Ovarian Cancer Test for Women Raises Hope, and Concern

A new blood test aimed at detecting ovarian cancer at an early, still treatable stage is stirring hopes among women and their physicians. But the Food and Drug Administration and some experts say the test has not been proved to work. The test, called OvaSure, was developed at Yale and has been offered since late June by LabCorp, one of the nation’s largest clinical laboratory companies. The need for such a test is immense. When ovarian cancer is detected at its earliest stage, when it is still confined to the ovaries, more than 90 percent of women will live at least five years, according to the American Cancer Society. But only about 20 percent of cases are detected that early. If the cancer is detected in its latest stages, after it has spread, only about 30 percent of women survive five years. But far from greeting the new test with elation, many experts are saying it might do more harm than good, leading women to unnecessary surgeries. The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists almost immediately issued a statement saying it did not believe the test had been validated enough for routine use.

Please click on the link below to read the New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/health/26ovar.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

For more information on defending medical malpractice and nursing home matters in Florida contact Howard Citron at The Citron Law Firm, P.A. – www.citronlegal.com.

Questions About Safety of Plastic in Baby Bottles Remain

Government toxicologists and physicians have reiterated safety concerns about a chemical used in baby bottles and food containers, just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration declared the substance safe. A report issued Wednesday said there is “some concern” that bisphenol A can cause developmental problems in the brain and hormonal systems of infants and children. The conclusion from the National Toxicology Program repeats initial findings issued in April. The group — which includes scientists from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies — said bisphenol’s risks to humans cannot be ruled out, but acknowledged its concerns are based on the findings of studies on animals. The American Chemistry Council, which represents plastics manufacturers, stressed that studies from animals provide “limited and inconclusive evidence.” The group has spent the last year defending the safety of bisphenol from new concerns about the risks of plastics to children. Bisphenol is a plastic-hardening chemical used to seal canned food and make baby bottles. After more than a year of complaints from consumer and parent groups, the FDA has agreed to revisit the chemical’s safety. The agency last month said the trace amounts that leach out of food containers are not a threat to children or adults.

Please click on the link below to read the New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Bisphenol-Safety.html?ref=health

For more information on defending medical malpractice and nursing home matters in Florida contact Howard Citron at The Citron Law Firm, P.A. – www.citronlegal.com.