Chemotherapy is not the only method available to combat cancer.

What are the various methods used by oncologists or other medical practitioners in the fight against cancer? Can all cancers be fought by these methods. Are some of these methods more successful than others? What are the proven success rates of each? When is a cancer deemed 'inoperable' ? When a cancer is deemed inoperable, what methods may be pursued?

Antibiotics are actually killing us?

It has been suggested that the all too frequent use of antibiotics to combat our bacterial and fungal infections may actually cause a 'super-bug' to evolve. If this happens, it is feared the superbug may wipe out a sizeable proportion of the human population. What is an antibiotic and how does it prevent bacterial or fungal growth? What is the medical science behind this theory of over-use of antibiotics leading to a 'superbug', and are there examples from recent or even long past history where human population has been dessimated by bacterial or fungal infection?

Plastic surgery has gone too far.

Plastic surgery is a loosely used term to represent a range of different procedures that 'correct' apparent imperfections in body structure. What are the types of plastic surgery available to people, what are the proven risks, and what evidence is there that plastic surgery really improves the self-image of recipients ?

The possible side-effects of using Botox as an anti-wrinkle agent, are too dangerous to use on human faces.

It has been suggested that the anti-wrinkle drugs based on botulinum toxin, produced by Botox Cosmetic and Myobloc may lead to severe cases of botulism and even cause death. The drug is mostly used in the cosmetic industry, for reducing wrinkles. Botox injections block the nerve impulses and cause muscles to relax, however, botulinum toxin is also used for cases of cerebral palsy, in order to control limb spasms. In cases where Botox was used as a cosmetic treatment, there is a possibility that the drug may spread in other parts of the body, affecting the muscles used for breathing or swallowing, with very dangerous consequences, even fatal. What are the costs invovled with such treatments, and are these fears genuine or proposed by groups opposed to the idea of offering yet another product designed to stimulate the desires of the rich and vain? Why are some governments around the world opposed to the use of Botulinum toxin on Cerebral Palsy patients, yet allow its use by plastic and cosmetic surgeons ?

Should baby foreskin, obtained through circumcision, be used for large area skin grafts ?

There are a number of methods used to cover large denuded areas of body, but none is simpler than the use of circumcised prepuce. In any hospital having an active maternity service, one may obtain all the foreskins necessary. These foreskins are usually discarded, but with simple preservation techniques, they can be stored, grown, stretched and used to cover large-area wounds such as those found on large-area burns victims. What is the current alternative to using 'foreskin' grafts ? Once obtained from the infant, how long are they viable? How can something so small be used to cover a large denuded area? What arguments do opposition groups have to the use of baby foreskin for this practice?

Is"Passive Smoking" or "Second-Hand Smoking" as harmful as actually smoking a cigarette yourself?

Secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke) is the combination of sidestream smoke (the smoke given off by the burning end of a tobacco product) and mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker). Exposure to secondhand smoke is also called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. People are exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, cars, the workplace, and public places such as bars, restaurants, and other recreation settings. What chemicals from a cigarette can be inhaled by a passive smoker, how harmful are these chemicals and what is being done to reduce nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke?

Do the benefits of plastic surgery through breast enlargement or reduction far outweigh any potential side-effects

The consideration to undergo breastal plastic surgery is often to improve self esteem and the reasons may vary from dis-satisfaction with size or shape (due to genetics) or volume loss after breast feeding or weight loss. These days, women have many choices and this may seem overwhelming at first. How large should the breast implant be? Should the implant be silicone or saline? Textured or smooth? Should it be placed under the muscle or on top of the muscle? Where should the incision be made and how long does it need to be? But is the visual outcome and the possible improvement in self-esteem worth the risk of complications such as asymmetry, breast pain, breast tissue atrophy, capsular contracture, delayed wound healing, rupture/deflation, inflammation, breast and nipple changes, calcification and calcium deposits, ptosis and chest wall deformity?

The Ekka is the place to best catch the flu. True or False?

Flu is a highly contageous disease. You need to investigate the transmission of the disease causing agent, giving details of it's full scientific name, what type of microbe it is and how it is spread. You can then formulate an argument to support or not support the topic.

Antibiotics should not be prescribed for a common cold.

What is the causative agent of the common cold. How do antibiotics work? Are the common cold and antibiotics compatable for treatment? After you have investigated these questions you should formulate and argument for or against the above statement.

Every St Peters student should get a flu vaccination every year.

Flu is a highly contageous disease. You must research how vaccination can prevent this disease and how reliable it is. You then need to formulate and argument to support or reject the statement above.

Which is the best medicine? Aspirin or Paracetamol?

These drugs are used mainly for pain relief. You will need to research what Aspirin and Paracetamol is and how it works to reduce pain in the body. Is there a better alternative to pain relief? What are the long term effects of taking either of these medications and do they have any other uses? Use your research to formulate an argument for or against the use of these medicines for pain management.

Babies should all be vaccinated against whooping cough.

You must research what vaccination is and what whooping cough is. Then investigate what symptoms and long term effects this disease can cause for both children and adults. Once you have all this information you can formulate and argument to agree or disagree with the topic.

Why is it important to make blood donations?

Blood is made up of several different components. There are also 4 different blood types. You must research the different parts of blood and what each component does for the body as well as the different blood types. Once you have found this out you should make your ideas clear on why it is important to have stores of all of these components on hand in hospitals.

What is the best way to prevent heart disease?

Heart disease can have several different causes. You must research at least 4 major causes of heart disease and the best way to prevent it developing.

Obesity can be cured with surgery.

Obesity is becoming a major problem around the world. 25% of children in Australia today are overweight or obese. If current trends continue, 80% of the entire Australian population will be overweight or obese in the next 10 years. Obesity leads to the onset of several major health issues. Some doctors and dieticians promote quick-fix options, such as surgery, to overcome this problem. You must formulate an argument for or against surgery as a cure to obesity.

What is nano-technology and how can it help treat heart disease or cancer?

'Nano' means very small or minute. You need to investigate how this relates to technology and then how that technology can be used to treat diseases such as heart disease or cancer. What will the technology do and how effective will it be. Will it be more effective as a treatment than current methods, and how much will it cost compared to current methods.

What proof is there that smoking leads to lung cancer?

Cigarettes contain many harmful chemicals as well as the addictive drug nicotine. There has been a lot of research done by scientists to investigate the short and long term effects these chemicals can have on the body and particularly the lungs. Your research needs to show if there IS a link to these chemicals and lung cancer or NOT.

Diabetes can be avoided by eating the right foods.

Diabetes is a disease that affects the pancreas. There are two main types of diabetes and you need to differentiate between them. Some doctors and dieticians argue that the disease can be avoided all together with a healthy diet and lifestyle. You must research this idea and formulate an argument for or against it.

If a person has their gall bladder out how will this change their lifestyle?

You need to research what the function of the gall bladder is in the degestive system. You then need to research what can go wrong with the gall bladder and how doctors can treat this problem. Sometimes doctors operate and remove the gall bladder and the person can go on living without the problems reoccuring. However, you need to research and write about the effects this will have on the persons diet and lifestyle and what effect this will have on the digestive system.