Something Evil This Way Comes

this article can be found here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=26694#

An American Cancer Society survey finds up to half of Americans mistakenly believe surgery can spread cancer, and more than one in four thinks a cure for cancer already exists but is being held back by a profit-driven industry. Results of the survey are published in the August 1, 2005 issue of CANCER (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer-newsroom), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The authors say it shows the American public is significantly ill-informed about cancer, and that most overestimate how much they know.

The medical management of cancer and cancer-related complications, such as pain, has significantly improved over the last three decades, as have survival rates for leading cancers. Still, studies indicate that a patient’s own cultural beliefs and understanding of cancer may influence health behavior, such as whether patients get regular screenings and undergo treatment.

Led by Ted Gansler, M.D., M.B.A of the American Cancer Society, researchers conducted a national telephone survey of 957 adults with no history of cancer to assess Americans’ understanding of the disease and its management, and identify any demographic characteristics associated with misconceptions. Participants were asked if five misconceptions were true or false.

The authors found only one in four (25 percent) of participants correctly identified all five misconceptions as false. Four in ten (41 percent) of the respondents believed that surgical treatment actually spread cancer in the body and 13 percent said they were unsure whether this was true. Twenty-seven percent believed that there is a cure for cancer available being withheld by the healthcare industry and an additional 14 percent were uncertain. Nineteen percent believed that pain medications were ineffective in treating cancer pain with another 13 percent saying they did not know. Nine in ten (89 percent) correctly disagreed with the statement that “all you need to beat cancer is a positive attitude,” but more than one in ten (11 percent) either thought is was true or did not know. A similar percentage (87 percent) correctly disagreed that “cancer is something that cannot be effectively treated,” but again, about one in eight (13 percent) either agreed or did not know.

People who were over 65 years, of non-White race, residents of the South, or self-identified as without much or any understanding of cancer were likely to hold more misconceptions. The survey found little relation between people’s self-assessment of cancer knowledge and the accuracy of their answers. For four of the five questions, there was no significant difference in prevalence of endorsement of the inaccuracies between the groups who called themselves “very informed,” “somewhat informed,” or “not very informed.” However, those who called themselves “not at all informed” were generally quite accurate when rating their own health literacy.

“These results indicate that public and patient education interventions are most urgently needed in cancer centers, medical practices, and other community organizations that serve large numbers of patients with these ‘at risk’ demographic characteristics,” conclude the authors.

I found this article on the Globe and Mail website yesterday but then it vanished into the land of the paid subscription.
Thankfully, it appears here as well

Text below:

Many believe the breast cancer-fighting drug Herceptin is being delayed needlessly by the Canadian government; unless emergency relief is provided, more lives will be lost.

Herceptin had been used by patients over the past six years for metastasized breast cancer patients with an excess of HER-2, a protein caused by a genetic mutation. Up to 30 percent of breast cancer patients have these symptoms, which makes the cancer much more difficult to treat. Three different studies have shown that Herceptin can treat this specific form of breast cancer at a much earlier stage than previous therapies.

Yet many patients cannot afford the $35,000 per year minimum price of Herceptin treatments, and insurance companies will not cover the drug because the medication has not been officially approved for use.

It is estimated that 115 women each month could see their symptoms return and eventually lead to death without use of the breakthrough breast cancer medication. Activist organizations are calling for Canadian government officials to invoke an emergency disaster relief program for patients at risk but unable to afford Herceptin treatments.

Dr Joseph Ragaz, director of McGill University Health Centre’s oncology program, sent information concerning Herceptin to various media outlets in hopes that increased awareness concerning the drug will bring policy changes. He believes the restrictions are hindering his ability to treat patients.

“It’s a big frustration. As a physician, you are on a sacred mission.” he said. “And the only reason you are being blocked from that mission is for fiscal reasons.”

well, it seems our place at the back of the bus is going to have to be handed over to surly teenagers.

This from the CBC website found here:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/06/28/samesex050628.html

Same-sex marriage law passes 158-133
Last Updated Wed, 29 Jun 2005 10:45:06 EDT
CBC News

The Liberals’ controversial same-sex marriage legislation has passed final reading in the House of Commons, sailing through in a 158-133 vote.

Supported by most members of the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, the legislation passed easily, making Canada only the third country in the world, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to officially recognize same-sex marriage.

But the passage of Bill C-38, once again, came with a political price tag for the government. Joe Comuzzi, resigned from the cabinet so he could vote against the bill – an open rebuke of the government legislation.

Comuzzi was the minister responsible for Northern Ontario.

Although he was the only cabinet minister to break ranks with Prime Minister Paul Martin over the controversial plan to legalize the marriage of gays and lesbians, it highlighted the divisions within Canada and within the Liberal party, pitting supporters of equality rights against those who are defending religious freedoms.

For Comuzzi, the decision to resign meant putting principles ahead of the privileges of cabinet. “In 2004, during the election, I promised faithfully to the people of Thunder Bay-Superior North, that I would defend the definition of marriage,” he said, explaining his move.

The prime minister said he regretted the decision of a man he called an “old friend,” but accepts it because the government must speak with one voice on same-sex marriage.

The “vote is about the Charter of Rights,” said Martin. “We’re a nation of minorities and in a nation of minorities you don’t cherry-pick rights.”

The government has moved over the last few months to appease critics both within Liberal ranks and among Canadians at large. Amendments were introduced to ensure no religious group or charitable organization would be forced to accept same-sex marriage. But in spite of those amendments some groups remain unconvinced.

Same-sex marriage remains one of the most difficult issues ever to confront Canadian politicians. In large part passage of the bill is the reason the parliamentary session was extended for the first time in 17 years.

