DEAR DR. ROACH: I would appreciate any insight you can give me regarding a diagnosis that I was given after my last colonoscopy. I was being tested because of anemia. The gastroenterologist said that I had arteriovenous malformations — “too many to treat” — in my ascending colon and that I should take iron for […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I know a successful career woman, a psychologist working for the school board and a private practice as well, who has recently been admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She has never had an addiction to any type of drugs or alcohol, has never been suicidal or even shown any suicidal ideation, has […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 82-year-old, reasonably fit woman. I am having cramps at night in my feet and legs, causing me to wake three or four times a night. Getting up and walking helps, as does applying a hot washcloth and using Voltaren on the cramping areas. However, I would prefer not to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Whenever I got a wound while I was young, my mother would take me to the hospital to get stitches. I am now 94. I went to get a wound seen, and the nurse said that it needed to heal from the inside. They treated it with gauze, wrapping and then a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: What causes the growth of new teeth at my current age? I am a 74-year-old woman in good medical health except for a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Generally, I feel well and keep active. I noticed nubs behind my lower front teeth — two on each side — about three to four […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 61-year-old male, and I’m currently taking medication for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (a blood clot in my right leg). I was prescribed Coumadin. After taking Coumadin for six months (I never could get the number right), I went […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Are there any supplements that can help reduce alcohol abuse? — B.S. ANSWER: Alcohol abuse is an enormous problem, affecting over 100 million people worldwide in any given year, with three million deaths a year — for which there is no single solution. Recognizing that one has a problem is a critical, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had surgery the first time he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Five years later, he had a recurrence. We investigated his options and decided to go with the proton therapy. I am surprised you did not suggest this treatment in your recent column about prostate cancer. He had no further […]

DEAR DR ROACH: My mother is 82. About two years ago, she was diagnosed with low iron. All tests came back negative. She can’t tolerate an iron infusion and is allergic to iron pills and/or vitamins with iron. She eats foods that are high in iron, like liver, and drinks a little bit of red […]