My neighbor depends more on me for care than on her own family. Caring.com

By Carol O'Dell, Caring.com Contributing Writer

Last updated: March 30, 2011

My neighbor depends more on me for care than on her own family.

By Carol O'Dell, Caring.com Contributing Writer

My neighbor and I are both widows and have enjoyed several years of going out to dinner, sharing errands, and even taking a few weekend trips. Last fall she got lung cancer, which has spread. Since her daughter lives two hours away, I took it on myself to check on her daily, provide some meals, and even take her to chemotherapy and other appointments. I was glad to do this -- that's what friends and neighbors should do.

But it's now become a full-time job, and I have my own health concerns. My neighbor is starting to treat me differently, expecting that I take her places and getting upset if I have other plans. I've hinted to the daughter that I can't take on this much care. But now I feel stuck -- and guilty for not doing more.

How do I get her daughter to provide the care that family should give, so that I can go back to being a good neighbor and friend?

via caring.com

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Andrew Lopez, RN
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Palliative care can lead to higher quality of live and longer survival

by John Schumann, MD

Every once in awhile amidst the weekly deluge of medical articles comes a show-stopper that has the potential to change the way we practice.

Rarer yet is the article that not only changes how we practice, but calls into question why we do what we do.

This recent article from the New England Journal of Medicine is just such an article. Before you bolt, let me simplify it for you.

Here’s the quick take.

The authors enrolled 150 patients with advanced lung cancer and split them up between usual care, which included chemotherapy, and an intervention arm, in which they received the same standard of care treatment plus early enrollment in palliative care.

via kevinmd.com

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See also: http://www.nursefriendly.com/hospice/

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

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E-cigarettes are not safe, and here's why

E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, have been largely unregulated, and there have been many doctors questioning its safety.

MedPage Today recently reported on the FDA’s analysis of such products, and now we have some guidance as to how dangerous they can be.

E-cigarettes are battery operated, and contain nicotine and other flavors that the user can inhale. Advertisements claim they are safer since they don’t burn tobacco.

But according to the FDA, they “contain carcinogens such as diethylene glycol — used in antifreeze — and nitrosamines.”

To his credit, internist Matthew Mintz has been sounding the alarm for awhile. Not only does he point out they are largely unregulated, there are real questions as to whether they help with smoking cessation at all. He writes that, “e-cigarettes were designed to be tobacco cigarette replacement products, not smoking cessation aides. It is also possible that smokers will use e-cigarettes in place of SOME of their tobacco cigarettes. Although this does decrease exposure to known dangerous products, e-cigarettes might therefore actually prolong tobacco cigarette smoking.”

It’s encouraging to see the FDA start critically analyzing the claims of these types of alternative products, often advertised on late-night television. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Similar Posts:

• Smoking related diseases are the number one cause of death in African-Americans
• American cigarettes contain more carcinogens
• Should tobacco companies pay for smokers’ CT scans to screen for lung cancer?
• Cholesterol medication cost should not be prohibitive
• Paying patients to stay healthy, my take in the NY Times

Tagged as: Cancer, Patient

via kevinmd.com

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Should tobacco companies pay for smokers' CT scans to screen for lung cancer?

According to a potential ruling in Massachusetts, tobacco companies will have to pay for smokers’ screening CT scans.

The Boston Globe (via Doug Farrago) writes that the decision “would allow thousands of other Massachusetts smokers to join the lawsuit, which covers people 50 or older who have smoked at least one pack a day of Marlboro cigarettes for at least 20 years,” and, “if a jury sides with the smokers, Philip Morris could be required to pay for each patient’s low-dose computed tomography scan, which can detect early-stage lung cancer.”

Now, I’m all for penalizing tobacco companies, but there some unintended consequences here.

First, there is no evidence that CT scans for early detection of lung cancer saves lives. In fact, the USPSTF doesn’t recommend it.

Second, what happens if the CT scan detects all sorts incidental findings, like benign masses that necessitate further workup? Indeed, a lung biopsy may be needed to definitively exclude cancer, which itself can lead to bleeding, infection, or other complications.

Would the tobacco companies pay for the additional tests that stem from the screening CT scan? If not, this decision will only further fiscally burden our health system.

Similar Posts:

• CT scans for lung cancer screening may not save lives
• Screening for lung cancer with a CT scan: What the NLST results mean
• Lung cancer CT screening produces false positives and isn’t ready for prime time
• Cancer screening and treatment cannot focus on mortality alone
• Radiation from CT scans increases the risk of cancer

Tagged as: Cancer, Patient, Primary care, Radiology, Specialist

via kevinmd.com

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******************************************************

Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

http://www.4nursing.com
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