DEAR DR. ROACH: About 15 years ago (I am now 62), I had night sweats, and woke up frequently to urinate, sometimes five to six times a night, but not consistently. Days or weeks could go by without these symptoms, other than some urination one or two times a night due to very mild BPH. […]
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Testing is the key to informed health decision
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71. I’m overweight at 300 pounds and have had Type 2 diabetes for 15 years. I haven’t had any chest pain or heart problems, but a recent nuclear stress test lead my doctor to suspect buildup in one of my arteries, and he wants to do a cardiac catheterization. I […]
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Help for essential tremor
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve suffered from essential tremor for 16 years. I take 500 mg of primidone and 40 mg of propranolol twice daily. I’ve gradually increased the dose over the years, and the combination works quite well. What is the highest dose of these medications that I can take? Also, are there any new […]
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Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma does not run in families
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a couple of years ago. I am in remission now, but I never knew what caused it. Is it hereditary, or due to infection? I was told I had hypercalcemia at the time. Could the hypercalcemia have caused the cancer? Also, I was treated with chemotherapy, called ICE […]
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Home test kits for colon cancer can screen those unable to get colonoscopy
DEAR DR. ROACH: Do home colon-cancer testing kits really help in the diagnosis of colon cancer? Do you recommend them? — E.F. ANSWER: I strongly recommend colon cancer screening for healthy people between the ages of 50 and 70. Based on other risk factors, some people need testing at a younger age, and for some, […]
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Hearing loss indeed possible after surgery
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a hip replacement. I am 84, with hearing loss. My family says my hearing is worse after the operation. My daughter talked with several seniors who experienced the same thing. They think it has to do with the anesthesia. Fact or fiction? — D.W. ANSWER: Possibly fact. Hearing loss […]
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What can cause large red blood cells?
DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent article, you spoke of small red blood cells. I have large ones. My MCV is 102, with no anemia. What causes this besides alcohol, and is it something to be concerned about? I do not abuse alcohol. Thank you. — C.P. ANSWER: MCV, the mean corpuscular volume, is a […]
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Hospice switches focus from life length to life quality
DEAR DR. ROACH: I was advised by a doctor at a reputable hospital to put my mother in hospice for congestive heart failure. She also has multi-infarct dementia. That was a year ago. Her vitals have been checked twice a week since that time and are always good. Her oxygen level also is very good. […]
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Can hearing test pinpoint cause of hearing loss?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have worked in a loud facility for 35 years and have always worn protection and had my hearing tested annually. Several years ago, I had a threshold shift (a loss in my hearing range), and the plant nurse sent me to a hearing specialist. He said that my hearing loss is […]
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Decision to treat slow-growing prostrate cancer lies with patient
DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column regarding concussions, you made a statement that “you should remember that treatment is almost always better sooner than later.” That raises some concern for me with my present situation. I am a 70-year-old active male and recently have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Out of 12 biopsies, one […]