DEAR DR. ROACH: I will be 81 years old at the end of September. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and my PSA was 4.1. I was referred to a urologist. The urologist affirmed my primary doctor findings and suggested that I might want to consider a biopsy, because prostate cancer […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 66-year-old man who has had two strokes in two years. The surgeon said that what caused the strokes both times is that arteries that supply blood to my brain are too small. The surgeon said brain surgery was too dangerous. All he did was change my meds. My concern is […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question regarding my stool. It is not normal, but is in pieces, which are small and sometimes elongated. I am in no pain or discomfort. I have not lost weight or changed my eating habits. It started about a year ago. I had a colonoscopy six months ago. Everything […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a great fan of your column and others that address such a multitude of illnesses and medical situations. However, I cannot recall EVER seeing or reading the illness of ADHD even mentioned. I feel that this is such a prevalent disease in our world today and is responsible for much […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: How serious are daily nosebleeds? My father had trouble (he was always picking his nose), and I’ve had daily right-nostril bleeding with clots, and saw an ENT physician who hesitated to use cautery, saying it might do more harm than good. Now, my 50-year-old nephew has just started to have bloody nostrils. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question about facet joint degeneration. Is this caused by osteoporosis? Does exercise, such as walking or carrying heavy loads, slow or speed up the degenerative process? Thank you for any guidance. (I have appointments to see my doctor, but am very active and don’t want to cause damage while […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with white matter disease a few months ago, and I was given Depakote 500 mg to take (at bedtime). What exactly is this disease? Does it progress to dementia? My mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. I am in my late 60s. Are there any options for my future health […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 82-year-old brother died in January from pancreatic cancer. Prior to his diagnosis, he was the picture of health: exercising vigorously every day, eating a healthy diet, keeping his mind active and alert and taking health supplements with no excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages (only occasional wine). His only health complication was […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am in my 70s and was diagnosed with “serious lower-back arthritis” a few years ago. The pain was occasionally excruciating. My current doctor put me on glucosamine and chondroitin, and the change has come close to being miraculous. The pain is greatly lessened, and some other arthritis areas (e.g., my neck) […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 80-year-old woman in good health. I have lots of energy and no pains. I just had blood tests, and my TSH level was 5.90. My new doctor’s office said I should take medication for hypothyroidism. I looked it up on the Internet, and it said it is a lifetime […]