SW & Cancer; Reproductive Rights and More

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Nov 20, 2024

A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare

If there are subjects you’d like to see or improvements made, please let me know using the comment button below or email me at healthcareadvocacy1@gmail.com. Next article will be Monday November 25th.

Software and Brain Cancer

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an AI powered model that -- in 10 seconds -- can determine during surgery if any part of a cancerous brain tumor that could be removed remains. The technology, called FastGlioma, outperformed conventional methods for identifying what remains of a tumor by a wide margin. Researchers say it has the potential to change the field of neurosurgery by immediately improving comprehensive management of patients with diffuse gliomas.

The technology, called FastGlioma, outperformed conventional methods for identifying what remains of a tumor by a wide margin, according to the research team led by University of Michigan and University of California San Francisco. FastGlioma combines microscopic optical imaging with a type of artificial intelligence called foundation models.

When a neurosurgeon removes a life threatening tumor from a patient's brain, they are rarely able to remove the entire mass.

What remains is known as residual tumor.

Commonly, the tumor is missed during the operation because surgeons are not able to differentiate between healthy brain and residual tumor in the cavity where the mass was removed.

The residual tumor may resemble healthy brain, which remains a major challenge in surgery. Residual tumors may result in lower quality of life and potentially additional surgeries later. Getting all of the tumor the first time is the goal/

Not only is FastGlioma an accessible and affordable tool for neurosurgical teams operating on gliomas, but researchers say, it can also accurately detect residual tumor for several non-glioma tumor diagnoses, including pediatric brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma and ependymoma, and meningiomas. (University of Michigan)

Childhood Vaccinations Decline

Before we start - Here are the CDC guidelines for childhood vaccinations. If there are children in your sphere of influence you might want to go to that page and download the recommendation s.

Routine vaccination rates for kindergarten children continue to decline across the country, a KFF analysis of data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. During the 2023-2024 school year, less than 93% of kindergarten children were up to date on their state-required vaccines, down from 95% during the 2019-2020 school year just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most states (39) now have vaccination rates below the 95% target needed to prevent community transmission of measles, a highly contagious and life-threatening illness. The share of kindergarten children with non-medical exemptions from one or more required vaccination has also increased during this period. Childhood vaccination rates could become a more hotly debated issue if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becomes Health and Human Services Secretary.

P.S. I live in Vancouver, Washington. We were a hotbed of measles recently and I understand that whooping cough cases are now dramatically rising here as well.

All of this is preventable - prevent it. Again, here are the CDC guidelines for childhood vaccination.

EXTRA CREDIT ACTION

If there are children in your sphere of influence do all you can yo protect them and get them immunized.

The FBI Is Watching

There is a huge discrepancy between public and private insurance. When private insurance is defrauded they often let it go and roll their losses into next year's premiums. When the federal government is the insurer, the FBI comes calling. That's another good reason for a National Health insurance program where public insurance pays private providers.

Here is a few of their actions this month. Some were for crimes against prite insurance.

Protect yourself from Fraud and check out the FBI health page, https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/white-collar-crime/health-care-fraud.

Abortion News

Weeks after ProPublica reported on the deaths of two pregnant women whose miscarriages went untreated in Texas, state lawmakers have filed bills that would create new exceptions to the state’s strict abortion laws, broadening doctors’ ability to intervene when their patients face health risks. ... Democratic State Rep. Donna Howard, who filed the bill in the Texas House, said ProPublica’s recent reporting adds to evidence that the current legislation is a threat to the safety of pregnant women in Texas and increases the urgency to make changes. “This is my reaction,” she said. “It’s one of extreme sadness and disbelief that we are at a point where we are allowing women to die because we haven’t been able to clarify the law,” she said. (ProPublica)

Very interesting, Now that the legislatures and courts have allowed women to die needlessly they will consider exceptions. How about remove yourself from where you don't belong, between a patient and their doctor.

Action

Part of what making fascism work is giving up early. Don't give up. Remind lawmakers in Washington that women die when abortion is illegal. Make it legal and pass the Women's Health Protection Act. You can reach them here https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials or you can send this mepssage to Congres by texting SIGN PAJLWE to 50409 (RESISTBOT).

“I am your constituent and I am fed up with this country treating women like property instead of citizens. Women are dying from a lack of reproductive heathcare. You are politicians. You should be able to get up and pass laws to help people. Like the women's HealthProtection Act, that legalizes abortion nationwide. Women are full citizens. I want you to do what ever you can in congress to get the Women's Health Protection Act passed.”

Extra Credit Political Action

If you live in a state with a Democratic senators - We need to take action to get senators to fill federal vacancies before Trump takes office. Here is a ready made Indivisible action. Of you have sent the message below - just call them - their number is here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Go to this URL to URGE your senators to do this ASAP. We only have about 60 days to do it. https://act.indivisible.org/sign/tell-your-senators-fill-every-judicial-vacancy-now?source=linktree&medium=directpost

RESOURCES

Find My Elected Officials

Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website

Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List

Important Healthcare Resources

League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit

Organizations to Contact

National Nurses United Medicare4All

Physicians for a National Health Program

One Payer States

Healthcare Now

Reproductive Health

NARAL - Pro Choice America

Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion

Planned Parenthood

Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.

United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.

Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.