DEAR DR. ROACH: What are the chances of picking up a disease if I engage in homosexual sex? What are the types of diseases I might encounter and their consequences? I don’t think you have ever discussed the medical implications of this important subject. Has it become taboo in the medical profession? — D.A. ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 46-year-old son has suffered for nearly five years with what seems to be CPPS (chronic pelvic pain syndrome). Being the mother, I am involved only to a limited extent, as my son, of course, is embarrassed to go into details with me. Although after he read an article delineating the symptoms […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old male who is generally in good health. I take medication for high blood pressure, but nothing else. I have periodic episodes of heart palpitations where my heart will beat noticeably and rapidly for about four or five beats, after which there is a longer pause and a final […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Every article I have read about prostate screening fails to define ”screening.” I had thought of screening as the PSA blood test and/or the digital exam. But since you and everyone else describe the screening itself as possibly harmful, it must consist of more than I had in mind. I would appreciate […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 68 years old, and I hesitate to continue with mammograms. I have a couple of friends who were treated with very harsh chemo and radiation for tiny stage 1 tumors. I wonder if, at this age, the severe treatment is more risky than just keeping an eye on the tumor: […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had surgery last year to remove my spleen and three-fourths of my pancreas. I had numerous vaccines before and after the surgery. Now I’ve been told that I need the pneumonia vaccine and the flu shot, neither of which I want after all the other things that I have been given. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old man who has had erectile dysfunction for eight years. I have been on the following medications for over 12 years: atenolol, lisinopril and amlodipine for high blood pressure; metformin and glipizide for Type 2 diabetes. Recent lab results have shown normal testosterone level, A1C reading of 6 and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have lymphedema in my right leg. From the knee to the bottom of my foot, my leg is swollen and red, and always in pain. I’ve had it for over two years. I’ve seen several different doctors, with no help. They say that if they knew what is causing it, maybe […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Two months after our daughter and son-in-law came back from their honeymoon in Belize, they have sores that still will not heal. She has two sores on her hand; he has three on the right side of his body. After a biopsy, they have been diagnosed with Leishmaniasis. Their dermatologist is referring […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 47-year-old male taking the following prescriptions: venlafaxine, buspirone and gemfibrozil. I am in excellent health with no other issues. I started all the meds at the same time, approximately six years ago. My concern is that my short-term memory is horrible. It started at about the same time. I forget […]