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New scanner to evaluate breast tumours
With the growing awareness of the cumulative effects of x-ray radiation, new imaging technologies are being developed to reduce the exposure risk. A new imaging device called SoftScan has recently been approved by Health Canada for breast cancer detection. SoftScan is a non-invasive and painless optical imaging technology, which enables the characterization of breast tumours…
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Portion control's influence on weight gain
Portion sizes and how much we are eating has increased over the last 20 years–that converts to additional calories and additional pounds. Another study supports the growing evidence that it is not hunger but environmental triggers and behaviour that influence our eating habits. Jaime Schwartz, MS,RD, registered dietitian and lead author of this study and…
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Safety of medication use during pregnancy
What do we know about the safety and efficacy of medications when they are used during pregnancy and breastfeeding? What measures do we have in place today and are improvements needed? A new Alliance of health professionals, academia, patients, health care policy experts and industry individuals has been formed to address these issues The Canadian…
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What is pharmacogenomics?
What is pharmacogenomics? What research is taking place in pharmacogenomics right now? What role will it play in patient care as we try to live longer, even following cancer, diabetes, heart & stroke? Pharmacogenomics is an emerging science that integrates the patient’s genomic data so as to personalize treatment and thereby improve the effectiveness and…
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New Canada Food Guide a bust
The new Canada Food Guide was released this week with great fanfare. Various food advocacy groups have sent me their press releases expressing their favourable opinion about the guide. What does the science have to say about these recommendations? Is there a consensus about what constitutes an evidence-based food guide? Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, Medical Director…
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The Misguided War Against Medicines
What proportion of our health care costs does each sector of our health care system consume and what are their growth rates? This answer to question is germane to governments facing serious health care budgetary constraints. There is an argument put forward that hospitals and prescription medication costs are the principle contributors to a system…
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Report Card on Cancer in Canada 2007
What is the state of cancer care in Canada? What are we doing right and what needs more attention? This week, The Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (CACC) released its annual Report Card on Cancer in Canada 2007. Authored by oncologists and cancer patients across the country, highlights inadequacies, ills and disconnects within the system,…
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New smoking cessation aid
The options for people who want to quit smoking increased by one this week with the introduction of a new treatment approved by Health Canada. Varenicline tartrate (Champix) is a new class of medications specifically designed to compete with nicotine’s affect on the brain. What are the indications for its use? What is its efficacy?…
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Teen cancer survival rates dismal when compared to those for youngsters and older adults with the disease
McMaster University pediatric cancer specialist Dr. Ronald Barr says the teen gap in cancer care has been overlooked for far too long. Statistics show that gains in survival rates for teenagers and young adults (age 15 – 29) with cancer are dismal when compared to those for youngsters and older adults with the disease. Barr…