Discussion Board

Hi,

In the China Study, Dr. Campbell sites two studies that seem to indicate that , "...when polyps were removed there was a 76-90% decrease in the expected cases of colon cancer." The references listed are:

Burt RW. "Colon cancer screeening." Gastroenterology 119(2000): 837-853
Winawer SJ, ZauberAG, Ho MN, et al. "Prevention of colorectal cancer by colonoscopic polypectomy." New Engl. J. Med. [i]329(1993):1977-1981.[/i]

So is a colonoscopy helpful or not?

Thanks!

Thank you! I have intuitively avoided all standard medical tests, particularly those involving radiation, except when absolutely necessary, as when I broke my arm a few months ago. It is good to read solid scientific evidence supporting my intuitive choice.

Certainly, if I suspected something wrong that I couldn't heal with my own methods of diet, exercise and positive thinking, I would get tests, but it doesn't make sense to randomly test for all sorts of problems.

Since medical treatments are now the third largest cause of death in America, and the first and second causes are diet related, the safest bet is to eat well and stay away from doctors... except those who promote positive diet and lifestyle choices.

P.S. Thanks for writing to president Clinton, too. I hope he listens.

Fellow McDougall Travelers,

For two interesting books on modern medicine, read "The Last Well Person" by Nortin Hadler M.D. and "Flatlined, Resuscitating American Medicine" by Guy L. Clifton M.D.

Hadler is very critical of our medical culture and its obsession with screening. Clifton writes about our health care system.

You will run, not walk to vote for the healthcare bill.

NewGuy

Of course, Dr. Hadler was one of the guest speakers at the last Advanced Study Weekends Dr. McDougall put on. He had a most interesting perspective, and as you note, he is quite upset about the focus on screening and "early detection" that seems to be the focus of medicine these days. Only recently has this focus been questioned in terms of it's effectiveness and cost. The one thing that almost everyone agrees with is the current health care(?) debate is really about who pays for everything, not that it moves us closer to good health. Whomever ends up paying, they can't afford where we are heading and we have to turn around our sickly ways. Soon!
f1jim

This question of getting a colonoscopy has been going around this discussion board for a little bit lately. As I stated in other posts, if I remember correctly Dr. McDougall recommended getting one a few years ago, but I could stand to be corrected on that. And in one of his recent newsletter articles, he said not to get one. So did I hear correctly earlier? And if so that must mean that he has changed his mind.

Anybody out there know anything about this?