. It arises in the tissues of the breast, most commonly in the ducts that drain milk to the nipple, as well as the milk-producing cells. Approximately 1 in 8 women in this country will develop breast cancer – it is the second most common form of cancer in women, with skin cancer leading the list.
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Warning Signs
It is important to remember that breast cancer may have no signs or symptoms, and may not be painful, especially in its early stages. Any changes in the breast should be reported immediately to a physician, including findings such as:
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Screening Guidelines
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How Can You Help Yourself?
Unfortunately there is currently no way to prevent breast cancer, which is why regular screening mammograms remain important for early detection. Thanks to this, as well as improved treatments, however, the news isn’t all bad for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. And in fact, millions of women now survive breast cancer, living longer than ever after a diagnosis. And although we can’t totally prevent breast cancer developing, we can take steps to keep the risks low as possible by not smoking, eating nutritious food, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising routinely, and limiting alcohol.
All in all, you have a much better chance of surviving breast cancer if it’s detected early. So if you haven’t done so already, talk to your physician about your risk for this disease, especially if breast cancer or ovarian cancer runs in your family. Your doctor will be able to help you decide when to have a mammogram, and also how frequently you should be screened.
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How Can You Help Others?
If you literally have $2 to spare (or more!), please consider donating to the Susan G. Komen “3 Day For The Cure” – Cathy Miller is about to embark upon her 8th of these walks in the fight against cancer. She still needs a wee bit more by way of donations to allow her to undertake the walk, so dig around under the sofa or in that old never-used-teapot! Any spare few dollars that you can find will be massively welcomed! Visit her page to make a small donation today. Your few dollars will make a world of difference.
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Image credit Free Digital Photos.
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