Health News. Lots of resources and information

Laetrile is a substance made from apricot kernels and containing a substantial amount of cyanide. For many years now it has been widely promoted as a treatment for cancer.

Repeated studies in the U.S. have failed to show that laetrile is of any value in cancer treatment, and in some states it is banned.

Yet many cancer victims and their families go to a great deal of trouble and expense to cross the border into Mexico where medical clinics exist to fulfil this need.

Few of us are prepared to accept the diagnosis of an incurable disease and many people will be prepared to try almost anything in an effort to seek a cure.

Despite the previously negative response of laetrile in being effective in cancer, public demand made the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. set up controlled trials at four leading cancer centres.

The British Journal, the Lancet, recently reported that the results were now available and showed laetrile to be totally ineffective.

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What sort of lovers can we expect beer-drinkers to be?

Chronic alcohol abuse damages the liver. This can lead to a number of signs and symptoms which help the doctor arrive at the diagnosis when the patient is less than honest about the amount of alcohol consumed. The liver is usually enlarged and easily felt.

Men produce the female hormone oestrogen just as women produce a small amount of the male hormone, testosterone.

The oestrogen is normally broken down by the liver but, when damaged by alcohol, this function is impaired and men may suffer from a build up of oestrogen. This can cause hot flushes similar to those experienced by women at the time of the menopause.

The oestrogen may cause small blood vessels in the skin to dilate and to have small branching vessels coming out from a central larger vein.

These are common on the face and account for the red blotchy visage of the chronic alcohol abuser.

The excess oestrogen may cause shrinkage of the testes with underproduction of testosterone, resulting in lack of interest in sex and poor sexual performance. The breasts may enlarge and body fat be deposited in areas similar to the female.

Of course, liver damage due to other conditions may result in the same problems but, in this community, alcohol abuse is the commonest cause of liver damage and eventual cirrhosis.

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Sharon’s story: “Looking back on a five-year problem that had me hospitalized tour times for laparoscopics, I find it shocking that my now-diagnosed endometriosis could have been overlooked by a count of ten out of twelve doctors! What is amazing is that the first laparoscopy showed endometriosis, and some of the adhesions were cauterized at that time. Unfortunately, the doctor who said it was endometriosis attributed the adhesions to an infection, even though a blood test showed no such thing.

“Four months later, the pain started again and the doctor did a second laparoscopy. His words were ‘no findings,’ meaning that he couldn’t see the endometriosis, not necessarily that it wasn’t there. J went to another doctor, this time traveling to a big medical center in the Midwest, and he had vague explanations about my pain after giving me a third laparoscopy. For about five months, I started to improve by some miracle. I was taking pain pills until last summer and then the crash came. The pain was so intense I couldn’t stand up I was put on antibiotics again. The doctor said my case was ‘too peculiar’ and he increased the dosage of painkillers.

‘A cousin sent me to her doctor. He actually listened to all of my symptoms (no one else really heard them when I recounted them) and he diagnosed endometriosis, but sent me to another doctor to have a fourth laparoscopy to be sure. It showed endometriosis, with one big implant near my left tube and another two implants on my right ovary.

“What is really disturbing to me is mat all these doctors were highly recommended. The third doctor even told me that if the second doctor found nothing after a laparoscopy, then nothing was there! The doctor who gave me the fourth laparoscopy put me on Danocrine for four days, but I had such bad reactions to the drug that he decided birth control pills would be better. I was still in pain after taking these pills, so be changed the brand. Now he wants to do a fifth laparoscopy ‘to get an objective view of the pain/ and if mat’s not enough, he wants to perform a laparotomy!”

Sharon’s chance for treatment and possible cure was sabotaged by her first doctor’s misdiagnosis. Sadly, it set her on an unwitting course that would be repeated again and again with other doctors. As it happened, the first laparoscopy revealed adhesions—fibrous bands that can bind organs. Adhesions arc unrelated to pelvic infections, but they do signal the possible presence of endometriosis.

Endometriosis can sometimes be detected during a pelvic examination if the masses are large enough to be felt. In Sharon’s case, the ‘hidden disease” had infiltrated pelvic tissue and was detectable with the aid of a laparoscope. Since its nature is also to implant itself on organs and go unseen endometriosis can be missed by doctors who are not familiar with identifying and treating the disease. This happened to her three times.

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Moles, better known as pigmented naevi, are benign tumours of the skin. They arise as a localized abnormality of the pigment cells in the skin. Moles are uncommon at birth, and their incidence increases throughout childhood, reaching a peak at about puberty, and gradually declining with increasing age. Moles are common in all races and in both sexes. The average number per person in adolescence is about 20. They frequently increase in number during pregnancy. By the age of 70, however, very few moles remain.

The natural history or evolution of moles is both interesting and important. The earliest, or youngest type of mole, is the junctional naevus. This is situated completely within the epidermis, at the junction of the epidermis with the dermis. It appears as a flat, brown-black mark without any substance to it. The border is usually irregular, but normal skin markings are visible through it. By a process of maturation termed ‘dropping off, cells begin to appear within the dermis.

