Consumer Reports is a widely respected company when it comes to reviewing any and all consumer products. Nearly everything you can imagine is reviewed by them and now it looks like they’re getting into another controversial but important market. Today Consumer Reports announced that they will officially begin testing and reviewing a number of cancer screening tests in the coming months.

The motive behind these reviews is pretty simple, early screening saves lives by detecting cancer, so Consumer Reports wants to provide a simple to understand review of exactly which tests cover what and how they work. Many tests are complicated or painful and offer almost no valuable information so consumer reports is hoping to make it possible for average people to understand exactly what they’re getting into and that is absolutely great news.

Of course doctors are a little bit leery of the results but they say more information is always good. Consumer Reports is encouraging people to always consult and listen to their doctors as a primary source of information, their reviews should only be used as a supplement. Either way it is great to see someone is finally doing some real world information gathering about these important and sometimes lifesaving tests.

A team of doctors at Stanford University Hospital successfully completed a miraculous life saving operation today. The patient was a 15 minute old child that was in desperate need of some heart help and while many doctors did not think it could work out the doctors at Stanford proved them wrong. The infant had been diagnosed with an incredibly rate heart ailment and immediately after being born was taken into critical surgery.

The surgeon behind the operation was the first to propose the procedure and immediately after birth he began the operation. Doctors said the chances of survival were slim and the chances of a successful recovery were even less likely; today that has been proven wrong as the surgery did in fact go off without a hitch and the infant is recovering well. After approximately an hour of intense operation the infant’s surgery was complete and the doctors announced that the procedure had went well.

A procedure like this on such a young child is incredibly uncommon. Doctors are happy that it went so well and they are confident that the child will recover quickly and fully. The family has expressed their gratitude towards the doctors and the medical team at the hospital and they are hopeful that in a few short weeks they will be ready to return home. Stories like this are uncommon and inspiring as this is truly a miracle made possibly by modern day medicine and quick thinking doctors and surgeons.

In the never ending search for vaccines against some of the world’s most devastating diseases researchers may have finally made some headway in one area. Ebola is a deadly virus that kills thousands of people around the world but there may finally be hope as scientists have developed what they think may be a successful and effective vaccine to help prevent infections.

The vaccine has been in development for years and for the past few months it has undergone extensive testing and the final results have come in finally. According to the official medical report the vaccine was successful in fighting the Ebola virus in mice and other test animals and the researchers in charge of the project believe that this will most likely carry over to humans as well. This is absolutely great news as it will help millions of people in areas affected by the virus, it is also good to know that the vaccine is apparently able to be stored for long periods of time so stockpiling the vaccine will finally be possible.

Overall scientists are very hopeful that the latest round of testing will make it possible to start distributing the vaccine for human use. No word on when the final testing or approval may be but researchers are hoping that it will be sometime soon which is definitely good news for areas affected by the virus. This vaccine could become the next big life saver worldwide.

Matthew Green became the first man in Britain to receive an artificial heart transplant earlier this week. Surgeons say that the surgery went off without any trouble and Mr. Green is now beginning the long recovery process that will accompany the surgery.

Such surgeries are not entirely unheard of around the world though this was the first time such a surgery was undertaken in Britain. The surgery took place at Papworth Hospital and after 6 hours the surgeons believe the artificial heart should have absolutely no problem functioning in place of Mr. Green’s natural heart.

Amazingly doctors working with Mr. Green also say that the surgery went so well and he is recovering so well he might be able to return to his normal life soon. Doctors all around the world were stunned and happy to hear about the overwhelming success of the surgery especially given the fact that it took little time compared to most major heart surgeries. Mr. Green’s family has also expressed the utmost gratitude toward the surgical team for their work as they have essentially given Mr. Green a second lease on life through the incredible operation.

Following the surgery the surgeons involved announced the results of the surgery. Given the resounding success of the operation it is likely that these types of lifesaving operations may become more widely available in the coming years as there has now been multiple complete artificial heart transplants used around the world for a variety of different patients.

Each year a new flu vaccine is developed using a complicated system of tests which are used to determine exactly which strain of the common flu is likely to spread through the population. The flu strain often changes quite drastically each year but this year medical analysts are saying that the strain might not be changing hardly at all.

This month the companies responsible for developing and making the flu vaccines announced that the studies being conducted show that the flu strain is nearly identical to last year’s strain. What this means for millions of people is that a flu vaccine this year simply won’t be necessary because the immune resistivity will be carried over from the previous flu shot.

Of course government health agencies are still encouraging all people at risk for the flu to prepare for a flu shot as flu season approaches. Fortunately the vaccine companies have also announced that they will be producing a record number of flu vaccine doses; as many as 173 million doses are expected to be prepared for distribution as flu season approaches which means a record number of people will be able to receive the vaccine if desired.

Despite what government health agencies are saying doctors are encouraging only those highly at risk to receive the flu shot. Because of the fact that last year’s flu shot will still be nearly 100% effective doctors say there is no need to waste time, money, or resources to re vaccinate those who are already protected.

Royal Oak, Mich. Dr. Richard Keidan, a surgical oncologist at Beaumont Hospital has dedicated his life to performing surgery on Detroit area patients, but he also helps needy people in Nepal by building schools and clinics.

Keidan runs the Miles Levin Nepal Foundation in dedication to 18 year old Miles Levin, who died of a rare form of cancer in 2007. The foundation helps impoverished children in Nepal. 

Keidal says that the lives of the children of Khotang in Nepal are a far cry from Levin’s life and that his goal is to help bridge the gap between the health care and educational opportunities that he had and the ones the children of Khotang don’t have access to.

Keidan first visited Nepal in 1983 to mountain climb and ended up in love with the people and their culture. Now, he spends nearly three months every year there working with the children.

Keidan says there isn’t much resemblance to the Detroit suburbs in Nepal, as there is no communication, no phones, no power, no running water, no toilets, and no way to get anywhere except to walk.

Keidan helps in Nepal by building clinics, schools, and making sure there is clean water and toilets available. The people there help to manage the foundation’s work.

“We go and talk with the people in Khotang and their villages and instead of trying to tell them how to do things. Instead, we ask them what they need so that it’s their ideas, their proposals, and we want them to have a better life for them and their kids,” he said.