As the article states, “If we find cancer early, 90 percent survive. If we find cancer late, 10 percent survive.” A strong case is made, both scientifically and economically, for a shift from treatment to prevention early detection in U.S. health policy. It provides many great details and much to think about.

Wired: Why Early Detection Is the Best Way to Beat Cancer

icyou has hundreds of videos about cancer, including survivor stories, cancer diaries, and the latest in treatment and detection news. Here are some you might be interested in:

See Jane Heal - Follow one woman’s journey from diagnosis, to treatment, to recovery.

Moms on the Go - Hear stories from cancer survivors!

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - Watch videos from the prestigious University of Texas cancer treatment center.

Plus, you can search for icyou topics or add our RSS feeds for any cancer-related topic. Simply go to the icyou Diseases & Conditions page, click on any cancer topic, then click on the RSS icon next to the topic name.

UPDATE: Our friend Matthew Zachary at ImTooYoungForThis.org forwarded us his post about the article on The Stupid Cancer Blog. We highly suggest you read it. (Also, thanks for correcting us on the difference between “early detection” and “prevention,” Matthew.)

Visit our “Weathering the Winter” channel to get everything you need for a healthier holiday season. Here are some of the videos highlighted on the channel:
1. Colds
2. Flu season runs from October to February
3. Seasonal Affective Disorder: Avoiding “The Winter Blues”
4. Disruptive Sleep Patterns
5. Weight Gain: How much do people gain during the holidays?
6. Dry Skin
7. Stress

Remember: A little prevention can go a long way to keeping you healthy.

So which is better: liquid sanitizers or good ol’ fashioned hand washing? Well both are equally effective in reducing the spread of germs and preventing illness but in different capacities. When dirt and grime are visible on your hands, the best means is soap and water. But for spot cleaning and do reduce your spread of germs throughout the day when a bathroom is unavailable use a liquid sanitizer. One important note on liquid sanitizers: to be effective they must contain over 60% alcohol.

For more information check out the following icyou videos on hand washing:

- How to Wash Your Hands Correctly

- Speak Up. Wash Up. Hand Hygiene Campaign.

- NESHCo Hand Hygiene Presentation

• Look for healthy alternatives – You don’t have to give up your favorite holiday dishes. Rather, look for ingredients that can be substituted for healthy alternatives. Also look for recipes that use healthier cooking methods i.e. recipes with steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached or roasted foods.
• Portion Control – Rather than focusing on carbs and fat, focus on how much you consume. Doubling your portion size doubles your calorie intake. For example, one portion of rice or pasta is about half a cup. The good news? You can still fill up on fruits and vegetables!
• Walk & Talk – Holidays are a time to catch up with friends and family. They are also a time when many of us stray from our exercise routines. A great way to exercise over the holidays is to take a walk with friends and/or family.

For more information check out Dr. Ann: How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Happy Thanksgiving!

So many users posted comments and questions on icyou’s YouTube channel, our team created a separate and free service for people to anonymously ask their health-related questions to icyou’s medical editor, Prerna Mona Khanna, MD, MPH. 

Learn more about Dr. Mona and how to submit questions on Dr. Mona’s icyou channel.

1. Unexplained weight loss and/or loss of appetite: may indicate serious underlying medical illness.

2. Slurred speech, paralysis, weakness, tingling, burning pains, numbness, and confusion: may indicate a stroke

3. Black, tarry stools: may indicate a stomach or small intestine ulcer hemorrhage or cancer

4. Headache accompanied by a stiff neck and fever: an indicator of meningitis, a serious infection.

5. Sudden, agonizing headache: if it’s more severe than any you have felt before, it could mean you are bleeding in the brain and should go to the hospital immediately.

6a. For women - Vaginal bleeding after menopause: warning sign of possible uterine cancer.

6b. For men - A lump in your testicle—with or without a small lump in the groin it could be serious. Testicular cancer is more commonly found in testicles that did not naturally descend from the abdomen to the scrotum.

So what can you do? Office equipment should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria responsible for disease. The 3 office items that harbor the most microbes are phones, keyboards, and computer mice and thus they should be cleaned frequently. Also, promptly clean up any food or beverage spills as they can support mini ecosystems of bacteria.

Finally, make sure to exercise good hygiene by washing hands properly or using a hand sanitizer to reduce your spread of germs. For more information on proper hygiene and preventative measures to take to reduce the spread of germs, check out these videos:

How to Wash Your Hands Correctly

Preventing the Spread of Germs

The two major-party candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, offer differing views on many issues, and healthcare is no exception. Our own Rebecca Fox examined their proposals and, in this video, points out the similarities and contrasts. For more election info, go to the icyou’s Election ‘08 Channel.

In the meantime, check out interviews from past Health 2.0 conferences on their icyou Health 2.0 Channel.