/oss/taxonomy/term/25/all en /oss/article/health-nutrition-quackery/cracked-science-05-who-created-cancer-good-thing-montrealhealthygirl <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"></div> Thu, 10 May 2018 18:21:39 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7078 at /oss /oss/article/health-general-science/cancer-what-scientists-know-versus-what-public-believes <p><span>Horror writer H.P. Lovecraft wrote in Supernatural Horror in Literature that “the oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. I would argue that nowhere is this more visible in modern medicine than where the “C” word is uttered.</span></p> <p>Cancer.</p> Thu, 03 May 2018 14:40:54 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7050 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/why-does-california-want-put-cancer-warning-coffee <p>I’ve commented many times on what I think is a ludicrous piece of legislation in California known as Proposition 65. This requires that the public be informed by signs, as is the case on entering Disneyland, or on product labels, about any possible exposure to a chemical “that is known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm or cancer.” And there are over 900 of these that are accused of being an affront to health! So what’s wrong with Prop 65 warning against dangerous substances? Sounds like motherhood and apple pie.</p> Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:30:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6991 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/oprah-president <p><span>The U.S. is abuzz with chatter about Oprah for President. She makes a thoughtful, rousing, captivating speech at the Golden Globe Awards and people are ready to usher her into the Oval Office. But let’s not fling that door open quite yet, not before taking a look at the candidate’s ability to exercise sound judgement. Although there are several instances I could point out where Oprah’s judgement was suspect, her having devoted a program to the antics of “John of God” is particularly troublesome.</span></p> Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:48:08 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6880 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/cure-all-cancers-maybe-not <p>The freedom of speech.  One of our most sacred rights.  Men and women are willing to die for it.  Unfortunately, they also die because of it.  Let me elaborate.</p> <p>Our word cancer derives from the Latin word for crab.  This is understandable, as many tumors bear an actual physical resemblance to the creature.  In medieval Europe this similarity was used in the most unusual fashion for the treatment of the dreaded disease.  A live crab would be placed on the body at a site close to the tumor, left there for a while, and then the animal would be removed and killed. </p> Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:57:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6839 at /oss /oss/article/history/dr-ralph-steinman-nobel-prize-winning-scientist-who-became-his-own-patient <p><span>For over 100 years the Nobel Foundation has recognized outstanding individuals for contributions to their respective fields. The rules, however, stipulate that prizes cannot be awarded posthumously. But in October 2011, an exception was made for an exceptional individual: Dr. Ralph Steinman was awarded the joint Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine three days after he died of pancreatic cancer. At the time of the announcement, the news of his death had not yet reached the Nobel committee. So they decided that his wife and children would be able to accept his prize on his behalf.</span></p> Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:07:56 +0000 Cassandra Lee, OSS Intern 2647 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/fingerprints <p>Fingerprints have been used since ancient times as a method to confirm identities. Although individuals are born with a unique set of fingerprints, these unique fingerprints can disappear. The disappearance of fingerprints can occur in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy and are administered chemotherapy drugs such as capecitabine (Xeloda), 5-Flurouracil (5FU) and doxorubicin liposomal (Doxil). Small amounts of the chemotherapy drugs can leak out of the capillaries causing redness and desquamation on the hands and feet.</p> Fri, 02 Jun 2017 16:28:08 +0000 OSS 2528 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-history/breast-cancer <p>The first scientific observation about breast cancer was made in 1896 when it was noted that the disease sometimes regressed if the ovaries were removed.  Eventually this connection was understood in terms of estrogen, the female hormone produced by the ovaries.  Some types of breast cancer cells are stimulated to divide by estrogen and therefore blocking this effect constitutes a form of treatment.  Many anti-estrogen drugs have been tried with various degrees of effectiveness.  Tamoxifen is perhaps the best known of these medications.</p> Tue, 30 May 2017 16:52:59 +0000 OSS 2496 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/hoxsey-hoax <p>Gently holding the hand of five year old Kathy Allison, John Haluska walked to the podium in the Pennsylvania State Senate. “Here is a little angel,” he told his colleagues, “who according to medical science had to meet the angels soon. But after receiving the Hoxsey treatment in Dallas, she is going to school and is cancer free. And they still call Harry Hoxsey a quack.” </p> Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:47:39 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 2397 at /oss /oss/article/food-health/acai-aye-aye-aye <p>The city of Belem in northern Brazil has a population of about 2,000,000.  It would be very interesting to find out if its inhabitants have an unusually low incidence of illnesses such as cancer, arteriosclerosis or Alzheimer’s disease.  Why?  Because the city is dotted with some 3000 “acai points” where people line up to purchase a slurry made from the pulp of the fruit of the acai (a-sigh-yee) palm tree.  Over 200,000 liters of the thick purple sludge are consumed every day, which is more than the amount of milk that is drunk in the city.  And, at least if you listen to some of the North </p> Wed, 17 Jul 2013 02:56:19 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1985 at /oss /oss/article/cancer-controversial-science-cosmetics-health-news-quackery-toxicity/joe-schwarczs-right-chemistry-paraben-phobia-unjustified <div> <h2 style="text-align:justify"> </h2> </div> Mon, 25 Aug 2014 04:39:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2185 at /oss /oss/article/cancer-controversial-science-health-quackery-you-asked/you-asked-what-gerson-therapy <p>What sort of treatment do you think cancer patients would receive at the Gerson Institute in San Diego? Actually, they would receive no treatment at all, because the “Gerson Therapy” is not sanctioned in the United States. But they would receive plenty of information about traveling to Gerson clinics in Mexico or Hungary, as well as about providing basic “Gerson care” for themselves at home. The Institute does not limit itself to providing information about cancer. It seems the Gerson therapy is effective against virtually every disease. How can this be?</p> Mon, 07 Apr 2014 02:19:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2125 at /oss /oss/article/cancer-health-news-quackery/alkaline-nonsense <p>It is so seductively simple.  If you want to avoid cancer, just make sure your body is “alkaline!”  Here is the rationale.  When a cell becomes cancerous it reduces its use of oxygen and cranks up its production of acids.  These conditions then allow such cells to multiply quickly.  To counter this, you have to ensure that cells get an adequate supply of oxygen and that the acids produced are neutralized.  How?  By introducing sources of oxygen such as hydrogen peroxide or ozone into the body and consuming “alkaline” foods.  If cancer has already taken a foothold, then it may be necessary t</p> Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:01:09 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2353 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-supplements/vitamin-d-supplements-question <p>Study after study has shown that vitamin supplements do not offer any benefits over a well-balanced diet. In certain cases they may even be detrimental to health. In 1994, the National Cancer Institute, showed, after studying 29,000 Finnish men, all long-term smokers, that those receiving beta carotene supplements had an 18% increased risk of developing lung cancer. Two years later another study in the U.S. involving 18,000 subjects at risk indicated that those taking vitamin A and beta carotene had a 28% increased risk of developing lung cancer.</p> Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:23:56 +0000 Ariel Fenster PhD 2079 at /oss /oss/article/health-news/number-needed-treat <p>We all want to be healthy and live as long as possible. So we think about popping vitamin pills, a daily dose of aspirin, eating foods with probiotics and taking statin drugs. And we puzzle over dietary regimes that claim to result in weight loss, lower blood cholesterol and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. All of these are supported by some evidence. But the chances of significant benefit are in general much less than what people think.</p> Wed, 04 Feb 2015 01:08:46 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2234 at /oss