DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an advocate of flu shots (and other immunizations) to protect both myself and others around me, and I have just had mine for this season. I have a friend, though, who refuses to get flu shots under the assumption that if she allows her body to confront the viruses and […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 84-year-old man in good health. I have been taking tamsulosin (Flomax) for the past six months for my enlarged prostate, and it works fine for problems with urination. However, it causes reduced libido and reduced ejaculation. Is there an alternate medicine to treat the urinary urgency without this side […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My cousin has a significant degree of liver cirrhosis from a metastatic carcinoid. The carcinoid hasn’t grown in a couple of years, but the cirrhosis continues to progress. This is from micro carcinoid tumors plugging up the flow of blood on the capillary level. He has now developed ascites. He was recently […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a terrible case of vertigo. I’m not sure what causes it or what I can do to prevent it from happening to me again. I was given two medications, promethazine for nausea and meclizine for vertigo, but still the problem persists. Can you offer some kind of help? — J.G. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please give your take on the importance of vitamin D. There’s been a lot of research in the past 15 to 20 years. I have read that it greatly reduces cancer risk for most types of cancer and that it activates anti-infection genes and anti-autoimmune disorder genes and reduces the rate of […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am currently taking 20 mg of Xarelto daily, and have a screening colonoscopy scheduled soon. The preparation instructions said not to stop taking blood thinners, but didn’t specifically mention Xarelto. I contacted the office and spoke with a scheduler, who said those instructions applied to all blood thinners. Previously, I was […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In my local community, there is an offer for an X-ray test ($99) to see if a past smoker is developing lung cancer. It’s been since 1996 when we both quit. Our doctor says we don’t qualify for the test because of how long it’s been since we quit smoking. Is he […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I think I may have herpes, but I’m not sure. What are the symptoms of the virus? When I go to the doctor, what do I say? When I was there last time, I was given a urine test for STDs, which was negative, but now I urinate a lot and have […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am the daughter of two elderly parents with various health concerns. My mother has a DNR. Is it true that if emergency services are called, they will not honor a DNR unless they see it? I’m told that it’s a good idea to post such a thing on the refrigerator. Do […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In 2008, out of nowhere, I had a severe chill and a temperature of 103 F, while feeling very ill. I was admitted to the hospital, where I was found to have E. coli in the blood. Antibiotics cleared it up, and I was sent home. About a week later, the same […]