Just a quick post...

Just a thought with all weird diet fads going on, some suggesting that fats aren't very bad for you and it is only carbohydrates that are bad for you. Maybe you should read this article from science news: High-fat Diet Makes Mice Susceptible to Liver Injury.

I'm not touting to be an expert on diet, but unfortunately many people who create these fad diets are not either. Their science is also often very poor. My only suggestion is to listen to yourself and listen to your doctor. No one knows your body better than you, and eat what makes you feel healthy (everyone is different). Also always do things in moderation. Just before you jump on any fad diet, make sure it is safe.

A little warning involving clinical trials and insurance.

It has only been recently that some states have passed laws and regulations surrounding payments of health insurance in connection to clinical trials. Often, insurance companies will not pay for new, controversial, or experimental procedures which include clinical trials. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will not even pay for normal routine healthcare (doctor visits, tests etc.), if they feel it is connected to a clinical trial. This type of care which includes such things as prescriptions, doctor visits, tests, etc. would normally be covered by the by the insurance company. Why do insurance companies do this? I’m not entirely sure, but it may be due to the fact that often these companies can and will find a way not to pay money for someone health care, even if the patients deserves and needs it (1, 2).

So before you decide to join a clinical trial, talk to your insurance company and make sure you understand their policy. Also talk to the hospital that is facilitating the clinical trial and make sure they are answering your questions about insurance coverage. If the researchers care about the trial, I’m sure they would help you find out any information that they can. Finally make sure you check out the laws of your state surrounding insurance coverage and clinical trials. If laws don’t exist in your state that make insurance companies pay for routine care whether it is involved in a clinical trial or not, then maybe you can start writing to your state legislature and hopefully lobby for changes in the law. A patient shouldn’t have to pay for healthcare, if all that has changed is that they are in a clinical trial. It’s simply not right.

1)www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_6_2x_State_Laws_Regarding_Clinical_Trials.asp
2)www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/insurance-coverage