My Health Weblog

Patient: Question in regards to the development of cancer. Is it known how long it takes for a cancer to develop?. I had a abdominal ultrasound and abdominal MRI about (3) months ago the MRI showed a very small non enhancing liver cyst about 2 mm in size, the radiologist called the test unremarkable. I also have a spleen hemangioma that has been unchanged for about three years about 1 1/2 cm in size. Every 12 to 18 months I go for a full abdominal MRI for the spleen and I also get a endoscopy every 12 to 18 months for my reflux (NO BARRETTS). I had a colonscopy last month no polyps. My Gastro DR seems to give me alot of testing. When I tell other people that I get some many tests they say how come???. Is a MRI every year excessive
or would this help me catch any problems very early??? Or does it not matter? can a cancer grow out of no where to a stage 3 or 4 in less than a year. everything I read says cancer takes years to develope before symptoms appear. I am 40 male

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Gender: Male
Age: 40
State/Country: CA
Already Tried: mri ultrasounds bloodwork colonscopy

Doctor: I agree with what you are saying. I think that an MRI every year excessive. Even a colonoscopy which is done to screen for cancer of the colon is done every ten years after the age of 50. An MRI of the abdomen IS NOT a recommended test to screen for ..Continue reading..

Patient: My question is about the swine flu. I flew to Europe three days ago from NYC, an area that has had many cases of swine flu. I am now staying at a hotel. I would like to know whether I should go see a doctor, given the following:
- I have an inkling of a cough in my chest – I’m not coughing left and right at all, but every now and then I feel like I *could* cough. But I can hold it in.
- I don’t have a fever at all.
- My nose is a bit runny, but that’s always the case since I have an allergy.
- I don’t feel weak, no muscle pains, no vomiting.
So basically, my only (semi-)symptom is a little occasional dry cough. Should I see a generalist doctor?

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Gender: Male
Age: 30
State/Country: NY
Already Tried: Nothing. ..Continue reading..

Patient: Where in the US is the best hosp. for treatment of amyplasia ?

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Gender: Female
Age: 30
Already Tried: my first try

-Mandy

Doctor:
Hi Mandy. Thank you for asking your question on health.is.edu .

Do you mean Amyoplasia?
Amyoplasia is a sub-group of a condition called Athrogryposis Multiplex Congenita

I would recommend two Hospitals with AMC clinics:

NYC Hospital for Joint Diseases, Center for Children, Athrogryposis Clinic

and

Seattle Children’s Hospital- Arthrogryposis Clinic Quarterly

Dr. Judith Hall is a geneticist who has done extensive research on Arthrogryposis currently sees patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Clinic.

For more information, resources and support go to:

http://www.amcsupport.org/

Good luck to you

James

Patient: HI I am a 29 year old female, healthy weight and never smoked. In April I noticed a rattle in my chest and my cough (which has been around for years) changed, after an xray I was diagnosed with a mild pneumonic consoldiation in the mid and lower left lung. After oral antibiotics, a follow up xray in June showed a residual opacification, another dose of antibiotics and an xray in August was clear. I had a spirometry test done a couple of weeks ago which was normal and ruled out athsma, My question is I still have a rattle in the left lung when I breathe deeply, especially when lying down and I still cough and produce clear sputum, what could be going on? Can there be a residual rattle (which doctors haven’t been able to hear but I can feel) after pneumonia? how do i get rid of it? ..Continue reading..

Patient: Right After I Pee It Hurts..What Could Be Wrong?

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Age: 21, Female, North Carolina
Already Tried: nothing

Doctor: You could have a urinary tract infection, a bladder infection, or possibly a sexually transmitted infection. You should see your provider who can take a urine sample and also do a quick swap of your vaginal area to check for other types of infections.

Patient: I am a male in my late 20s, and due for my annual exam. i have a couple concerns. in the last year i have found i have a minor hemmroid problem, and had a spermatoseal on on of my testicles, both have been checked out my specialist and are ok. in my annual exam will these automatically be checked out or should they even be looked at at that time? also i feel my last few annual exams may have not been through. the 2 previous problems i found on my own. so lastly what should all be covered in an annual exam by a good doctor? ..Continue reading..

Patient: Im male 23, had chicken pox when i was younger and i now have shingles in the usual “waistline” area. 2 patches (no bigger than 2″ by 1/2″) on my left waist and 1 on my back (same line). I’m on the 3rd day of the blistering phase (nothings popped yet) and i was wondering:

1: can the rash spread anymore once its in this phase? (ie if a blister pops and oozes down my side can that area then blister up?)

2: even though it’s clearly just on the common waist nerve line, is there any chance of it popping up on my face? or would that be it’s own shingles outbreak? (that i would feel the sharp itch/pain days before any sign of rash)

3: once they begin popping, what should i do to make sure it doesnt get infected? what treatments should i put on it to make sure it heals fine? ..Continue reading..

Patient: Still in captivity. Captors still administering beneficial agents that relieve great discomfort, thereby reducing my urge to flee. Was studied today by loud, humming metal sleeve, but was released soon after being injected with strange-feeling substance. Something tells me I should continue to comply with their demands. Hmmm. One uniformed captor just delivered vanilla ice cream and honey graham crackers. Wonder if they are again up to something . . . Guess I’ll go ahead and try this ‘dessert’… I may need the extra energy for this next day of adventures… Yours Anna.

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Gender: Female
Age: 37
Already Tried: Everything except the coma treatment. ..Continue reading..

Patient: I had a back injury in 1969 while in the service and was medically discharged. At the time I was told not to bother putting in a claim. It was during the vietnam war and the attitude was intolerance. I have suffered with constant back pain, but exercise has helped. Now I have a disability that prevents me from exercises that helped. I have applied for V.A. disability and have been denied and am appealing. My question is is their an independent doctor in the Santa cruz, Ca. area that will review my V.A. x rays and write an opinion?

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Gender: Male
Age: 61
Already Tried: websites and many phone calls. ..Continue reading..

Patient: I AM A 51 YEAR OLD FEMALE. I BEEN SUFFERING ADOMANAL PAIN FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH LUPON INJECTION TWICE,COLONOSPHY,PARTIAL HYST. IN JUNE 09 FULL HYST.I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TEST AND ULTA SOUNDS -SCANS AND NOT TO SAY THREE OF MORE DOCTORS. STILL I AM HAVING MAJOR PAIN THAT KEEP ME FROM PERFORMING AT WORK OR SLEEPING AT NIGHT. I AM ON PERPOCETS AND METHDONE AND NO ANSWER OF THE CAUSE.

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Gender: Female
Already Tried: TO FIND A DOCTOR OR DOCTORS WITH AN ANSWER. I AM BEING AVOIDED AFTER THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAUSE I NO LONGER. USUALLY I’M TOLD PAIN MANAGEMENT. I KNOW I HAVE A MEDICAL PROBLEM AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM! ..Continue reading..