The mole is then termed a compound naevus. It appears as a raised, brown-black lump with, on occasions, a coarse hair projecting from it. As the mole ages, more and more cells appear in the dermis and eventually, as seen in older people, there is no cell activity in the epidermis. The mole has now developed into an intra-epidermal naevus. These naevi appear more regular in outline, frequently raised, but much less pigmented than compound naevi. The maturation process continues and eventually, in old age, there is disintegration of the mole which is replaced by fibrous tissue forming a skin tag; this may simply drop off.

However, if a mole is subjected to certain stimuli-as yet unknown-it may not undergo this usual ageing process; instead, at any level of maturation, it may develop into a malignant melanoma. It must be stressed, however, that only ;about one mole in every 500000 becomes malignant. Only about 25 per cent of malignant melanomas arise from a preceding mole.

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1. Be aware of the physiological causes of hunger and cravings. This may reduce guilt in clients and increase motivation to combat difficult periods.

2. Tease out factors enhancing appetite such as social custom, food availability and restrained eating, and encourage an awareness of these for modifying eating behaviour.

3. Encourage slow eating to give the body a chance to recognise that feeding is taking place.

4. Graze rather than gorge so as not to risk periods of intense hunger. Snacking every 3-4 hours (using low-fat, sweet foods such as fruit) can promote satiety and reduce possible dietary compensation that may occur at a 5-6 hour time period.

5. Differentiate between biological and emotional hunger and rate levels of hunger to reduce unnecessary over-eating.

6. Wait 15 minutes before eating to see if a craving is physiological or emotional.

7. Reduce availability of high-fat foods. Sensory properties may influence susceptible individuals.

8. Choose high SI foods where possible to maximise satiety, e.g. All Bran, porridge, untoasted muesli, pasta, fruits, beans, lentils, spaghetti and potatoes.

9. Where possible, include high-fibre foods at each meal to help maximize satiety throughout the day.

10. if alcohol is consumed, there should be an awareness of the possible increase in food consumption due to reduced inhibition and possible higher intake of fatty foods .

11. The use of artificial sweeteners or fat substitutes may provide benefits to some individuals but requires individual monitoring.

12. Be aware of the nutritional limitations on fat loss and advise clients to avoid food restriction beyond their individual threshold of hunger.

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Private

Legally, a private health practitioner’s files are her or his own property. A woman has no legal right to see or get copies unless they are subpoenaed by a court.

X-rays and test results are paid for by you so you have the right to request them. In private practice, you may have to use powers of persuasion to get the information you need. If you wish to have your X-rays and test results then discuss this issue at the outset of the relationship. Make it clear you want copies of records, specialists’ reports, etc. and explain why you think it is in your best interests to obtain copies of your records. For example, you may want to get a second opinion or you may plan to move interstate and would need to see another doctor. Your doctor has every right to refuse your request.

Public

The Freedom of Information Act (Vic. 1982; NSW 1989; ACT 1989) gives everybody the right to obtain any of their medical records held by public hospitals. A fee is usually levied for access and copies.

Access to your medical records varies in other Australian states so if you want access to them contact the hospital concerned. If this proves unsuccessful then contact the health department in your state to find out what your rights are.

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Depo-Provera is the long-acting injection form of Provera, also manufactured by Upjohn, which is sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis. It is also used to treat endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterus), breast cancer and, in some countries, is used as a contraceptive agent.

An injection of Depo-Provera consists of thousands of very small crystals of the drug suspended in a solution of water. When the drug is injected into the body the crystals are slowly released into the bloodstream over a period of weeks or months. The time that the drug remains in the body depends on how fast it releases the crystals and how fast the body removes the drug from the bloodstream.

There has been considerable controversy over the last decade regarding the unapproved use of Depo-Provera for contraceptive purposes. However, Depo-Provera has long been approved in this country for the treatment of endometriosis.

How Depo-Provera works

Depo-Provera presumably eradicates endometrial implants in the same way as Provera.

Dosages of Depo-Provera generally used Dosages vary. Some gynaecologists recommend one injection every two weeks for the first two to three months followed by one injection every month for the rest of the course of treatment. Others recommend one injection every two weeks throughout the course of treatment. The recommended length of treatment may vary from six months to a year.

It is important to remember that because Depo-Provera is a long-acting injection, any side effects will persist until all the crystals of the drug have been removed from the body. There is no way to remove the drug from your body once you have had an injection and there is no antidote.

Some gynaecologists suggest that you try taking a short-term course of Provera tablets before you embark on a long-term course of Depo-Provera as this should enable you to find out how your body responds to the drug and whether or not the side effects are likely to cause problems.

Side effects of Depo-Provera

Side effects of Depo-Provera include vaginal bleeding, weight gain, depression, headaches, nausea, lethargy and tiredness, decreased libido, acne, abdominal discomfort and breast tenderness.

Vaginal bleeding is common and may be troublesome. The bleeding may be heavy and prolonged, or erratic with episodes of light bleeding or spotting. The bleeding may sometimes persist after the course of treatment has finished.

