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05/07/2007: "A Healthy Skepticism"

I probably should get off my theme that pharmaceutical companies carry so much money and power that they can successfully “push” their drugs regardless of public safety. But in an effort to keep you all aware and healthy, I won’t give it up. As you have noticed, there has been an exponential increase in spending on advertisement campaigns for prescription drugs, “Ask you doctor.” So when these same TV stations getting huge advertising dollars run reports on drugs, will they find faults?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been sold to women going through menopause for many years. Approved by the FDA and encouraged by doctors, it was billed as a way to stay youthful and even prevent against heart attacks and strokes. As if the body had it wrong with this natural aging process. A few years ago, the National Institute of Health set up a multi-center study known as the Women’s Health Initiative. This was to document the many assumed benefits of HRT. The study was interrupted because results were starting to show alarming numbers of side effects. Instead of benefiting, women taking these drugs had a 29 percent increase in heart attacks, a 22 percent increase in cardiovascular disease, and a 26 percent increase in breast cancer risk!

To add insult to injury (and I think to further expose the FDA-drug company cycle) they announced this week that HRT markedly increases the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. Statistical drops in the number of cases for women parallels the numbers that have stopped or not used HRT drugs.

When I tell people that I am refusing chemotherapy, I often get reactions that are similar to what I felt just a few years ago. “How could that person choose to not avail themselves to all means possible?” From experience and research, I know what those drugs will do to me. I also know that as many cancer patients die in the end from side effects of chemo as from the cancer itself. So I have a healthy skepticism of any highly touted wonder drug. I think it was Nancy Reagan that said, “Just say no to drugs.”

Replies: 1 Comment

on Tuesday, May 8th, pamela chu said

Hi Doug,
How are you doing? Hope everything is going well for you. As I was reading your blog...subject on" A Healthy Skepticism" I truly believe that is how I got breast cancer by taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (Estrogen)I took them because it helps to prevent the hot flashes.
When I found out I had breast cancer, the doctor stop the estrogen, but, by that time it was too late. So now that I am in remission, my hot flashes came back, I now just have to bear with it, I don't even want to take any kind of drug, not even a asprin. Like Nancy Reagan said, "Just say no to drugs." Thank you for sharing this blog. You are a blessing!
Take care!

Your buddy from the Chemo Department.

Pam