THE SHOW TODAY!

On Dr. Chambers On Call 4-5 PM today...are we over paying for our everyday health care...generic lipitor - what it means with cardiologist Dr. Marc Ladenheim......how not to chose a doctor - you won't believe this one but it's true!...the most common drugs that end you up in the ER AND as always your calls & emails.

DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL, KFWB NEWS TALK 980 4-5 PM TODAY.  

The number to call is 888 539 2980...OR email anytime drchambersoncall@gmail.com

MEDICAL DELUSIONS

Understanding the personal origins of delusions and hallucinations seems to be a promising new approach to handling some schizophrenic/psychotic symptoms. The delusions and hallucinations arise from within the patient's life and is best managed by acknowledging this simple fact.  This allows the patient to understand what's real and what's not ultimately allowing him to cope better with everyday life. This is the biggest non-pharmacologic break through in psychosis in decades. Will cover this on the radio in detail soon. Check back for the show date.  

DRUG SAFETY

Four drugs, coumadin, antiplatelet agents like aspirin or plavix, diabetic drugs including insulin cause a huge number of ER visits for people over 65.  These drugs are vital but commonly cause problems because of a narrow therapeutic index -- meaning the line between a safe dose and bad effects is very thin.  Always, always, tell any doctor prescribing you something new that you're on these drugs so they can make allowances and if necessary arrange extra monitoring.

AVASTIN - final thoughts

All the evidence indicate that Avastin doesn't work in advanced breast cancer but a lot are reluctant to accept this reality. Why? Emotions. The real desperate need for something to work for women riddled with cancer. All understandable but if we don't say no when the science is overwhelming when will we? Health care dollars are not limitless. If we say yes here. We'll have to say no somewhere else. Who knows where that will be but I'd bet it's a place without strong advocates. BTW, Joe Nocera's column today on Avastin is a must read.  

Thanks!

Good show last Sunday.  Thanks to all the callers.

Quit smoking resources:  Smokefree.gov, 1 800 quit now, 1800 784 8669 and of course your family doctor.

Don't forget quiiting smoking is all a question of START:

S = Set a quit date.
T = Tell family, friends, and coworkers that you plan to quit.
A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you'll face while quitting.
R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car, and work.
T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.

AVASTIN IS WITHDRAWN

Tough news in breast cancer treatment today.  A drug many women were hoping would work doesn't.  The FDA are withdrawing Avastin in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.  You know my views, no point in taking something that doesn't work.   Medicare will, however, keep paying for Avastin in breast cancer.  There's more to come on the usefulness or lack of with this drug.  Stay tuned.   

ANTI-SMOKING ZEALOTS

 

Yesterday was national quit smoking day. Here's hoping some did.  Lately there's been a lot of draconian talk about making it illegal to smoke in your own car even if alone and some zealots want to go further.  They want to make smoking illegal. This is beyond stupid and I bow to no man with my anti-smoking venom. Keep in mind I'm asthmatic, raised in a house of smokers (Yuck!) and as a physician, I've told way too many their life was about to be shortened because of cigarettes. I loathe cigarettes.

Our goal should always be to help smokers quit while protecting the rest of us from the serious effects of second hand smoke but adults have the right to smoke. Draconian coercion doesn't work anyway. Didn't work with alcohol in the 20's and the war on drugs...how's that going? Encouragement and aids to quit is what's needed.

Smoking is nasty. Smoking kills. I know. We all know. But lets get real here. Making smoking illegal will just make an awful situation worse. Can you imagine the black market in cigarettes if we ban them? What we don't need is to give criminals another source of revenue.  If you smoke or someone you love smokes. Know this. Help is available.