Category Archives: medicine

“Cracking Cancer” on CBC’s The Nature of Things tonight

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Tonight’s episode of CBC documentary series The Nature of Things with David Suzuki features an in-depth look at the BC Cancer Agency’s Personalized Onco-Genomics (POG) project, which is exploring the feasibility of sequencing DNA and RNA from cancer cells to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, cancer research, genomics, medicine, science, television, video | Comments Off on “Cracking Cancer” on CBC’s The Nature of Things tonight

Conspiracy deathmatch

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I realized recently that, in the best tradition of fighting fire with fire, it’s possible to counter some conspiracy theories by invoking other conspiracy theories. The best two examples I’ve come up with so far are as follows: The anti-vaccination … Continue reading →

Posted in medicine, pseudoscience, quacks, science, silliness, technology | 2 Comments

Excellent juxtapositions make me feel good

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Cath@VWXYNot?

The placebo effect is truly fascinating – the top article of this pair describes how it can trigger the release of dopamine in people with Parkinson’s, or opioids in people expecting a painkiller. I hope we can find a way … Continue reading →

Posted in medicine, science, screenshots, silliness | Comments Off on Excellent juxtapositions make me feel good

Early detection is key

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I know size isn’t everything, but this is still very clever (pencil for scale) Bravo, Canadian Cancer Society!

Posted in cancer research, communication, medicine, photos | 7 Comments

Facebook rant about Facebook cancer hoax

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I just posted the following on Facebook, and thought I’d share it here, too – the wider the news that this is a hoax is disseminated, the better for everyone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I’ve seen a Facebook post about cancer circulating among … Continue reading →

Posted in bad people, cancer research, medicine, publishing, quacks, rants, science | 5 Comments

Temporospatial trends in germophobia

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

One of the cultural differences I noticed soon after I moved from Britain to Canada is how people treat you if you say you have a cold or other minor ailment. In the UK, my experience is that friends, family, … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, medicine, personal, UK, virology | 19 Comments

On having a heart and using my voice

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I recently updated the photo on my UK drivers license, and had the new card sent to my parents’ address. They received it a few weeks ago and couriered it back to me (along with the original marriage certificate I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, bad people, Canada, current affairs, family, medicine, personal, photos, politics, Vancouver, videos | 8 Comments

iFacepalm

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

If only everyone knew how easy it can be to solve complex, deap-seated medical problems! Looks legit – it’s on Wikipedia, after all. I mean, sure, there’s a disclaimer – but they only have to put those in for legal … Continue reading →

Posted in medicine, pseudoscience, quacks, screenshots, silliness, technology | 8 Comments

2011 in books

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Well, my attempts to form good habits related to my specific 2012 resolutions – plus my ongoing exercise and healthy eating goals – have already been derailed, although the goals themselves are still very achievable. I blame (in chronological order): … Continue reading →

Posted in blog buddies, book review, family, grant wrangling, medicine | 33 Comments

Things to do in ‘couver when you’re weird

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

These ads that appeared in my Facebook feed the other day confuse and frighten me: I hadn’t realised that breeding grotesquely oversized kittehs was A Thing in Vancouver… or maybe that’s just what happens when you buy breakthrough peptide-based treatments … Continue reading →

Posted in bad people, freakishness, furry friends, medicine, pseudoscience, screenshots, shopping, silliness, Vancouver | 15 Comments