DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 79-year-old woman with osteopenia. I had the FRAX assessment and was told my 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture percentage is 19.4%, with a hip fracture probability of 5.7%. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist in a traumatic fall backward last year, landing on a concrete patio. My doctor has […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 96-year-old mother has stage 5 kidney disease (GFR is 12) along with congestive heart failure. She’s not your typical 96-year-old — she is sharp as a tack, still attends church weekly and is involved with the assistance league! She is going to need to start some type of dialysis soon. We […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with the factor V Leiden mutation a few years ago, after having a deep vein thrombosis. Then I got COVID-19 in October 2020, but recovered with only mild symptoms. Since I have the factor V mutation, I have chosen not to get a vaccine for COVID. Unfortunately, I was […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 69 years old and have multiple sclerosis, for which I have been taking Aubagio (teriflunomide) for five months. My monthly liver tests have been negative so far. I am concerned about the long-term effects of this drug on my liver. Can the drug damage the liver permanently over time? Also, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Up until recently, the recommended amount of sleep was seven and a half to eight hours per night. Now all of a sudden, some study says individuals getting more than six and a half or less than three are headed for dementia! What’s the consensus about sleep? — M.S. ANSWER: Studies are […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I have been going together to the same primary care physician for many years, every six months for routine checkups and sometimes in between when needed. In the past we always were examined in the same room, with each other present during the exams. At our last visit our […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have questions about the nutritional facts label on food products, specifically as it relates to sugar. The labels now provide a percentage daily value for “added sugars.” Doing the math (for example, 10 grams of added sugars equals 20% of the daily value) indicates that the daily value of added sugars […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an active 65-year-old woman with no significant health issues. I walk at least 2 miles a day. My 87-year-old mother was diagnosed with rectal cancer in May and passed away in September of this year. After her diagnosis, she informed us that her mother had colorectal cancer at age 74. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Why does non-small cell cancer have such an unwieldy name? Why not call it “large cell lung cancer” instead? — P.R. ANSWER: There are four main types of lung cancer, as well as a few rare types. Small cell cancer is a specific type of lung cancer that behaves differently from the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Television is full of ads touting testosterone and other body supplements that are supposed to take a 40-something male and turn his body back into a 20-year-old again. Their spokesmen are usually once-famous athletes who claim to have been able to rebuild body muscle and slow the aging process. My doctor at […]