DEAR DR. ROACH: The answer to J.P. needs to address the strong family history of breast cancer. She should be referred to a genetic counselor to determine whether she needs to be screened for BRCA I or II. — J.T. ANSWER: J.P. wrote in December about the safety of vaginal estrogen, and noted that she’d […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 39-year-old beloved niece just died of sickle cell anemia. Her life involved countless hospitalizations and blood transfusions every month to five weeks. She leaves behind a beautiful 5-year-old son to be raised by his father. On the day of my niece’s funeral, this son suffered a stroke. Luckily, he survived and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: After being on Paxil for about 15 years, it wasn’t working anymore. My doctor decreased my dose, and I slowly started Viibryd. The first week I felt great. When I increased the dose of Viibryd, I began feeling sick. I had a bad headache, felt anxious and couldn’t sleep, and my muscles […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: We recently lost a dear relative to cholangiocarcinoma. He had served in the Navy in Vietnam. The probable cause of his cancer was from a parasite, a river fluke, which is common to that region. The diagnosis came way too late to save his life. How can veterans be tested or diagnosed […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: When my primary doctor refers me to a specialist, does he have a responsibility to inform me of the various options and procedures? I have found, after doing my own research, that there were far better options available to me than just the specialist my doctor sent me to. This has happened […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: About three years ago, my husband had a knee replacement. The surgery was successful, his physical therapy went very well and he has been pleased with the whole process — except for one thing: His leg (that knee area) is uncomfortably warm, especially when he is in bed at night. No matter […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mom is nearing 90 and recently developed an arthritic hip, which is curtailing her activities. She has Type 2 (no insulin) diabetes. The orthopedic doctor we saw gave her the choices of hip replacement surgery (no!), therapy or a cortisone injection. We almost proceeded with the cortisone injection, until I found […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 64, and for many years have had migraine headaches with aura. One day, it turned very different. My sight was gone, sometimes in one eye, sometimes in both. This was new to me. I was told that it was retinal migraine, and my doctor said there was nothing he could […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP. We have been told that it is rare and that there is no treatment and no cure. Would you please explain the stages and progression of this disease? What can be done to help with the various symptoms, and what should we […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently was diagnosed with low-grade lymphoma (after all bloodwork showed no other disorders). I have been trying to research this online and am having no luck finding much information. I have a CT scan every six months to check for any changes in my lymph nodes. Can you offer any additional […]