Program 13, January 2

2001

Preventing Breach Births

The most natural way for a baby to come into the world is head first. It's also the safest.  But the womb is a big place, and there's room to do somersaults. 

New research says if the baby is in a breech or bottom-first position during labour, doctors should do a caesarian section.  But if caught early enough in a pregnancy, the baby can be turned using a method that's been around for centuries.  It's called external cephalic version, or ECV.

Andropause

Now the guys have it too:  their own excuse for crankiness, low libido, mood swings and the occasional hot flash.  It's called andropause, and it's the male version of menopause.

  Some doctors believe andropause needs to be treated as a disease, with hormone replacement therapy.  Others say this is a normal part of aging and just because we have a drug, doesn't mean we have a disease. Urologists Dr. Jack Barkin and Dr. Richard Casey debate the existence and the treatments for andropause.

Next Week

January 9, 2001

Breast cancer

We had an overwhelming response when we ran our special Report on Breast Cancer earlier this season.

  So for those who missed it, we want to rebroadcast our item on tram flaps.  Although thousands of women still receive mastectomies to treat their breast cancer, it remains a disfiguring and emotionally scarring operation.

Over the last twenty years doctors have developed ways to reconstruct a breast , either with a saline implants or with living tissue from the patient.  A graphic look at one woman's decision to undergo a tram flap to reconstruct her breast.

Next Week

January 9, 2001

Waiting Lists for Health Care

If you were diagnosed with cancer, you'd want to be referred to a specialist and start treatment right away.  Or if you needed heart surgery or a hip replacement -- you'd want it done as soon as possible.  But in Canada today, the patient needs to have patience.

Because no matter what our diagnosis, chances are we'll be put on a waiting list.  Up till now, we've been told the wait is not life-threatening.  But some doctors are beginning to express concern about the length of time their patients have to wait. 

Urologist Dr. Laurence Klotz and health policy consultant Dr. Michael Rachlis look at the issue of waiting lists.