6 B
SIUSLAW NEWS |
SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Are Dermatologists
‘Zapping’ for
Dollars?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 73
years old and lived on a boat in
my 40s. Now, whenever I go to the
dermatologist (two to three times
each year), he “zaps” me about 20
times and burns off “cancer cells”
or maybe “potential cancer cells.”
Some of them have been cancer and
were healed with MOHS procedure.
While I am grateful for the care he
gives me, I also sometimes feel that
he zaps because each zap means
more money. Can you please clarify
this for me? -- G.B.
ANSWER: I often get questions
like this, where a patient has a con-
cern that their doctor is performing
unnecessary medical care for the
purpose of enriching himself or her-
self. I always have trouble believing
it, since I can’t really imagine it, but
I recently read about an oncologist
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Th is is a good time to reassess
important relationships, both per-
sonal and professional, to see where
problems might exist and how they
can be overcome. Keep communica-
tion lines open.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
It’s not easy to bring order to a
chaotic situation, whether it’s in the
workplace or at home. But if anyone
can do it, you can. A pleasant sur-
prise awaits you by week’s end.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
Be careful that you don’t make an
upcoming decision solely on the
word of those who might have their
own reasons for wanting you to act
as they suggest. Check things out for
yourself.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A
pleading guilty to treating with che-
motherapy people who didn’t really
have cancer, which shakes my faith
in my profession (and colleagues).
Still, I truly believe that, in your
case and probably more than 99 per-
cent of the time, the doctor is being
extra cautious to treat you for the
sole purpose of reducing your likeli-
hood of developing an invasive skin
cancer later on.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother
lives in Florida. Her major discom-
fort is fatigue and no energy. I have
asked her doctor to please give her a
vitamin B-12 injection, even though
her B-12, thyroid function, vitamin
D and blood count are all in the
normal range. Her doctor does not
believe in B-12 injections. Do you
think it might help? -- J.L.
ANSWER: Vitamin B-12 is nec-
essary for proper function in many
tissues, but it is critical for blood cell
production and neurologic function.
B-12 defi ciency causes an unmistak-
able anemia (called megaloblastic
anemia) and can cause neurologic
and psychiatric disturbances even
in some people with no anemia.
The blood test for B-12 is quite
reliable. The major cause of B-12
defi ciency is an autoimmune dis-
ease that prevents the stomach from
making intrinsic factor, which is
necessary for effi cient absorption of
B-12. B-12 can be absorbed orally
by people with pernicious anemia
by taking very high doses, such as
1 mg. This gives as good a replace-
ment as injection.
It was common 50 years ago to
give B-12 injections as a “tonic.”
However, it offers no advantages
for people with normal B-12 levels
beyond the placebo response. As I
have noted many times, the placebo
response can be very powerful, and
1 mg of B-12 orally is very safe.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have
heard that drinking water with your
meal is bad for you. Is this true?
And if so, why? I have a dry mouth
due to cancer treatment and must
have water with everything I eat. Is
something bad going to happen to
me? I am otherwise healthy. -- R.G.
ANSWER: It’s not true at all.
Water is, generally speaking, the
healthiest drink. It is possible to
drink too much water, but it’s very
hard to do so unless you are taking
medications that affect your kidneys
or you have excess anti-diuretic hor-
mone, an unusual medical condi-
tion. Keep drinking your water.
personal relationship that seems to
be going nowhere could be restarted
once you know why it stalled. An
honest discussion could result in
some surprising revelations.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Th at
unexpected attack of self-doubt
could be a way of warning yourself
to go slow before making a career-
changing decision. Take more time
to do a closer study of the facts.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) A workplace problem needs
your attention, now, before it dete-
riorates to a point beyond repair. A
trusted third party could be helpful
in closing the gaps that have opened.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) A recent family situation could
give rise to a new problem. Keep an
open mind and avoid making judg-
ments about anyone’s motives until
all the facts are in.
SCORPIO (October 23 to
November 21) Rely on your always-
sharp intuition to alert you to
potential problems with someone’s
attempt to explain away the circum-
stances behind a puzzling incident.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Although you still
need to do some snipping of those
lingering loose ends from a past
project, you can begin moving on to
something else.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) With your self-confi -
dence levels rising, you should feel
quite comfortable with agreeing to
take on a possibly troublesome, but
potentially well-rewarded, situation.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) Travel is favored, both
for business and for fun. Th e end
of the week brings news about an
upcoming project that could lead
toward that promised career change.
PISCES (February 19 to March
20) You might feel suddenly over-
whelmed by a fl ood of responsibili-
ties. But if you deal with each one in
its turn, you’ll soon be able to hold
your head above water and move
on.
Siuslaw N ews
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