DEAR DR. ROACH: In January, I received a diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 2.9 centimeters. In April, another ultrasound showed that the AAA measured 3 cm. This past October, I had another ultrasound and was told there was no AAA! The doctor said it must have disappeared, or maybe it was just a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male who’s thinking of having fetal stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Please tell me your feelings and offer advice on this subject matter? — S.C. ANSWER: I am frequently asked about stem cell treatment, and my answer is usually that the theory makes sense and preliminary results […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife is 58 years old, in good health, exercises and gets regular checkups. The bloodwork from those checkups has shown that her platelet count was 400 a year ago, 600 six months ago and 800 a couple weeks ago. She went to a hematologist who had little more information than her […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: How does a medical condition get named? Once named, can the name be changed (for example, Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS)? I have a condition called hemiplegic migraines. It is rare and misunderstood. I am part of an online support group, and many people with the condition feel it should be renamed because […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old retired operating room nurse. I grow tired of seeing endless television advertisements for “holistic” remedies that claim to cure everything from low testosterone and erectile dysfunction to baldness. The ones that claim to “cure” enlarged prostate are particularly infuriating. They might as well claim to “cure” breast cancer. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and had very high AST and ALT numbers. I lost about 25 pounds, and the numbers were normal. As a result of other health issues, the weight came back and the numbers went up. My liver specialist suggested we try 800 IU of vitamin E daily. Without losing weight the reports are now in the normal range. Although it will not clear the existing damage, this will prevent further damage. It’s worth suggesting that people try this. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, no harm has been done. — J.T.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 75-year-old man in good health and not obese (my BMI is around 20-21). I like coffee, and drink four or five cups a day. But I like it with a packet of Splenda, and the same thing goes for my breakfast cereal. Am I setting myself up for diabetes? — […]