Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2015)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Large teratoma found near heart DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a CT scan due to broken ribs from a very recent fall. The scan revealed a large teratoma near my heart. I am 69 and was previously unaware of this for- mation. No suggestion has been given to me regarding further investi- gation or treatment of the teratoma. I am assuming it may have been pres- ent at birth and does not cause any problem. But now I am wondering if it should be monitored. Can a ter- atoma grow or migrate in the body? Any information on teratoma will be appreciated. — S.S. ANSWER: A teratoma is a type of tumor of germ cells — the cells that become eggs or sperm. They can occur within the testis or ovary, but also can occur outside the gonads. When they do, they usually are found in the midline of the body. A frequent place is the anterior superior medi- SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your ruling planet, Mars, allows you to assume a sense of command that can help you turn a chaotic workplace situation into one that’s orderly, pro- ductive and, yes, even friendly. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Getting a relationship that’s been stuck in a rut up and running again depends on how far you want to run with it. Be honest with yourself as you consider which decision to make. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be wary of rumors that seem to be com- ing from everywhere this week. Waiting for the facts before you act means never having to say you’re sorry you followed the wrong lead. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A difficult personal matter might astinum, in between the lungs and below the breastbone. Teratomas usually are benign tumors, but some types can act like cancers. Your tumor is unlikely to have been there since birth. Nobody knows whether the germ cell that became a teratoma properly went into the gonads during development, or whether the cell left the gonad and then became a tumor. It is clear, how- ever, that men with teratoma outside the gonads are at higher risk for developing testicular cancer later on. Teratomas, being derived from germ cells, are capable of creating any tissue. Teeth and hair are some- times found inside teratomas. I am very surprised you haven’t been recommended for surgical removal. Surgery is usually success- ful at curing teratoma. They certainly can grow, and occasionally become very large. I would certainly recom- mend seeing an oncologist (cancer specialist). Thoracic (chest) surgeons operate on this area. It may be that the position is difficult, but a surgeon should still evaluate you, in my opin- ion. DEAR DR. ROACH: How is it that, at age 67, I’d never heard about the abomination called scabies? Last year, I was rubbing cream onto my aged mother’s rash, and now I have this disgusting infestation on my body! Why haven’t people been advised of this scourge! — Anon. ANSWER: Scabies, sometimes just called, “the itch,” is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and is very common, with an estimated 300 million people infected worldwide. It is transmitted person-to-person by direct contact. The major symptom of scabies is itching, often very severe and usually much worse at night. Itching begins about six weeks after the first infec- tion, sooner if you have been infect- ed before. Often, the hardest part is figuring out the diagnosis, because a lot of people don’t know about this condi- tion. When the rash is classic in dis- tribution (belt line, under the arms, wrists, genitals and especially in the finger web spaces), most regular doc- tors and any dermatologist can figure it out. Permethrin 5 percent cream (Elimite and others) over the entire body for eight to 14 hours is the stan- dard treatment. Many physicians rec- ommend a second treatment in one to two weeks. There is an oral medica- tion as well. Clothing and bedding need to be disinfected, too. prompt you to turn to a trusted friend to help you sort through a maze of emotional conflicts. The weekend should bring some welcome news. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Some of the new people coming into the Lion’s life could play pivotal roles in future personal and professional mat- ters. Meanwhile, an old friend might have an important message. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A delay in getting things moving on schedule can be a blessing in dis- guise. Use this extra time to do more research so you can buttress any of the weaker points with solid facts. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might need to get involved in a personal matter before it becomes a serious problem. Also, be wary of someone offering to mediate, unless you can be sure of his or her motives. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Taking sides in a workplace or domestic dispute could prolong the problem. Stay out and stay cool. Then you can be friends with both parties when things settle down. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A friendship has the potential to become something more, and with this week’s aspects favoring romance, you might feel that this pos- sibility is worth exploring. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The new job you want might require you to relocate. If so, keep an open mind and weigh all the positives and negatives before mak- ing your decision. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A new relationship seems to be everything you could have hoped for. Congratulations. Meanwhile, it’s not too early to get some feedback on that new project you’re working on. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might have decided to get out of the fast-moving current and just float around hither and yon for a while. But you might find that the new opportu- nity is too tempting to turn down. Siuslaw N ews ! AD IT DAY E R TO www. the siuslawnews.com E -E DITION • S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS
