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News last week about a national drop in the rate of breast cancer should serve as a reminder that nothing is a panacea.

As reported by The Associated Press in Friday's Star, breast cancer rates fell 7.2 percent in 2003 compared with 2002 — an unexpected and sharp drop. The good news is attributed to the fact that millions of women in the United States stopped hormone-replacement therapy starting in 2002, when a large study found that such treatment was increasing health risks.

The women were taking hormone pills to deal with the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes.

While the hormone pills helped many women, it's believed that the drug probably fueled the growth of cancer tumors. That said, however, hormones might still be a viable option for women with severe menopausal symptoms.

Caution is always advisable when it comes to medical advancements. Other drugs pulled off the market in recent years were Vioxx, Palladone, Baycol, Posicor, Seldane and Lotronex, to name a few.

By no means are all new drugs and treatments that come to the marketplace harmful. Many help members of our society live longer, healthier lives. But like hormone therapy, the long-term effects aren't always apparent, and caution, vigilance and consulting with your physician are always appropriate.

A national survey found that Arizona is poorly prepared to handle a health crisis. Pardon us if we don't immediately pack the sedan and head to Oklahoma, which was deemed the most prepared of any state.

The Star's Carla McClain reported last week about the Trust for America's Health rankings of disaster preparedness among the states. Arizona was ranked in the bottom 12 states — along with California, Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania, among others.

While these types of surveys can be helpful in getting policymakers and health institutions to think about what they can do to prepare for a health crisis, the fact is that no one really knows how states will respond. No matter how well-prepared a state is, a disaster will present huge challenges.

The survey also seems to presume that states will stand alone if disaster strikes, which is not true. The attacks of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the Oklahoma City bombing all demonstrated that disasters become national issues — Americans from all corners pull together to see the nation through.

State preparedness is important, but national readiness is what really counts.