DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am writing on behalf of my husband. He is 80 years old and has been suffering with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Up until the last couple of years it has progressed very slowly and he was advised to do nothing. Now, however, it has advanced to where his white blood count has risen dramatically, his platelet count is very high and his red blood count is low. He also has a problem that no one has been able to solve; his skin has become dry to the point of continually flaking off when rubbed. It is also very itchy but if he scratches it either bleeds or raises welts. This happens day and night. He has seen a dermatologist who said it might be an allergy to his blood pressure medicine so it was switched. There was no change so the dermatologist gave him a prescription for a cream. He has tried every lotion and cream on the pharmacy shelves but nothing touched the itch. He even tried castor oil to no avail. [Read more...]