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Preventive medicine -
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In all seriousness, a doctor once suggested that all older women should have their breast cut off – to avoid breast cancer.
His logic – or illogic – is similar to that which says we should cut off our heads to avoid headaches. This was his idea of “preventive medicine”. I call it kiasu medicine.
Kiasu literally means “afraid to lose.” It connotes taking precautions to the extent that we suffer as a result.
In a modern medical practice, this happens whenever doctors order additional tests, prescribe extra drugs and perform needles surgery “just to be on the safe side.”
But who is being put on the safe side? The doctor? Or the patient? Patients who undergo too much medical treatment are usually put at great risk. Some die.
The removal of women’s breast is just one example of kiasu medicine. It’s often done to women with breast cancer. But is it necessary?
Preventive medicine - breast removal
Some cancers patients have the entire breast removed. This involves major surgery which leaves horrible scars. Others have only a part of the breast removed.
What’s the difference? Apparently not much.
A number of studies showed that the removing the entire breast is no more effective in preventing recurrence of breast cancer that removing part of it.
Why perform a major operation when a minor one will do? Why be so kiasu?
Preventive medicine - gall bladder removal
Another case of kiasu medicine was cited by Good Life reader John Yeo in the July issue.
His friend went for an operation to removed gallstones. The doctor, after taking out two large stones, decided to remove the entire gall bladder.
Yet John had nearly 30 gallstones removed without surgery, following a simple, natural method. He writes:
“If I had gone to the doctor, that would most probably mean a gall bladder operation and perhaps gall bladder removal. On top of that, there would be the normal risk one takes in any operation, ie, analgesics, infection, medication, x-rays and loads of pain and anxiety, plus $3,000 to $5,000 in medical fees”.
Doctors see the risks differently. One doctor who read about removing gallstones naturally, said: “That’s very dangerous. If the stone is too big, it may get stuck.
Maybe. But john passed out eight larges stones. None got stuck.
Preventive medicine - scare tactics
A friend of mine had a tumor in her womb. She went on a macrobiotic diet and a subsequent check-up showed that it shrank slightly.
Did the doctor encourage her to keep up with the diet and see if the tumor might shrink further?
No. He scared her into removing her entire womb, just in case the growth later turns out to be cancerous.
The doctor added that she might as well have her womb removed since she was already getting “old”.
Old? She is in her early 40s”.
When a person does have a cancer, the scare tactics are more intense. Often, patients are told that they must begin chemotherapy or radiation right away. They are given no time to think.
Drastic, dangerous treatments are hastily carried out as kiasu measures, in the name of preventive medicine.
Removal of the appendix is one procedure that is often considered urgent. But when one US hospital began to look into unnecessary surgery, the number of appendices removed each year dropped from 262 to just 62.
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