Vaccine and Autism link in court!!!…Not!!!…

U.S. courts have ruled in favor of a family that suspects the child’s symptoms were caused by a vaccine the child received.  All of this is true.  However, what the press wants you to think is that this is a concession by the United States that there is a link between autism and vaccines.  This is false.

First of all, the child was found to have autism-like symptoms, she was never diagnosed with autism.  She also had a rare genetic, mitochondrial deficiency.  Her symptoms were linked to the vaccine because, according to a time-line of symptoms, the vaccine may have exacerbated or exemplified her already underlying disease.  This led to her to have autism-like symptoms.  However, more than 5,000 people are now about to sue the government, claiming that vaccines caused their child’s autism.

The funny thing is, this “test case” was settled.  If the lawyers of this case thought they had a class-action lawsuit in the wake with this case, they never would have settled.  They would have forced a court ruling, in hopes to make a case for the other thousands of people. 

The government has set up this fund to reward people who actually get injured by vaccines.  They have done this to protect you, because for all those people who hate for their children to get vaccines, they know that if the vaccine causes harm to their child, they will be compensated.  However, rarely does the vaccine cause harm, in this case, it was not proved to be the cause, it just was possible, and therefore the case was settled.  In no way has there been a link to vaccines and autism.  Sorry. 

Anemia meds and cancer patients do not mix…

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association has confirmed that the use of Epogen, Procrit, and Arenesp to treat anemia in cancer patients has been linked to a 57% increased risk of blood clots and a 10% increased risk of death.  The report shows that when hemoglobin, a blood marker used to measure anemia, reaches above 12 g/dl, the risk is high for both death and clots. 

Anemia is common in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.  Chemo and radiation can destroy bone marrow, the quickly growing cells in your bone that make blood cells.  A lack of these blood cells can cause you to feel very weak and tired, a common sign of anemia.  Without blood cells, oxygen cannot be transported efficiently though your blood.  This level can be measure by the amount of hemoglobin in your blood.

Should you be worried?  Yes, if your hemoglobin is above 12 g/dl, otherwise, the bone marrow stimulating drugs should be used.  If you have any questions, contact your doctor and let him know of the new data.  If you are feeling weak and on chemotherapy or radiation therapy, these drugs could still help and be safe, just make sure your doctor is monitoring you correctly.

“Airborne” crash lands…

The company behind Airborne, the oh-so-popular anti-cold tablet developed by a school teacher, has settled litigation for $23.3 million.  Admitting no wrong-doing, the company has decided that it will have to pay for advertisements to give back customers their money.  Apparently, Airborne made claims of shortening the length of the common cold and preventing you from catching it.  It did have studies to back it up, only they were found out to be done by laypeople.  This was back in 2006.  Since then, Airborne has redone all print materials to say on its packaging that it only “boosts the immune system,” whatever that means…  This overrated multivitamin has been condemned for what it is worth, nothing more than a bunch of hoopty herbal medicines (none proven to work) and half an orange.  Oh, and eating half an orange is much cheaper than taking an Airborne tablet…and works better, too.

More details about the litigation are due out June 6th, so if you were suckered to buy the product, maybe then you can learn how to get your money back.