Is there an "irrational fear of cancer?"

Book Review: How to Confront the Fear of Cancer

By Kent Sepkowitz

About 600,000 people die of cancer every year in the United States, making it the country’s second most common cause of death, after heart disease.  

Beginning in 1971, when the Nixon administration launched its so-called war on cancer, the nation has spent billions of dollars to improve disease prevention and treatment.

In the ensuing decades, experts have debated the effectiveness of the aggressive, all-out approach: Surely there have been many advances, great and small, including an improvement in overall survival rates across all types of cancers. 

Indeed, few weeks go by without a report of some exciting development, whether it’s a new cancer drug or a new scientific breakthrough.

Yet there have also been critics, along with a steady stream of books, lamenting the underfunding of cancer research in the earliest stages of disease, the herky-jerky pace of progress, and the cost — both physical and financial — of the vast war.

One area that has received relatively little criticism is cancer screening, that group of tests such as Pap smears, mammograms, and blood work. The promise of early detection is irresistible: more effective and less toxic treatments, higher cure rates, and fewer long-term effects from chemotherapy or surgery or radiation. But current tests also have serious limitations, and debates rage in scientific and public health corridors regarding whom to screen, how often to screen, and what to screen with.

In "Curing Cancerphobia: How Risk, Fear, and Worry Mislead Us," David Ropeik takes a deep dive into the world of cancer screening and raises a troubling question: Has screening, despite its clear medical and psychological benefits, inadvertently created an irrational fear of cancer — a cancerphobia — that, in turn, has needlessly frightened or harmed people? “A fair reading of the evidence,” he maintains, “supports the observation that, in some cases, our fear of cancer exceeds the actual risk and does great harm all by itself.”

Environmental Council of Rhode Island outlines their legislative priorities for 2024

"We know that the effects of climate change and other environmental problems are not borne equally. Low-income communities... bear the disproportionate burdens of pollution..." 

STEVE AHLQUIST

“Let me tell you something,” said Rhode Island's Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi to the crowd packed into the Rhode Island State House Library for the Environmental Council of Rhode Island’s (ECRI) Coffee Hour on Thursday. “If anybody thinks that the Act on Climate was an easy bill to pass now, it wasn't.

“We were on the floor and it was one of the first big pieces of legislation I did as Speaker. We were all under masks, we were at the auditorium, and we were all separate. It was a foreign environment and we were on iPads and the iPads were running out of energy. It's a true story - we had a three-hour battery life with the iPads and we had five or 10 minutes to go and the Republicans - no disrespect to any of them who are here, I don't think there are any, but that's okay - they were filibustering because it was the day before the break and they wanted to go on break. They were trying to build up opposition among the different advocacy groups against it.

“I called a recess and I called [Majority Leader] Chris Blazejewski up and I asked, ‘Leader, what are we going to do?’ He said, ‘We're going to call the question.’

“What that means is we end debate - and we never like to do that. But that issue and the environment were so important that we made the decision, even as a new Speaker and a new Leader - he wasn't the Leader before and I was never the Speaker before - but we wanted this to happen. It meant so much to so many people [and] it was the right thing to do.

“We called the question - and we've never called the question since then [even though] we've had some far out there debates - but we let that process play on. We wanted [Act on Climate to pass.] It was important for the state and it's important for the future of generations of Rhode Islanders. I'm proud of that day and I'm proud of that moment and I want to acknowledge Chris Blazejewski for that because not many people know the intricacies of making the sausage, but he made it happen and it doesn't happen without his guidance.

“Rhode Island is leading the way on environmental initiatives and advocates are calling this some of the best years of environmental policymaking in Rhode Island history. The people who are here today have been tremendous advocates for the environment. The Act on Climate passed in 2021 requires the state to create a plan to reduce emissions to levels that will help us avoid the worst consequence of rising temperatures and sea levels. And let me tell you, I live in Warwick and I see sea levels. Warwick has more coastline than any other city or town in the state of Rhode Island.

“Act on Climate is a national model for protecting the environment, addressing climate change, and creating new, good-paying green jobs in Rhode Island.”

New research sheds light on incel community’s connection to mass violence

URI faculty member looks at underlying misogyny

Dawn Bergantino

As mass shootings, hate crimes and other acts of violence consistently make the nightly news, certain common threads have appeared to emerge. 

Misogynistic worldviews, coupled with what appears to be a growing online community, have brought the “incel” community into the public view. Though much has been written in the past decade about “involuntary celibates,” the rise of violent extremism, and their connection to mass violence, empirical research on this community is surprisingly scarce.

A new examination authored by University of Rhode Island Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychology Miriam Lindner aims to fill this gap. “The Sense in Senseless Violence: Male Reproductive Strategy and the Modern Sexual Marketplace as Contributors to Violent Extremism,” published in the Journal of Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, is a comprehensive look at the drivers of the incel movement through an evolutionary psychological perspective.

