DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 14-year-old boy with a really embarrassing problem. I have breasts as large as many of the girls in my class. I get a lot of kidding, and I don’t want to get undressed for gym class. What can I do about it? — J.P.

ANSWER: You’re not alone. You have gynecomastia, a growth of male breast tissue. It happens three times in life: shortly after birth, at puberty and in old age. The reason is an imbalance of female to male hormones.

Two-thirds of boys develop gynecomastia during puberty. That’s how common it is. Many do not have an enlargement as great as yours, but the majority of boys of this age do show some breast growth. The breasts almost always shrink in a matter of months to two years. Only a few are left with permanent enlargement.

If you can put up with this for about six months, you probably will see your problem disappear. If life is truly miserable for you or if you wait six months and there is no change, then talk to your parents. They can take you to the doctor, who will explain how surgery can remove the unwanted tissue. It’s not a huge deal. And it’s justified, if your life is being ruined.

Sometimes, gynecomastia is a sign of a true health threat. Tumors of the testes, an overactive thyroid gland, liver cirrhosis and severe kidney disease are some of the conditions in which the male breasts grow. None of these is common for someone your age.

Medicines and street drugs also can promote gynecomastia. Marijuana is a prime example. And so do androgens, male hormones used by bodybuilders to spur muscle growth. That sounds like a contradiction, male hormones increasing breast size. The reason is that when large doses of male hormones are taken, some of that hormone load is transformed into female hormones.

TO READERS: The topic of diverticulosis, a common malady, comes up quite regularly. It is discussed thoroughly in the booklet on that topic. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue — No. 502, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My family and I love grilled food, and I’m able to grill all year-round. Now I hear that grilling is a dangerous way to cook food. Why? — E.T.

ANSWER: If you go overboard with grilling meat, it can be a health threat. One grilled meal a week should not be a problem.

High temperatures generated on a grill cause amino acids (the protein of meat) and creatine (another meat compound) to react and form substances — heterocyclic amines — that might be cancer-causing.

Fat dripping on the coals of a grill generate another chemical that smoke wafts up to and into the meat. It, too, might be a cancer-causer.

To minimize the production of these substances, microwave the meat for a few minutes before grilling, grill small portions and turn the meat frequently.

Don’t undercook meat. Chicken breasts should be heated to 170 degrees F; beef, pork and lamb to 160 F. A food thermometer is a worthwhile buy.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My thyroid gland is acting up, and I am going to get radioactive iodine as a treatment. I have the beginnings of macular degeneration. Will the radioactive iodine affect the macular degeneration? — M.M.

ANSWER: No. Radioactive iodine has been used in the treatment of an overactive thyroid gland for many decades. I find no reports of it ever harming the eyes.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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