But while Tuesday night’s vote closes off the debate in the Commons, the Conservatives insist there is no closure for Canadians who believe marriage should continue to be defined as the union of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says if his party forms the next government, the law will be revisited.

Harper made the promise one day after suggesting the adoption of the law lacked legitimacy because it relied on the support of the separatist Bloc Québécois. Harper said he believes Bloc MPs are the legitimate representatives of Quebec voters. But he argues most Canadians aren’t buying it as a final decision since most federalist MPs are opposed to same-sex marriage.

Harper says a Conservative government would hold a free vote for all MPs on the matter, rather than forcing cabinet ministers to vote with the government.

Damn, everything is so Ottawa-focused today.

Here is a newsflash from the folks at Canadians for Equal Marriage .
I am so happy that I can post about a gay wedding on an airforce base.
And, those rights are not yet carved in stone.
Please do what you can to nudge or drop-kick our politicians in the direction of enlightenment.

Details below:

It’s down to the wire. It is still possible to pass the equal marriage
bill before Parliament breaks for the summer.

Even if you have already contacted the Prime Minister’s office we need you
to do so again. RIGHT NOW.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP leader Jack Layton have both
agreed to extend the Parliamentary session to pass the bill. ALL IT WILL
NOW TAKE TO GET THIS BILL PASSED IS PRIME MINISTER MARTIN TAKING
LEADERSHIP AND AGREEING TO DELAY MPs’ SUMMER VACATION BY A FEW DAYS.

We need your help. Please take two quick minutes and take these two quick
steps:

1. Email the Prime Minister at pm@pm.gc.ca and martin.p@parl.gc.ca. Even
if you emailed the Prime Minister earlier in the week, please do so again.

2. Phone the Prime Minister’s office at 613-992-4211 — it is open 24/7.
Call at any time of day or night and leave a message at the switchboard.

Here’s what to say: Prime Minister Martin, I am counting on you to take
leadership. Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe are willing to ensure the bill
gets passed in the next few days and weeks. All that’s needed now to pass
the equal marriage bill before summer is your commitment. Please show
leadership. Stand up for human rights. I am counting on you.

(suite de la version française)

Nous sommes à la onzième heure! Il est encore possible d?adopter le projet
de loi sur le droit égal au mariage avant l?ajournement des travaux du
Parlement pour l?été.

Même si vous avez déjà contacté le bureau du Premier ministre, nous vous
prions de le faire de nouveau. MAINTENANT.

Le chef du Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, et le chef du NPD, Jack Layton,
ont consenti à prolonger la session afin d?adopter le projet de loi.
L?ADOPTION DU PROJET DE LOI REPOSE À PRÉSENT SUR LES ÉPAULES DU PREMIER
MINISTRE MARTIN, QUI DOIT FAIRE PREUVE DE LEADERSHIP ET ACCEPTER DE
RETARDER DE QUELQUES JOURS LES VACANCES D?ÉTÉ DES MEMBRES DU PARLEMENT.

Nous avons besoin de votre aide. Veuillez prendre deux petites minutes
pour faire ce qui suit :

a. Envoyez un courriel au Premier ministre à pm@pm.gc.ca et
martin.p@parl.gc.ca. Même si vous en avez déjà envoyé un au début de la
semaine, envoyez-en un deuxième.

b. Téléphonez au bureau du Premier ministre au 1-613-992-4211 ? ouvert 24
heures par jour, 7 jours par semaine. Appelez à n?importe quelle heure du
jour ou de la nuit et laissez un message.

Voici ce que vous pouvez dire : Monsieur le Premier ministre Martin, je
compte sur votre leadership sur cette question. Jack Layton et Gilles
Duceppe sont disposés à assurer l?adoption du projet de loi au cours des
prochains jours et semaines. Pour que le projet de loi soit adopté, il ne
manque plus que votre engagement. Veuillez exercer votre leadership.
Prononcez-vous en faveur des droits de la personne. Je compte sur vous.

Sometimes I actually am proud to be Canadian.

(Full story available here)

Airbase hosts 1st military gay wedding

CBC News

Two men were married in the chapel at Nova Scotia’s Greenwood airbase in May, in what’s being called the Canadian military’s first gay wedding.

Lt.-Cmdr. David Greenwood, the base’s head chaplain, said a sergeant and a warrant officer were married May 3 in front of about 45 guests.

“This couple had been waiting a very long, long time,” said Greenwood, declining to give their names because he hadn’t asked for permission.

In September, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, effectively changing the definition of marriage in the province to “the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.”

The military has said it’s willing to host gay weddings in jurisdictions where it’s legal.

A low-key marriage ceremony

Greenwood, an Anglican, did not perform the marriage but he did make the arrangements for the service while a United Church minister from nearby Wolfville performed the vows.

“I looked after the co-ordination in accordance with our military policy of receiving the couple with dignity and respect,” said Greenwood.

“I was there to preach and welcome the community on behalf of the base chaplaincy.”

While most Anglican dioceses in Canada do not perform same-sex marriages, the Canadian church has postponed its official decision until 2007.

Greenwood said the ceremony was relaxed and low-key, and there wasn’t a dry eye in sight when the couple signed the marriage documents.

Greenwood said he has been told that a second same-sex marriage may be in the works this year, at CFB Valcartier in Quebec.

Same-sex marriage legal in 7 provinces, 1 territory

In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Ottawa has exclusive jurisdiction to decide who has the right to get married in this country, but that religious groups are not obliged to perform unions against their beliefs.

Federal politicians are now considering a same-sex marriage bill.

Currently, same-sex marriages performed in seven provinces and one territory are legal and must be recognized. Same-sex marriages are not performed in Alberta, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, but the Nunavut government will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.