12 Medical Myths Even Most Doctors Believe…

[smokey the elder]

This sounds like misguided risk assessment, IMO. I think people would prefer to be protected from smallpox, polio, measles, whooping cough and all the other formerly dangerous diseases. In particular, the piece on vaccinations seems particularly revisionist.

When it comes to GMO, for what is called "transgenic" organisms, I agree in principle; if you go sticking a gene from one species into another organism, it can have unknown results. However, if in fact the modification is an acceleration of changes that would typically be brought about by selective breeding, it might be less objectionable.

As far as the correlation between sun exposure and skin cancer, can you say "ozone hole"?

I could go on and on.

[Cataholic]

I am familiar with most of the myths presented above. People always jump on the vaccines part, perhaps cause it is so far out from what the trusted pediatrician says. I am glad this is coming to light, all of it, whether one considers it alarmist or not.

[Catlady711]

Yup, I'll jump on the vaccines part of that.

Childhood illnesses that were once thought 'erradicated' are making a slow comeback!


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12440796/site/newsweek/

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/..._comback_.html

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/...states/1121754

http://www.who.int/infectious-diseas.../textonly.html



We're seeing this in animals too. There used to be alot more cases of Lepto, Parvo, and Distemper in the old days before vaccines improved and more people vaccinated their pets. Then people got to feeling like the diseases 'just weren't around anymore'. They got lax in getting the vaccinations and guess what? Now we're seeing outbreaks of the diseases again.

Whether human or animal. The diseases don't 'go away' they simply don't become an epidempic because of vaccinations. You let those slide and the diseases WILL return.

I'd sooner take my chances with the vaccines which have a MUCH lower risk than the diseases which are sometimes fatal, this includes me and my pets.

[Karen]

I'd like to address the "skin cancer caused by sun exposure" being a myth. The data is just misleading. Has my 80-year-old friend, for example, who has had skin cancers removed twice so far, been using sunscreen and avoiding excess sun exposure for many years? Yes, but that doesn't make up for the fact that in the first 20-30 years of her life, that wasn't the case, and we all know the damage is cumulative over one's lifetime. They've been saying for years that many sunburns before the age of 18 can mean you are at high risk - so you can be diligent about shade and hats for the next 50 years, and still end up with skin cancer. So when they say melanoma rates have been going up anyway, I am sure that includes many, many, many people who were born well before the "sunscreen era" became the vogue.

[wombat2u2004]

Yep, I have to disagree with his skin cancer comments.
Skin cancer numbers have actually decreased in Australia since more people have become aware of the dangers of being in the Aussie sun for too long.
I don't use suncream.....I should, but I don't. Nor do I wear wide hats, I wear caps, when I work, as long as the sun is out of my eyes, I'm fine.
A few weeks ago I had a skin cancer cut out on the top of my left ear, 3 years ago one was cut out of the top of my right ear. I wear long trousers.....never had a skin cancer on my legs. I wear short sleeved shirts, and have had heaps of skin cancers burnt off my arms and back of my hands.
And some on my face. In fact......the only places I ever have had skin cancers were in those areas of my body that were exposed to the sun.
I think that doctor is full of baloney.

[wombat2u2004]

And another thing.......my father died of Melanoma which started on the side of his leg (he ALWAYS wore shorts and worked in the sun) My father in law also died of Melanoma which started on top of his head (he never wore a hat)

[kokopup]

wom

I think that doctor is full of baloney

.

I have to agree with Wom on this. When I was a young person I was not happy unless I was brown as a berry by March. That Tan gave you that healthy glow. In those days the word Sunscreen had not been coined yet and we did not have a Surgeon General telling us about the ills of the Sun. Today, because of my sun exposure as a young person, I am reaping the fruit of my exposure. I am still recovering from my latest Mohs surgery to remove a skin cancer from my face. This latest was the largest and deepest to date. I'm afraid I will have a very visable scar from my latest. This was my third this year. I can't count the number that were burned off, over the years, using liquid Nitrogen or freeze spray. The Sun does cause skin cancer.