Weight gain is also common — usually only about two or three kilograms but sometimes more.

Most women will start ovulating and menstruating again within several months of their last injection. Depo-Provera sometimes causes a prolonged delay in the return of menstruation and a few women will not menstruate for more than a year following their last injection. Depo-Provera is not recommended for women who may wish to become pregnant soon after their treatment has ceased.

How effective is Depo-Provera

Studies indicate that Depo-Provera relieves the symptoms of endometriosis in 60% to 80% of women and that approximately 50% of women desiring pregnancy will conceive. There are no figures on the rate of recurrence of endometriosis following treatment.

Depo-Provera, pregnancy and breastfeeding

The manufacturers state that Depo-Provera should not be used if there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, as progestogens may cause abnormalities in the developing foetus. However, some gynaecologists believe that Depo-Provera causes no risks to the foetus.

The use of Depo-Provera while breastfeeding is probably safe.

Interaction with other drugs, alcohol or foods

There are no known interactions of Depo-Provera with any foods, alcohol or other drugs.

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These are two forms of treatment that are used quite commonly by both medical doctors as well as by alternative practitioners. Although these therapies would seem at first to have but little role to play in managing sciatica and back problems, they can help in a variety of ways, including:

They can help a patient bring about lifestyle changes indicated for improving his condition. For example, hypnosis can help someone stick to a diet.

Affect how the patient looks at and reacts to his difficulties. While hypnosis may perhaps make no difference to the extent of sciatica, it certainly can alter the way someone reacts to it when it happens, either by making him less aware of it or by increasing his level of tolerance to it. ? These therapies are also particularly useful for reducing stress and anxiety, these often being an exacerbating factor in all kinds of back-connected problems.

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy both depend on the power of suggestion, whether the suggestions originate from the practitioner or the patient himself. In fact, it is generally believed that no one is ever hypnotised by anyone else, and that what invariably happens is that the subject hypnotises himself, the hypnotist merely providing a conduit for this self-hypnosis.

Not every patient is a suitable subject for this approach, and there is considerable individual variation in the extent to which people respond to this technique, some falling almost immediately into a deep trance-like state at the first suggestion while others totally fail to respond. There is, however, no need for a subject to attain a deep hypnotic state before hypnosis can work, the very lightest of trances being enough to achieve results.

Hypnosis can be tried out at very little cost and with minimal risk by buying one or more of the self-hypnosis tapes that are commonly advertised in newspapers and magazines. These tapes, of course, are usually aimed at creating generally beneficial effects – such as inducing relaxation or reducing reaction to pain – but often can be adapted by the user so that the suggestions they contain become directly relevant to the problem. Many hypnotists will also provide patients with individualised tapes they can later use at home to reinforce suggestions made during previous treatment sessions.

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Having extolled the benefits of increasing the amount of environmental light, I hesitate to confuse matters by mentioning that for some depressed people, an opposite solution may solve the problem – that is, increasing the daily exposure to darkness. Dr Thomas Wehr at the US National Institute of Mental Health has suggested that a cause of depression in some people may be our use of artificial lighting to shorten the hours of darkness to which we are exposed each day. Certain people, he argues, may be physically unable to cope with the legacy of Thomas Edison – universal illumination of the night – and may benefit by returning the night to its natural length. By adopting this strategy for one man, a middle-aged engineer who had cycled in and out of depression for years, Wehr and colleagues enabled him to stay free of depression for many months simply by asking him to remain in darkness for 12 to 14 hours each day. Since then a few other individuals have derived similar benefit from this treatment. Although at this time extending the hours of darkness remains a highly novel treatment that may benefit only a few of those patients who cycle in and out of depression, it is another demonstration of the importance of the environment in regulating mood, and the value of manipulating the environment as part of an overall treatment plan for depression.

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Three interlocking circles, the area of which is roughly proportional to the frequency of occurrence of various types of seizure. The central circle incorporates tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. The left-hand circle contains partial seizures, many of which become secondarily generalized, as indicated by the considerable overlap between the two circles. Most partial seizures arise from some focal area of structural abnormality within the brain. These seizures can be said to be symptomatic of some underlying problem—so-called symptomatic epilepsy.

The right-hand circle indicates typical absences (petit mal seizures). About 30 per cent of children with petit mal also have grand mal seizures, as is indicated by the overlap between right hand and centre circles. Such primary generalized epilepsy is not symptomatic of underlying structural brain disease, and may be said to be constitutional or idiopathic epilepsy.

The area of the centre circle that is not overlapped by the left and right hand circles contains those subjects who only have tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. Such cryptogenic epilepsy (epilepsy of hidden cause), less common since the advent of sophisticated investigations, should not be called idiopathic. Two possibilities exist—either the petit mal trait was not obvious in childhood, and grand mal seizures are the only manifestation of idiopathic epilepsy, or the seizure discharge from a small lesion becomes generalized so quickly that its initial partial phase is overlooked. It is often difficult to distinguish between the two possibilities even with prolonged EEG recording, unless a seizure actually occurs during the record.

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