The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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    Barbers Against Prostate Cancer

    In addition to cutting hair, barbers once performed surgery (blood letting) and dentistry. Today, they’re making a comeback as lay prostate educators.

    Medscape reports on an abstract presented by researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida during the Cancer, Culture & Literacy Conference.

    The concept is simple.

    As part of a pilot study, barbers ask their male clients over the age of 40 if they’ve ever been screened for prostate cancer. A negative answer is followed by information designed to make the man aware he’s a candidate for prostate cancer screening.

    To prepare for their advocacy role, 8 barbers underwent 10 hours of training. They were then evaluated to confirm what they learned about prostate screening and their knowledge of prostate cancer.

    The study is ongoing, but there’s evidence that the barbers’ clients learn that a delay in diagnosis is related to not getting the exam.

    The bottom line?
    Jim Wallace, a volunteer with the Florida Prostate Cancer Network, hopes additional cities will adopt a Barbers Against Prostate Cancer project.

    The Moffitt Cancer Center website has more background on the project. Contact Dr. John (Juan) Luque for more information

    5/24/08 19:09 JR

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