Erie County Health Commissioner on Breast & Prostate Cancer
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein saw what the previous County Executive had to say about how people no longer die from breast and prostate cancer and “some of the other things”, and today issued the following press release:
BURSTEIN CALLS ATTENTION TO CANCER RATES IN ERIE COUNTY
Prostate, Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Indicate that Residents Still Suffer
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein today issued a statement regarding the incidence and mortality rates of prostate and breast cancer in Erie County, underlining their serious nature and the fact that people still suffer from these diseases. Former-Erie County Executive Chris Collins recently stated in an interview, “People now don’t die from prostate cancer, breast cancer and some of the other things.”[1]
“All types of cancer, including prostate and breast cancer, have significant mortality rates associated with them. During 2005-2009, Erie County saw an annual average of 826 cases of female breast cancer, with an average of 176 deaths per year. For prostate cancer in the same period, the annual average was 930 cases, with an average of 103 deaths per year.”
“These numbers represent the sad reality that, despite advances in cancer treatments, people still die from these types of cancers. It is imperative that people not only be aware of the potential risks from all types of cancers but get appropriately screened and checked as recommended by your doctor for breast and prostate cancer.”
For more information on Erie County cancer statistics, visit: http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/vol1/v1cerie.htm
For more information on the Erie County Health Department, visit: http://www2.erie.gov/health/
(Image courtesy Tom Dolina)
Once again, social conservatives are demonstrating their unwillingness to do their homework before taking a stand on important policy positions affecting millions of Americans. Lord knows we don’t want to be informed about the fundamentals of human biology and medical treatments when creating legislation that would impact the health of so many women in America.
And we certainly don’t want our national leaders to be eloquent, scientifically literate, and generally well-informed about the world in which we live. Much better to derive scientific theories based on the cherry-picked passages taken from the Bible and to form national public policy based on the rumors, gossip, and unverified anecdotal accounts taken from online blogs.
Many conservatives indignantly point out that the United States has the best medical care available anywhere in the world. This may or may not be true, but it totally misses the point.
If people cannot afford to pay for health insurance coverage, let alone their own preventative medical treatment, then as far as medical care availability is concerned, there’s no there there.
God help you if you get laid off from your job and thus lose your health benefits, and then discover that you or a family member has a life-threatening health condition. Or are denied coverage due to a “pre-existing condition”. Or are a low wage earner with no benefit plan and cannot afford the skyrocketing insurance premiums.
Can’t afford treatment? Go away and die quietly.
Once again, liberals take a conversation out of context and read whatever evil they want out of it.
What do you expect. The man made a comment to a REPORTER and didn’t further explain himself. So maybe he believed what he said, or maybe he didn’t, but he did let it stand.
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/03/former-raiders-player-ben-davidson-dies-at-72-prostate-cancer/