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Cancer Clinical trials Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking

Vitamin D and cancer: The difference between cranks and mainstream science

Despite the diatribes that appear here on a regular basis bemoaning the unscientific and sometimes dangerous claims made for so-called “alternative medicine” modalities, I’ll be among the first to admit that in some cases it’s not always clear what is “alternative” about some therapies. Indeed, there seems to be an intentional effort to “rebrand” some […]

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Bioethics Cancer Clinical trials Medicine Politics Religion

Abortion and breast cancer: The Chicago Tribune feeds the myth

I approach this topic with a bit of trepidation. I say this not because I’m unsure that I’m correct in my assessment of the article that I’m about to apply some Respectful Insolence™ to. Rather, it’s because the last time I brought up anything having to do with abortion, it got ugly. The topic is […]

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Blogging Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Homeopathic thuggery bites the host of the next Skeptics’ Circle

One of the biggest complaints from alternative medicine practitioners is that some vast cabal, presumably made up big pharma, the CDC, the NIH, the AMA, and “conventional” doctors, is “suppressing” alternative medicine. Yes, true believers like, say, Mike Adams will claim that big pharma is going to suppress their free speech about “alternatives” and thus […]

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Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Politics Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Abraham Cherrix’s lymphoma in “remission”?

It would appear that there’s finally some good news in the strange and sad case of Starchild Abraham Cherrix. The AP reports that he and his doctor are reporting that his lymphoma is in remission again: FLOYD, Va. — A 17-year-old who won a court battle against state officials who tried to force him to […]

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Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine Friday Woo Medicine Paranormal Pseudoscience Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Your Friday Dose of Woo: More than just an herbalist

Earlier this week, I deconstructed a truly inane article on Mike Adams NewsTarget website espousing dangerous cancer quackery, with claims that herbal concoctions alone could “naturally heal” cancer. Such a claim wouldn’t have attracted bringing the hammer of Respectful Insolence™ down if there had been some actual evidence presented that this healer could do what […]