“For the longest time there was this misunderstanding that this type of violence could be ascribed to socio-economic standing or educational background,” Lindner said. “But when we look at the people who commit these very violent acts, it turns out that what they have in common is not that they are male–though 98% of them are male–it is actually that they are extremely misogynistic.”

Taylor Swift's secret mission

For more cartoons by Tom Tomorrow, CLICK HERE

Did you suffer storm damage recently?

‘Food is part of the solution’ when it comes to climate change

Innovative practices can power environmental stewardship ‘From Seed to Shore’

Dawn Bergantino 

Hundreds of people from across the nation tuned in to learn more about how innovative food system practices might be able to stave off the impacts of climate change as part of the 8^th Annual Rhode Island Food System Summit.

Hosted by the University of Rhode Island, “From Seed to Shore: Powering Environmental Stewardship Through Innovative Food Practices,” featured informative panel discussions with academic experts and local industry leaders as well as a keynote address from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Janet Coit. 

Coit, a former director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, spoke about NOAA’s plans to implement a national seafood strategy, including efforts to sustainably manage marine fisheries and produce seafood responsibly. Julianne Stelmaszyk, director of food strategy for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, also spoke on building resilience within the state’s renewed food strategy and provided an update on its development.

Tomato Juice Effectively Kills Salmonella and Other Harmful Bacteria

Hope this applies to V-8® too

By AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY

Research published in Microbiology Spectrum demonstrates that tomato juice can kill Salmonella Typhi and other harmful bacteria affecting digestive and urinary tract health. This breakthrough suggests that regular consumption of tomatoes can offer natural antibacterial benefits, particularly against pathogens like Salmonella Typhi.

A study reveals that tomato juice effectively kills Salmonella Typhi and other harmful bacteria, thanks to specific antimicrobial peptides found in tomatoes. This discovery highlights the potential health benefits of consuming tomatoes.

Tomato juice can kill Salmonella Typhi and other bacteria that can harm people’s digestive and urinary tract health, according to research published this week in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Salmonella Typhi is a deadly human-specific pathogen that causes typhoid fever.

New state ADU bill moves forward

R.I. House panel advances ‘granny flats’ legislation to full chamber

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) would have you believe this
 is what will happen if the town allows ADU construction

The lone straggler from House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s 14-bill housing package unveiled in the 2023 legislative session is making a strong comeback this year, with a House panel advancing the “granny flats” legislation Thursday.

The House Municipal Government and Housing Committee’s 10-2 vote does not necessarily signal its approval, but rather sends the bill to the House floor for a vote by the entire chamber. A floor vote will be scheduled for the week of Feb. 12, said House spokesperson Larry Berman.

Still, the accessory dwelling unit legislation championed by Shekarchi and sponsored by Rep. June Speakman, a Warren Democrat, seems bound for passage in the lower chamber. The same bill was overwhelmingly approved in the House in June, but stalled in committee on the Senate side.

Heralded by proponents as a way to combat the housing crisis, the legislation would make it easier for property owners to add a granny flat, or accessory dwelling unit, to their property by lifting some of the red tape imposed at the municipal level. 

Specifically, the bill allows residential property owners to build an attached or standalone ADU “by right” under any of three scenarios: to provide for family members with disabilities; on lots at least 20,000 square feet in size; or when the proposed ADU would be carved out from an existing structure, therefore not expanding the total building footprint.

Once beloved by the alt-right, Taylor Swift is now one of the MAGAnuts most feared enemies

The alt-right saw Taylor Swift as an 'Aryan goddess.' She shook them off as 'repulsive' 

by Charles Jay for Community Contributors Team

By Mike Luckovich

Fox News hosts have been engaged in pushing out some pretty special conspiracy theories. The newest is that the Super Bowl somehow has been rigged so that pop megastar Taylor Swift, who is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, will have a platform to endorse President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.

Fox host Jesse Waters even went so far as to suggest that the Pentagon’s “psychological operations unit” has turned Swift into “an asset.” He said Swift could be “a front for a covert political agenda.” The Pentagon dismissed the accusation with a Swiftian song reference: “As for this conspiracy theory, we are going to shake it off.”

But there was at least one unexpected voice of reason in the Murdoch media empire: Fox Sports pundit Colin Cowherd, who on his show “The Herd” blasted those people who have a problem with Swift appearing on NFL broadcasts when she attends a game. 

He cited a New York Times report that found that Swift appeared on camera for only 32 seconds during the 3.5-hour broadcast of Sunday’s Ravens-Chiefs AFC Championship game—17 seconds of which were devoted to an in-house promo for the network’s upcoming broadcast of Sunday’s Grammy Awards.

