According to an article that appeared in the New York Times yesterday, “The report, from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said the rules were still too heavily based on Reference Man,’ a standard created by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in 1975. That standard is a 5-foot-7, 154-pound man who is ‘Western European or North American in habitat and custom.””

The problem is, women and children aren’t generally 5 foot 7 inches nor weigh 154 pounds. Plus, their body make up is different when you look at fat and muscle distribution.

To read more about this issue, go to the NYT article, Report Faults U.S. Measure of Cancer Risk.

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Post from: Blisstree

Radiation risk must be recalculated for women & children

This isn’t just speculation. Researchers, who published their findings in a recent issue of BMJ.com, found that annual reminders around birthdays and Christmas did increase participation in screening programs. It was a large study, almost 30,000 participants. What the researchers found was interesting. People who were invited to a screening in the week of or after their birthday responded at a rate of 67.9% compared with those who had random invitations, who had a 64.5% rate. December invitations did even better: Those who received invitations in December responded at a rate of 72.3% compared with 64.2% of participants who had random invitations throughout the year.

What does this mean? If you’re responsible for helping arrange health appointments in  your family, and the person or people involved are less than willing to go for cancer screening, you’ll likely have better success getting them to attend if you schedule the appointment in December or around their birthday.

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Post from: Blisstree

Happy Birthday, let’s go get screened

Cancer Commentary made it to the list under the Misc. Consumer Health category. Thanks again, Lisa!

Also, just a short notice that i only had intermittent internet connection the last three days and probably will be ’til the end of this month.

My inbox is clogged – there are too many things going on in this channel alone – and I would like to apologize for my non-participation. As much as I want to…my internet connection is such a bummer and I gotta do first things first, kep this blog updated until I’m well able to be online 24/7, sort of.

So…it’s Friday and I’m gonna take a sweet weekend break from online activities and be back Maybe Tuesday already. Don’t forget about me and this blog, guys…I’ll just be offline for the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend, folks!

Post from: Blisstree

Cancer Commentary @IHM Health Blogs and This Blogger’s Online Presence

Leroy Sievers (blogger, podcaster, commentator) began a Morning Edition commentary in May 2006 on his fight with cancer by saying, “My doctors are trying to kill me.”

My Cancer blog is Leroy’s monthly commentary contribution to Morning Edition.

Do check it out.

Post from: Blisstree

Checkout NPR’s Cancer Blog: My Cancer