Articles by:
Charlea T. Massion, MD and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
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Rx for Change: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Diabetes, Gynecological Health, Obesity, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Rx for Change Deep Dive ArticlesPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is another name for “chronic oligoanovulation”—irregular or absent ovulation resulting in irregular or absent menstruation. PCOS may be associated with ovaries that have multiple cysts; hyperandrogenism (increased DHEA and/or testosterone); excessive facial or body hair (hirsuitism); acne; and weight gain.
Rx for Change: The ABCs of Hospice and Palliative Care
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD End of Life, End of Life Care, Older Women, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesAn 83-year- old woman dies on a ventilator in the ICU. She’s been hospitalized for five of the last six months of her life.
A 57-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic breast cancer develops cancer-related fluid inside her chest cavity. She has aggressive surgery to prevent the fluid from reaccumulating. She dies in the hospital two days later.
Browse articles by Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
Rx for Change – Dying in America: Better than Ever?
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Advance Directives, Death and Dying, End of Life, End of Life Care, Older Women, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesHappy New Year — how recently have you thought about dying? Do you already have an Advance Directive and designated health care proxy? If so, good work! If not, this column can help you complete one in 2015.
Rx for Change: Diabetic Neuropathy
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Diabetes, Drugs and Devices, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesDiabetics often experience neuropathy (nerve pain or dysfunction); some people with diabetic neuropathy (DN) may be unaware of it because symptoms can be subtle. DN symptoms range from numbness or tingling to severe pain that interferes with daily activities and keeps people up at night.
Rx for Change: Choosing Wisely on Getting a Bone Density Test
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Bone Health, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Bone Scan, DEXA, Drugs and Devices, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesRecommendations about bone density (BD) testing have shifted over the last few years — we are proud to say, more toward what the NWHN has recommended for over a decade! This article reviews the BD testing recommendations from the Choosing Wisely® campaign.
Pass the Poop!
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Antibiotics, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesYou’re crawling with germs – and that’s a GOOD thing. All of us are coated inside and out with a complex protective film of microorganisms. If that film’s disrupted, the consequences can be devastating.
Rx for Change: The Low-Down on Low-T (or Menopause for Men)
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Aging, Hormones, Low T, Older Women, Rx for Change, Testosterone Deep Dive ArticlesDoes the man in your life have “Low-T” (low testosterone) Syndrome? Oh, wait; make that “the men in your life” — chances are any of the men you know over age 40 qualify for a diagnosis.
Rx for Change: Forget Fat!
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Body Mass Index (BMI), Exercise, Nutrition, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter, Weight Loss Deep Dive ArticlesWe constantly hear that obesity is a killer and that the obesity epidemic will surely sink our health care system — but are a few extra pounds really bad for your health? A recent study suggests that being a little overweight may actually reduce your chance of dying. Hear us out, though, before scarfing some cookies in celebration!
Rx for Change: CT Scan Safety
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Cancer, CT Scan, Radiation, Rx for Change Deep Dive ArticlesAlthough CT (pronounced “cat”) scans may sound warm and fuzzy, these three-dimensional X-rays expose people to very high doses of radiation. A chest CT exposes patients to more than 400 times the radiation dose than a regular chest X-ray.
Rx for Change: Sorry, We’re Out of Aspirin…
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD FDA Advocacy, Generic Drugs, Rx for Change, The Women's Health Activist Newsletter Deep Dive ArticlesWhat’s behind the shortage of common generic medications? The number of reported prescription drug shortages in the United States nearly tripled between 2005 and 2010. At the same time that new and expensive drugs are dominating the market, proven workhorse drugs with a long history of successful use — like the two your doctor tried to order for you — are becoming harder to obtain.
Avast Avastin!
By: Charlea T. Massion and Adriane Fugh-Berman Breast Health, Drugs and Devices, FDA Advocacy, Rx for Change Deep Dive ArticlesWhy won’t ineffective treatments go away? The story of the use of Avastin for breast cancer treatment is a cautionary tale about how pharmaceutical companies dupe health care providers and consumers into accepting — even demanding — inferior drugs, and bully Federal agencies trying to protect the public.
Traveling by Air? Go for the Grope!
By: Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD Cancer, Radiation, Rx for Change, X-ray Deep Dive ArticlesWhose silly idea was it to start X-raying people along with the baggage at airports? Most of the media coverage of airport security scanners has focused on privacy issues, but we’re far more concerned about possible health risk: frequent flyers may be racking up increased cancer risk along with their miles, because of radiation exposure.
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About the Authors
Charlea T. Massion, MD
Charlea T. Massion, MD, is a practicing physician in Santa Cruz County specializing in hospice and palliative care. Charlea brought her passion for improving women’s health along with 40+ years of health care experience to the NWHN as a member of the board for 8 years. She also co-founded the American College of Women’s Health Physicians.
Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, is a former NWHN Board Chair whose research presents a critical analysis of the marketing of prescription drugs. Adriane educates prescribers on pharmaceutical marketing practices as Director of the PharmedOUT program, and created the Health in the Public Interest program at Georgetown University School of Medicine where she trains a new generation of consumer advocates. Additional articles by Adriane can be found here.