DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, who is paralyzed on the left side from a stroke suffered eight years ago, underwent a prostate biopsy five years ago. The biopsy released E. coli into his bloodstream, resulting in several days of hospitalization with sepsis, and several weeks of rehab in a nursing center, where he contracted MRSA. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension after a long list of tests. I went to Boston and had the CPET (Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test). Since being put on the drug Letairis and learning my exercise limits, I had been doing much better. This week, I have had four days of […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Forty-five years ago, I had ovarian cancer. I had surgery, followed by 30 radiation treatments. Twenty years later, I was diagnosed at first with venous insufficiency, then with lymphedema in my lower extremities. I was on spironolactone for 15 years before I was told that a diuretic does nothing for either condition, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Like most women, I was raised to avoid letting any part of my body touch the seat of a public toilet. As I age, I find it more and more difficult to maintain “the stance.” Just how dangerous is that toilet seat? What awful diseases are we chancing by giving in to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old man, in excellent health, who takes no medications and is very proactive about maintaining good health: I do fitness three days a week, yoga three days a week and I fast on Saturdays. On Sundays, I take weight, blood pressure and blood sugar readings. I am writing to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My integrative medicine M.D. habitually takes a blood sample from the earlobe, puts it on a slide and looks at cell activity/quality using dark-field microscopy. The findings are seemingly impressive — inflammation? stress? mineral deficiencies? If this is of true value, why don’t more physicians do it? — B.A. ANSWER: Dark-field microscopy […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you tell me about the causes and treatment of COPD? I would like to know if medication is available, and whether the progression of the disease can be slowed or stopped. Is exercise appropriate? Also, I have seen ads for stem cell therapy; does this hold any promise? — S.F. ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like a clear reason why older women who are not infected with HPV are not offered the HPV vaccination. I am a 65-year-old woman who was married close to 40 years. My spouse died six years ago. He was my only partner my entire life, until his death. I verified […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Twenty years ago, after an EKG, my doctor ordered me to go to an emergency room immediately. I had atrial fibrillation, and for the next 14 years I survived daily Coumadin, monthly visits to get my INR checked and two blood clots. Six years ago, I participated in a trial of cryoablation, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I regularly see information and research for men with hormone issues (testosterone) and resulting problems with impotence, etc. I have not seen any interest in clinical testing for women who are refused hormone replacement therapy due to past breast cancer (and, in my case, also a complete hysterectomy several years ago). Not […]