|
EVERYTHING
Should Early Cancers Get Renamed to Something Less Scary?
What: The New York Times digs into an ongoing debate among the medical research community: whether or not to call early cancers that don’t present a risk of spreading something else besides “cancer.”
Key line: “At the heart of the debate is the common breast cancer diagnosis DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ. The phrase, which describes cancer cells confined to the lining of the milk ducts, is somewhat of an oxymoron. The National Cancer Institute defines cancer as cells that, if left untreated, will grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body; “in situ,” however, means limited to one place. The name is “a relic from prior categorization schemes” that essentially means “don’t worry, but worry,” said Dr. Ronald M. Epstein, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center who writes about mindful communication in medicine.”
Source: New York Times
Women’s Health Investing and Funding in 2025
What: The head of Women’s Health Access Matter (WHAM), Carolee Lee, did an interview with Chief Healthcare Executive on the business case for investing in women’s health. Lee broke down what she sees happening in investment overall, and the incoming Trump administration.
Key line: “The Biden administration’s funding ‘has made a difference and has created greater awareness,’ Lee says. With President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Lee says she is hopeful that momentum will continue. She says WHAM has helped build an appreciation for investing in women’s health. ‘Now think about where we are now, which is focused on business and enterprise, and this administration, I believe, is very supportive of that,’ Lee says.”
Source: Chief Healthcare Executive
ABORTION ACCESS
RFK Jr. Promises to Restrict Abortion Access (After Originally Saying Women Should Have Access Whenever)
What: RFK Jr. had his first nomination hearing to be the nation’s top health official Wednesday, and it did not go well. In addition to not knowing basic elements of federal health programs, RFK’s complete about-face on abortion access was on full display, including studying the safety of the abortion pill. (The safety of mifepristone is comparable to ibuprofen.)
Key line: “’President Trump has told me that he wants to end late-term abortions, he wants to protect conscientious exemptions and that he wants to end federal funding for abortions abroad,’ Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday. ‘I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his policies.’ …While running as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential race, Kennedy initially said he backed women having access to abortion at any point during their pregnancy.”
Source: MSNBC
MENOPAUSE
Perimenopause and the Relentless Instagram Ads
What: A reported essay from Kara Baskin in Boston Magazine on her experience of being in perimenopause—and being constantly targeted with Instagram ads for questionable solutions while struggling to find good medical care.
Key line: “’You might feel like [you know] more than your doctor because a lot of this movement has come from celebrities talking about their experiences and women during the pandemic talking about their experiences. That’s fantastic. But the medical training hasn’t caught up yet,’ says Heather Hirsch, an internist and menopause specialist who founded the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women’s and now runs a virtual telemedicine practice. ‘In medical schools, we need educators who can teach on those things. What I’m seeing is that there tends to be a gap between what women now know—and they’re asking very nuanced, very mature questions.’”
Source: Boston Magazine
White Blood Cell Count Could Reveal COVID Symptom Severity
What: A study of over 1,2000 postmenopausal women published in the journal Menopause found that white blood cell count could predict the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Key line: “These results extend the evidence that low-grade inflammation is not only an outcome of COVID symptom severity but may also precede the acute COVID-19 infection. Additional research in this area is necessary, but the initial work is promising because leukocyte count represents an easily accessible, inexpensive clinical marker.”
Source: Menopause Society
|