DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m writing to ask if you would consider writing an article on genetic testing for Lynch syndrome. I lost a daughter to LS and have since discovered that I and my other daughter also are positive. With only 5 percent of people with the mutation aware that they have it, and with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 8-year-old grandson has had bright-red blood in his stool many times in the past four to six months. The doctor initially said he was dehydrated and needed to drink more water. Next, he prescribed a bowel cleansing, which was done about a month ago. The bleeding continues, two or three times […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Our son is 43 and has sarcoidosis. We can’t find out much about this disease. Most doctors don’t seem to know much, either. Please help. — E.L. ANSWER: Sarcoidosis, or just sarcoid, is a systemic disease — affecting potentially every tissue in the body, in a way we don’t completely understand. The […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 54 years old, 5 feet, 1 inch tall and weigh 110 pounds. I’m not medicated and I do go for a yearly physical with my MD. I exercise regularly and have done so for most of my adult life. When I ride my bike outdoors, I’m usually out for a good […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: When I was discharged from the Army in 1966, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. It seemed to be insignificant; however, in April 2011 during a routine exam, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, admitted to the hospital the same day and had a cardioversion. Since then, I have had numerous […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking 40 mg per day of omeprazole for a number of years to control GERD. My doctor had increased this from 20 mg when the low dosage was no longer working for me. Lately, I am hearing about the risk of several significant side effects from this class of […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I am an otherwise healthy 73-year-old male who underwent bypass surgery seven years ago. I work out to keep in shape, not to look like a teenager. I had 12 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation, which was very helpful. I have found references to an enzyme, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: We spent a considerable amount of money on our teen daughter’s laser hair-removal procedures, but the poor thing takes after her swarthy father, and the treatment seems to have not had an effect. Is there any real science behind this treatment? — S.O. ANSWER: There certainly is real science, and laser hair […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have to take levothyroxine in order to obtain an acceptable TSH number. I have read that some doctors are stating that there is a relationship between hypothyroidism and gluten intolerance, possibly even celiac disease. Is this proven to the point that a patient should alter his or her diet and give […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old male. I had to stop playing golf about two years ago due to joint pain. I had psoriasis from age 15 until I was 40. I am retired from the Navy and had to be hospitalized twice during my time in service due to my skin. Why it […]