MAGA boy

By Michael deAdder

Faux is foul

Charlestown Awarded Funding for Breachway Restoration

Charlestown among 19 municipalities to receive infrastructure funding

On January 25th the Infrastructure Bank joined with Governor Dan McKee and Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong to award $12 million in Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants to 20 projects in 19 communities across Rhode Island.

This is the description of Charlestown's project: 

Photo by Will Collette

The Town of Charlestown is leading a crucial project to address the impacts of climate change, sea-level rise, and storm surges on the Charlestown Breachway barrier beach-lagoon system in Rhode Island. This project focuses on the first design phase, which includes engagement with adjacent landowners, RIDEM and USFWS. 

This phase is instrumental in preparing the second phase to be "shovel-ready" and eligible for future funding opportunities through the Town budget and grants over the next three years. 

The second phase, to be conducted over the subsequent two to three years, involves breachway west wall reconstruction, dredging, dune restoration, and dune grass planting. The overall project aims to enhance the resilience of the breachway system and adjacent natural habitats, providing a safer and more sustainable coastal access point for the public while protecting vital ecosystems.

 

Over just the last few weeks, communities across our state have experienced the effects of extreme storms, severe flooding, and coastal erosion, all of which are anticipated to increase due to the impacts of climate change. Rhode Island needs to invest in resilient infrastructure solutions now, and that is exactly what this $12 million in 20 Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants will allow 19 communities across our state to do.

 

For this round of MRP Action Grants, the Infrastructure Bank received 41 proposals from 30 communities, totaling $52 million in grant requests. Far exceeding currently available funding.

 

Breaking the Habit:

Researchers Identify Most Effective Stop-Smoking Aids

By UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST 

Nicotine e-cigarettes and two prescription medications that curb symptoms of withdrawal are the most effective stop-smoking aids, according to a comprehensive, multinational review by a team of scientists, including a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher.

Dual forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as combining a patch with gum or a lozenge, were found to be nearly as effective. 

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death worldwide, and many people who want to quit smoking find it very difficult, due to the addictive nature of nicotine. The new study’s findings offer strong evidence to help reshape public health policies and strategies, offering smokers more effective tools to quit for good.

Protect your dog this winter

Dog care below freezing

Erik Christian Olstad, University of California, Davis

Dogs get cold in the winter too, but there are things
 pet owners can do to help them feel comfortable. 
AP Photo/David Duprey

Time outside with your dog in the spring, summer and fall can be lovely. Visiting your favorite downtown café on a cool spring morning, going to a favorite dog park on a clear summer evening or going on walks along a river when the leaves are changing color are all wonderful when the weather is favorable. 

But in much of the country, when winter rolls around, previously hospitable conditions can quickly turn chilly and dangerous for people and pups alike.

Winter brings some unique challenges for dog owners, since dogs still need activity and socialization during colder seasons. Studies have shown that dog owners are almost 50% less likely to walk their dogs when the weather gets cold. Knowing the basics of winter safety is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your dog.

I am an assistant professor at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who weathered polar vortexes with my dog while living in Michigan early in my career. While I’ve since moved to sunny California, I’ve seen how quickly frigid temperatures can turn dangerous for pets.

How Fringe Anti-Science Views Infiltrated Mainstream Politics

It's costing a lot of American lives

Amy Maxmen

Illustration by David Pickel

Rates of routine childhood vaccination hit a 10-year low in 2023. That, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, puts about 250,000 kindergartners at risk for measles, which often leads to hospitalization and can cause death. 

In recent weeks, an infant and two young children have been hospitalized amid an ongoing measles outbreak in Philadelphia that spread to a day care center.

It’s a dangerous shift driven by a critical mass of people who now reject decades of science backing the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccines. State by state, they’ve persuaded legislators and courts to more easily allow children to enter kindergarten without vaccines, citing religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs.

Growing vaccine hesitancy is just a small part of a broader rejection of scientific expertise that could have consequences ranging from disease outbreaks to reduced funding for research that leads to new treatments. 

“The term ‘infodemic’ implies random junk, but that’s wrong,” said Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. “This is an organized political movement, and the health and science sectors don’t know what to do.”

Changing views among Republicans have steered the relaxation of childhood vaccine requirements, according to the Pew Research Center. Whereas nearly 80% of Republicans supported the rules in 2019, fewer than 60% do today. 

Democrats have held steady, with about 85% supporting. Mississippi, which once boasted the nation’s highest rates of childhood vaccination, began allowing religious exemptions last summer. Another leader in vaccination, West Virginia, is moving to do the same.

An anti-science movement picked up pace as Republican and Democratic perspectives on science diverged during the pandemic. Whereas 70% of Republicans said that science has a mostly positive impact on society in 2019, less than half felt that way in a November poll from Pew.