Putting a name to the itch

February 9, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I live in a retirement center and am blessed to be able to attend church groups and other organizations — some for over 70 years. Many try to let my age speak for me but I want to continue to enjoy life as long as possible.

Equilibrium has been a problem and I am now using a wheel chair. I have had surgery twice for cancer but am still searching for help.

I also have extreme itching coming out of the pores of my ankles. For years I inquired of doctors, nurses and a dermatologist with no answers. Some prescribed their favorite ointment or lotion but I have never received any real answers or help. In the beginning only one ankle was affected, then both at the same time. [Read more...]

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Numbing side effect of chemo

February 5, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: During the latter part of 2007, I was diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer. My doctors recommended chemotherapy treatments from November 2007 to May 2008.
I underwent surgery in June 2008 for removal of the bladder, prostate and two lymph nodes. In July, my kidneys failed, and that, too, was successfully treated. So far, so good. I’m doing fine and have regained my weight back to 216 pounds.
Unfortunately, the surgery has left me with numb feet — no pain, just numb. After several doctor visits, including trips to a neurologist, podiatrist and neurosurgeon, I have been told that this is a side effect from the chemotherapy. [Read more...]

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Treatment refusal ill advised until all facts are in

February 11, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 78-year-old female on the frail side due to osteoporosis and mitral valve prolapse. I recently had a routine chest X-ray and was advised to have a pet scan because of a spot on my left lung. I had the scan and was diagnosed with a pulmonary nodule. I was informed that it could be an inflammatory process but a malignancy could not be ruled out. There is no evidence it has spread to my chest, abdomen or pelvis. I’m not considering a biopsy because I won’t have chemo.

DEAR READER: I strongly urge you to have further testing, including a biopsy. This will at least inform you and your doctors if the nodule is benign and harmless (such as scar tissue) or malignant.

Whether or not to have chemotherapy is your choice. However, I don’t believe it is a decision you can make without knowing if you have cancer or not. Go ahead with the biopsy and depending on the results, you may wish to speak to an oncologist (cancer specialist). He or she can tell you about possible treatment options. This is not to say you must have treatment, but it will at least allow you to make an informed decision.

If the biopsy shows the nodule is harmless, you probably won’t need more than regular check-ups with a pulmonologist who will monitor the lesion and check it if has increased in size or developed any abnormal characteristics.

Let me know how things turn out.

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