Results for: overdiagnosis
Melanoma: A Pseudoepidemic of Skin Cancer Prompts New Screening Recommendations
There appeared to be an epidemic of melanoma skin cancer, but it seems to be a pseudoepidemic caused by overdiagnosis. Screening everyone with skin exams does more harm than good and can no longer be recommended.
Germ theory denial in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic
As hard as it is to believe, in the middle of a global pandemic that's claimed so many lives and so thoroughly disrupted society, there are people who still deny germ theory. How can this be?
When Doctors Refuse to Believe Evidence
Paul Offit's new book covers the evidence for many surgeries, medications, and screening tests that have been proven ineffective and harmful yet are still being used by doctors who refuse to follow the science.
Science-based medical lessons from President Trump’s case of COVID-19 (thus far)
We learned early Friday morning that President Trump has COVID-19. As the story evolved, it was hard not to take a look at potential science-based lessons in medicine that this story provides.
Do I really need to do a fecal test on my dog every year?
Why do vets want your dog's poop so bad? Why does it have to be fresh? WHY IS IT SO WARM WHEN I TOUCH IT? WHY?? WHHHYYY?????
Contrary to what we are frequently told, we are not “losing the war on cancer” (2020 edition)
The narrative we hear from the media (and, of course, from alternative medicine mavens) is that we are "losing the war on cancer." It's actually not true. As the latest statistics from the American Cancer Society show, the mortality rate from cancer has been declining for decades.
Dichotomous thinking and uncertainty in medicine and science
Medicine is by its very nature uncertain. Unfortunately, humans don't deal well with uncertainty, and our tendency towards dichotomous thinking leads us to think that if we're not absolutely certain about something we don't know anything.
Kidney Cancer and Incidentalomas
Kidney cancer diagnoses are increasing but there has been no increase in mortality or rate of metastases. Kidney cancer is most often diagnosed as an incidental finding on a CT scan that was done for unrelated reasons. Treatment may not always be needed.
Cancer Death Rate Continues to Decline
The new data are in – cancer deaths continue to decline at a steady rate.
The Science of Transgender Treatment
This is part I in what will be a short series of articles reviewing the science of transgender care and how it has been distorted by critics.