DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I got a call from my mother that my grandfather was in the hospital and was suffering from a malignancy of his ear canal. I asked around, and no one has heard of such a thing. Did my mother misunderstand the doctor? Or is there really such a thing as ear-canal cancer? […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: The advice you gave about heartburn overlooked something that changed my life forever and cost my wife hers. She was treated for GERD for many years. She was otherwise in excellent health and a trainer at Gold’s Gym. Following a “heartburn” attack resulting in throwing up blood, she was admitted to a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I live in northern Canada, where winters are quite severe. I also am a dedicated runner, and I run year-round, winter included. My wife says I will freeze my lungs when the weather is cold. Cold weather has never bothered me, and I know enough about the cold to quit running if […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 79-year-old male in fairly good health. I do have hypertension, and had two bladder cancers, which were found early and removed. My lingering problem is low potassium. My doctor does not have any idea why my kidneys are dumping potassium, so I hope you might have a suggestion. My […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our 26-year-old, normally healthy son has recently recovered from erythema multiforme minor. The dermatologist said it was a violent reaction to strep bacterium. He had large blisters over most of his body, even the palms of his hands and soles of his feet. He suffered extreme itching and pain. The affected skin […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 79 and have congestive heart failure with some high blood pressure. Please give the information you have on my illness. — F.W. ANSWER: Congestive heart failure is a common illness in older people. Up to 10 percent of those older than 65 have it or have had it. The meaning […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 78 and in good health. My family doctor of 25 years retired, and my new doctor has a list of the pills I take. I have taken omeprazole (Prilosec) for six years because of bleeding from the stomach. I believe I caused the trouble by taking aspirin. My new doctor […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please help make people aware of epilepsy, which some of us have? I know that when you go to a library to get information on it, there is very little. The only place I know where a person can get information is from the Internet. Some people don’t have access […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I hope you can help me with a problem that might get me kicked off the first string. I get cramps in my legs, mostly in the calves. At first, it was laughable. Now it’s not. At practices, I can sit down and wait for the cramp to go. During a game, […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband, 73 years old, has, in the past year, been jerking during his sleep. His movements are quite wild at times. He has fallen out of bed three times during his “fighting” dreams. He dreams he is in a fight at work, playing football or shooting things. Just last night, it […]