In the News: Social Media aids Cancer Diagnosis

A social news site called Reddit ran a comic posted by a user or "Redditor" as they are called. The comic featured a man urinating on a pregnancy test as a joke. The joke was on him when the pregnancy test was positive. A fellow user noted that "if this is true then you should get yourself checked for cancer". The user told her male friend about this remark and surprise surprise, he was found to have an early testicular tumor. Luckily, because of it being diagnosed at an early stage, a good result is expected.

Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone normally released by the placenta in pregnancy and can be found in the urine with simple testing. False elevations can be noted with marijuana use and hypogonadal states. True elevations not occurring with pregnancy can also be noted with certain testicular cancers, gynecologic cancers and abnormal pregnancy states such as a molar pregnancy.

The full story can be found here: Reddit

Lesson of the Day: If it doesn't smell right, look right, feel right, somethings probably not right!