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Medical Industry Promises to Cut Costs for Healthcare Reform
11 May, 2009 – 20:04 | 7 Comments

In an about-face to their stance during the Clinton Administration, leaders of the nation’s healthcare industry have promised to cut prices in response to the Obama Administration’s vow to resolve the healthcare crisis and make health care available to every…

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31% of Americans Don’t Bother with Sunscreen
25 May, 2009 – 11:14 | 2 Comments
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The American Cancer Society says more than one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year.  Although the chance of developing skin cancer has been directly linked to sun exposure in repeated studies and the use of sunscreen has…

Older People May Be Naturally Safe From New Swine Flu
22 May, 2009 – 11:28 | 2 Comments
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It’s just too soon to say for sure but officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have evidence that suggests people 60 years old and older may have a natural immunity to the new swine flu…

Cancer Patient, 13, Fights Chemo, Misses Court Hearing
21 May, 2009 – 11:15 | No Comment
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Thirteen-year-old Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that is generally considered easy to treat with radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  His doctor, Dr. James Joyce, prescribed a six-month regimen of the chemotherapy treatments but the boy and his…

10-Year-Old with Breast Cancer Just Wants to Be ‘Normal Kid’
19 May, 2009 – 22:47 | No Comment
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Hannah Powell-Auslam says she just wants to be a ‘normal kid’ going to school, enjoying sports, and hanging out with her friends.  Unfortunately, Hannah is so unique her doctors say she’s even more rare than one in a million.

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Job Loss Heightens Risk for Major Illness
13 May, 2009 – 6:17 | No Comment
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The May 8 issue of the journal, Demography, contains the report of a study on the health of people who’ve lost their jobs.  The report says people who lose their jobs, for any reason, are at heightened risk for major…

Older Men Least Aware of Melanoma Risk
12 May, 2009 – 19:04 | One Comment
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Although rare, melanoma is one of the easiest forms of cancer for an individual to detect on his or her own.  After all, it’s a form of skin cancer and can be easily seen by the naked eye.  A new…

Bridegroom Behind 2007 TB Scare Suing CDC
12 May, 2009 – 3:47 | No Comment
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Two years ago, Andrew Speaker gained worldwide attention when his wedding travels took him to several countries, in spite of the fact he was warned not to travel at all because he had just been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB).  Travel…

HBO to Air Alzheimer’s Documentary Series
11 May, 2009 – 19:23 | One Comment
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On May 10, HBO began airing a four-part documentary series on Alzheimer’s disease.  Maria Shriver, First Lady of California and a member of the Kennedy family, is co-executive producer of “The Alzheimer’s Project.”  Her father, Sargent Shriver, 93, has been…

Incarceration Increases Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
9 May, 2009 – 20:25 | No Comment
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Young adults between the ages of 23 and 35 who have served time behind bars are more likely to develop high blood pressure and enlarged hearts than their peers who’ve never faced prison time.  According to a study just published…

Autistic Toddlers Share Brain Abnormality
6 May, 2009 – 11:14 | One Comment
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At ages 2 and 4, autistic toddlers are more likely to have an abnormality of the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with facial recognition and emotion.  This enlargement of the amygdala is in keeping with previous studies that…

Health Insurance Industry ‘Comfortable’ with Prospect of Charging Women Same Low Rates as Men
6 May, 2009 – 5:19 | One Comment
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As US lawmakers become more deeply entrenched in negotiations to devise a public healthcare plan that will provide fair and effective health insurance coverage to all Americans, including the 50 million Americans now without any coverage at all, the health…

Ground-breaking Double Hand Transplant Completed
5 May, 2009 – 22:13 | One Comment
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Monday, May 4, marks a new beginning for 57-year-old Jeff Kepner.  He is the first person in the United States to receive a double hand transplant in just one 9-hour operation.  The Augusta, Georgia, man is said to be in…

Wal-Mart Expands Discount Drug Program to Businesses
5 May, 2009 – 5:14 | 3 Comments
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After several years of tremendous success with its $4 generic prescription drug program, Wal-Mart teamed up with Caterpillar Co. last September to bring an expanded version of the discount drug program to the 70,000 Caterpillar employees and their dependents.  This…

CDC Rethinking School Closings for Swine Flu
4 May, 2009 – 22:20 | 4 Comments
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Earlier today, Dr. Richard Besser announced the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is rethinking its current recommendation for closing schools when students or faculty become sick with the H1N1 influenza virus.  Besser is the acting chief of…