Cancer study results raise a paradox

(CNN) -- I was once discussing a patient with one of my surgical mentors back during my neurosurgical training. The patient was an elderly gentleman who had recently been diagnosed with a fairly aggressive cancer.

The decision to operate seemed like an obvious one to me. My mentor wasn't as convinced. He took me aside and said, "Just because you want to cure a cancer, doesn't mean it is possible, and just because it is possible, doesn't mean you should cure it."

I thought about him again when looking at a recent paper from the New England Journal of Medicine. It looked at prostate cancer and compared two groups: one had surgery and the other group was watched.

They were able to conclusively prove that if prostate surgery was performed, then the risk of dying from prostate cancer decreased. However, the paper also showed that the overall survival was no different between the two groups, which makes it confusing.

Every day, patients everywhere have to decide whether or not to undergo aggressive operations. Many times, doctors cannot promise that they will actually live longer or even have a better quality of life.

Yet, we have to inform ourselves the best we can and make the best decisions for each individual. Please continue to inform yourself by reading "The Pulse," my weekly column on the week's top health and medical news.

Nicotine patch, gum might not help you kick the habit

Smokers who want to quit may benefit very little by using the patch or chewing nicotine gum, according to a California study.

Researchers found that one out of seven smokers turns to nicotine replacement therapy to help them kick the habit. However, success rates drop to about 20 percent after a few months, according to the study -- whether or not therapy is used.

Click here for more on the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. For a fact sheet on nicotine replacement therapy, go to the American Lung Association.

Troublesome news for hospitals and patients

A survey of 36 hospitals and nursing homes in Colorado and Georgia found drug errors occurred in nearly one of every five doses administered in a typical 300-bed hospital -- or approximately two errors per patient daily.

Seven percent of these errors were considered harmful.

The study focused on "administering errors" made by nurses or other staff members after a doctor had properly prescribed a drug.

It comes on the heels of an announcement by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations that it will require six safety standards starting in January to reduce medical errors.

Click here for more on the study and to read the new safety standards.

Christopher Reeve makes small gains

Actor Christopher Reeve, paralyzed since a 1995 riding accident, is now able to slightly move his fingers and toes, according to his doctor.

Reeve also told People magazine he can feel hugs from his wife and children.

Dr. John McDonald says the improvement is "unprecedented" and "really changes the playing field in terms of what is possible."

Click here to read about Reeve's remarkable progress.