Thursday June 13, 5 p.m. at Community Church
By Sue Lewis
The Cancer Support Group will host Dr. Jim Litch at their June meeting. He will discuss two cancer screening tests, the mammogram for women and the prostate screening test for men. Dr. Oz recently wrote in an article for AARP, “While there has been considerable controversy over mammogram frequency, I recommend annual mammograms after age 50.” Similarly, Dr. Oz wrote regarding the PSA screening test, “While some organizations have recently cautioned against yearly PSA testing, I think the test provides essential information – and should be done annually.”
We have our own ‘Dr. Oz’ in Jim Litch of Orcas Island! He will be talking about some of the concerns of these two screening tests and will take questions and comments from the audience. This Cancer Support Group meeting is open to everyone with questions and wanting more information and support with specific issues. The meeting will be held in the Fireside Room at the Community Church from 5:00 – 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 13. For further information please call Bogdan or Carol at 376-4198.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Hate to burst your bubble, but “Dr. Oz” works for the pharmaceutical industry that profits from our sicknesses.
And if you get cancer, that last thing you want to do is plug yourself into the mainstream medical industry that will bleed you dry until your dead.
From Jim McCorison:
Yup, Domenic is right. Don’t get screened for cancer. Don’t bother with any chance of early detection and treatment. And when you realize that you are really sick, just stick your head in the sand, pick out an alternative medical treatment from some random internet site, and wait to die.
“Big Pharma” is no saint, and I think it is responsible for some bad medicine, both physically and morally. But they have also given us a lot of good life saving medications. How many people would prefer to return to blood letting as a way of treating various illnesses.
There are many medical choices out there. Some are mainstream, some are alternative. The best approach is frequently a balanced approach to medical care. But I know of no valid reason to avoid detection, especially early detection, of potentially life destroying diseases.
“Big medicine” gave my mother-in-law 30 additional years of high quality active life after she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in the late 60’s. My sister-in-law survived breast cancer and is now cancer free thanks to early detection. Early screening and treatment saves lives. Is that such an awful thing?
I’m with you, Jim. Everyone is entitled to all the options available. And everyone has a brain to use in deciding whether or not to use those options. I have a friend still clean of lymphoma cancer after 25 years because she wanted those 25 years and more! Medicine is an option and it’s available. Know your options, make your own decisions.
Domenic,
Believe it or not, not every issue in the world is some kind of conspiracy – despite what all of your posts seem to indicate. Indeed, the medical system in this country is screwed up, but somehow casting a dim light on Dr. Litch’s willingness to step up and discuss the issues by clouding the discussions with yet another of your anti -establishment rants seems equally off putting.
Perhaps rather than continually ragging on those who are trying to help this community you could put some of your energy to good use and actually do something progressive in life – or at the very least just go back into your box and allow the civilized world to have meaningful discussions absent your negative, holier-than-thou attitude. I mean really… Is a discussion at a cancer support the right place to be pushing your adgenda? I think not.