Category Archives: Medical Science

How to read and critique medical science

The Legislature and Breast Cancer: Not a Good Match

The Legislature and Breast Cancer: Not a Good Match According to California law, starting on April 1, 2013 (I note that that was April Fool’s Day), women whose mammograms revealed dense breast tissue will get the following notice: Your mammogram … Continue reading

Posted in Breast Cancer, Health Policy, Medical Science | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Sitting Down to Call Out Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)

I’m a baseball fan. And a San Francisco Giants fan. I watched a lot of baseball in the post-season. (If you’re wondering, Giants won the World Series, sweeping the Detroit Tigers in 4 straight games. But that’s not really the … Continue reading

Posted in Breast Cancer, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Broadening ALS Research to Help Patients III: Make Biogen Idec Walk Its Talk

Like many readers of this blog, I have been exchanging emails with Dr. George Scangos, CEO of Biogen Idec, the company running the clinical trial in which I am a participant. The trial is testing the efficacy of a drug … Continue reading

Posted in ALS, ALS Treatment, Health Policy, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Ever Happened to Previews of Coming Attractions in Health?

If you like this blog, send it to your friends. Let’s keep the conversation going! Anybody who knows about ALS knows where those of us with the disease end up. But there are steps along the way that can be … Continue reading

Posted in ALS, Breast Cancer, Illness, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Don’t Be Surprised By the Undelivered Promise of Personalized Medicine

If you like this blog, send it to your friends. Let’s keep the conversation going! In the past week there have been no fewer than 3 stories about genetic research and the promise of personalized medicine. One was a cautionary … Continue reading

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Komen’s True Colors: Red, not Pink

If you like this blog, pass it on to your friends. Let’s keep the conversation going. So much has happened with the Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle that it’s hard for me to let go of the topic. It seems the only … Continue reading

Posted in Breast Cancer, Health Policy, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You Don’t Have to Talk Like Stephen Hawking

If you like this blog, forward it to your friends. Let’s keep the conversation going. Stephen Hawking is famous. He should be. He’s a very influential theoretical astrophysicist. And he’s achieved that fame and influence despite being diagnosed many years … Continue reading

Posted in ALS, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Science by Press Release – Not Good News for Patients

If you like this blog, send it to 3 (or more) of your friends and encourage them to sign up. Let’s keep the conversation going! It May Look Like News If you have ALS, or know someone who does, you … Continue reading

Posted in ALS Treatment, Medical Science | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

My Life as A Guinea Pig, aka ALS Patient

If you like this blog, send it to 3 (or more) of your friends and encourage them to sign up. Let’s keep the conversation going! Drug Trial Travails I’m a participant in a clinical trial for an ALS drug. The … Continue reading

Posted in ALS Treatment, Medical Science | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Fast-Tracking Cancer Drugs: The Back Story and The Future

If you like this blog, send it to 3 (or more) of your friends and encourage them to sign up. Let’s keep the conversation going! In a previous blog post, I tried to explain the importance of understanding what was … Continue reading

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