Commentary
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
It appears, that despite hundreds of stories in 2007—to say nothing of stories for almost a decade— warnings about dangerous community-based infections, hospital-based infections and the need for the public to become aware of the importance of hand-washing as well as other hygiene measures, the U.S. government has decided that common […]

News
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
After years of reading studies about how patients and doctors talk to each other, here is my conclusion about the one question that will be asked each time there is a new technology with which doctors and patients can exchange medical information.
When are face-to-face visits with patients essential—-either to make an […]

News
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
The British Medical Journal, December 24, 2007, (free download online) has a fascinating article which discusses a wide range of internet-related patient-physician developments: Patient helpers (patients who become extremely knowledgeable about their diseases, literature, current practice and provide that information on websites); e-mail and other topics.
U.S. doctors’ views are reflected in this […]

News Brief
The Washington Post Health section reports on the use of e-mail to get better information on cancer patients’ side effects and to encourage communication in face-to-face visits.
The results of 106 patients’ experiences were reported in a November, 2007, issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researcher Ethan Basch, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, designed the […]

News Brief
As recently as the 1970s, doctors were still with-holding facts about cancer from their patients—-thinking that it would do them more harm than good.
Now a new study suggests, that, at least for elderly patients with colorectal cancer, with-holding information is what they want their doctors to do.
In the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers noted […]

News
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
The New York Times Health Section’s Jane Brody has an excellent column about how to get the most out of a visit with your doctor: “On The Same Wavelength With Your Doctor.”
There Is No Way To Know Too Much About Doctor Visits
There is NO way to read too much about this […]

News Brief
This is a somewhat surprising finding, given the amount of attention breast reconstructive surgery gets.
The journal, Cancer, published a study online December 21, 2007, which found that, “Only 33% of patients had a general surgeon discuss breast reconstruction with them during the surgical decision-making process for their cancer. Surgeons were significantly more likely […]

News Brief
Reuters News Service reported on December 21, 2007, that, “U.S. health officials issued a second warning on Friday about reports of deaths and dangerous side effects in patients who used Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Duragesic pain-killing skin patch or generic versions.
“The Food and Drug Administration said it “has continued to receive […]

News
By Cheree Cleghorn, Editor
MSNBC has posted a remarkable story about a doctor who devised her own cancer treatment—-for pancreatic cancer, one which is among the most lethal. (The original story appeared in Self Magazine.) She is alive and enjoying every moment. Any layperson can learn from her story although, obviously, her M.D. degree made […]

News Brief
Amed.com,the American Medical Association’s newspaper for physicians, reported earlier this year that with today’s medical tools, President Lincoln’s life could have been saved.
That, and 51 other intriguing facts from each week’s 2007 issues, are listed on the link above.
This is their best of the best. Definitely worth a look.