The Pancreatic Cancer Scourge

The recent death of Patrick Swayze hit me hard.  He was younger than I, and has always seemed to me to be a person who stood up for honor and integrity.  But, what hit me hardest was how unnecessary it was.  The second hit for me was an oncologist praising Swayze’s two-year survival after diagnosis as an “achievement.”  Why did I find that so upsetting?  Read on, I think you’ll agree.

Current medical practice mandates aspirin for anyone who has “risk factors” for heart disease.  Just being older and male is now a risk factor, and almost all men over the age of 40 are now prescribed a daily aspirin.  Seems harmless, doesn’t it?  The truth, however, is far different.

As I pointed out years ago, the Nurses’ Longitudinal Health Study clearly showed an enormous increase in the risk for pancreatic cancer with aspirin use.  And, it didn’t even have to be daily!  An aspirin once or twice a week increased the risk 58%.  (See my article “An Aspirin A Day Can Give You Cancer” for more details.)

Have you heard anything about these appalling statistics?  I think not, because the information was quickly buried.  Why would people be encouraged to take a substance that causes an incurable disease?  Why are these facts being ignored?  I have my own opinion — particularly in light of the fact that vitamins and herbs (safe, natural substances) are continually characterized as “dangerous” and “deadly.”

I believe that the drug companies are criminally responsible for the deaths of millions of people — particularly when they ignore data from their own studies.  Protect yourself and your family.  Question every drug that is prescribed.  Look up potential side effects.  If you’re not clear, make an appointment to consult me regarding your health condition and learn what alternatives are available.  And remember:  What we hear in the media and read on the internet is heavily filtered by drug company interests, particularly on sites like WebMD.

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Protect Your Access to Health Care

Have you been paying attention to the information coming out about the Health Care Plan as people have the opportunity to read the bill?

This morning (July 28, 2009), I heard something horrifying.  The bill contains provision for a 5-person panel of unelected “health care experts” who will determine what health care services are provided under the government plan and what doctors will be paid for those services.  This is alarming for a number of reasons:

1)  These unelected officials do not have to be doctors, nor will they be accessible to the wishes of the American public.

2)  Your doctor will not be able to choose the best treatment for your health condition, because the particular treatment will be mandated based upon cost, and perceived benefit.  If you are too elderly or too ill, your treatments will be denied.  The new talking point is that 25% of all health care costs are spent on the elderly who, after all, are going to die anyway.  So, it’s a waste of resources.

3)  Access to alternative care is not currently included in this plan.  So, if you value true, health-building options, they will not be available to you.  And, with the increased taxes needed to fund this enormous power-grab by the government, even if the law permits private fee-for-service arrangements, none of us may be able to afford it.  Not to mention the fact that the plan as originally presented did not include alternative care.  I don’t know what the status is currently; and, like everyone else, I can’t get a straight answer out of my Representative’s office.  I suspect that is because nobody really knows.

4)  The mechanism of this panel is that they will present their pronouncements on health care to Congress, which will have 30 days to object.  After that 30-day period, whatever new restrictions have been promulgated will automatically become law.  The kicker in this is that it gives our elected representatives “cover.”  If their constituents are unhappy, they can simply protest that they had no power over whatever is objectionable.

5)  Finally, and perhaps most alarmingly, is the extraordinarily complicated bureaucracy imposed by this boondoggle.  See GrassFire.org for a chart of what the bill provides.  What has been your personal experience at the U.S. Post Office or the Department of Motor Vehicles?  Cheer up!  That experience is coming soon to a health care facility near you.

I don’t believe it is possible to overstate the dangers of this legislation.  So, I urge you to make your voice heard.  Contact your Representative and Senators.  Sign on-line petitions opposing the plan.  (see GrassFire.org, as well as Townhall.com at the top of the page.)  Don’t sit on the sidelines.  Time is short and our freedom of choice is at stake.