Khalid Simply Says

  Disparities in Cancer Care for Black Americans Inequality in our society can be measured by wealth, educational level, opportunities, and other factors including healthcare. Inequality in cancer care for Black Americans was the subject of one-page graphic presentation in the “Clinical Oncology Update” section of the New England Journal of Medicine few weeks ago. The article titled “By the Numbers: Racial / Ethnic Disparities” is the subject of this blog. According to the American Cancer Society’s estimate, there will be 1.89 million new cases and 608,00 deaths due to cancer in the USA this year. The good news is that the death rate from cancer has continued to decline in the United States. From 1991 to 2018, the overall cancer death rate has fallen 31% . The bad news is that Black Americans have not benefited from this decline as much as other citizens have. While the decrease in the death rate is mostly due to decrease in smoking, it is also due to the discovery, appr...

Possible Treatments for COVID-19 There are no proven methods to treat COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel (new) coronavirus. When the infection is mild, it causes sore throat, cough and low-grade fever.   It is often self-limited and does not require prescription medication. However various treatment options are being discussed in the media. Here is a summary of what was presented by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Office of Population Health on 4/5/2020. Some of the following drugs are FDA approved, others are not. Some of these drugs are very costly and like all drugs, have potential serious side effects. Although some side effects are universally known, they may vary in intensity based on the individual’s physiology, underlying diseases and health status. It is highly advised that none of these should be taken without being prescribed and without the supervision of a knowledgeable physician. Remdesivir This anti-viral drug has yet not be...