| Please send me any information you have on knee replacement or cartilage replacement. On your Sunday May 7/06 program on AM800--CKLW Windsor, Ontario you made a mention of cartilage replacement versus total knee replacement. I only got the tail end of that information, so please forward me full details at your very earliest. Thank You So Very Much. |
Here is the link to the interview.
http://www.cfra.com/chum_audio/shc0507_01.mp3
I do not have a family doctor.
I suspect I have diabetes.
Where do I go to find out?
Local Clinic.
Emergency Deptment.
Can you let me know the best course of action. |
I would go to the local clinic and ask them to send you to the diabetes clinic at the Civic hospital.
Although I was patiently awaiting the program for information on prostate cancer detection, I missed your talk this afternoon on CFRA, thinking it to be done after four o’clock!
I have been told by the urologist I was referred to that, although his DRE (and my family doctor’s) showed no indication of growth or hardness in my prostate gland, I must undergo a biopsy to test for prostate cancer.
I turned 62 last November. The result of the PSA test I had requested was 1.86 in June 2003, then jumped to 6.36 in October 2005, so my family doctor scheduled a visit to the urologist. I then requested repeat tests in December (before going to the urologist) and the results returned were 5.16 and, three days later, 5.3.
Do you think that imminent biopsy is indicated, or should I wait for results of a few more tests over the next year or so?
What suggestions did I miss when you talked on today’s CFRA Sunday House Call? |
You could have a transrectal prostatic ultrasound scan done to image the gland prior to a biopsy. This might help the urologist decide on the best course of action.
I came across a clip on CFRA discussing a book which I could not, for some reason find on the internet probably because I have the title wrong. I was hoping you might be able to help. It was written by a Canadian doctor about caring for your child. You had mentioned that it was extremely well indexed and provide good guidance on the recognition of symptoms etc...
Would you please provide me with the title and the author's name if possible. |
The book is called "Caring for Kids: The Complete Canadian Health Guide for Children"
By the doctors of Sickids Hospital in Toronto. Published by Key Porter Books.
I noticed in Fridays paper that the vaccine for the HPV virus has been approved in the US. From the stories I have read the trials were very successful. Since this virus is supposed to be the cause of at least 50% of the cancers of the cervix when will this vaccine be approved in Canada? Should it not be fast tracked due to the success of the trials in the US.
Can I have a physician in Canada order some vaccine from the US or do I have to go down to the US to get it? |
It will likely be approved in Canada soon. It is recommended for females 9 to 26 years of age. For women in a monogamous relationship of more than three years and who have had three normal annual PAP tests, there is no indication for vaccine use. The risk of contracting the virus is extremely low in this group of women.
Given that it is not yet approved for use in Canada, physicians are not allowed to provide the vaccine. You would have to go to the US for it. All that remains is FDA approval that may come in early June.
I'm a 46 year old female in very good health although I did gain 40lbs very rapidly when I quit smoking about 12 years ago. I have really tried hard to loose the weight with little success, so gave up about 5 years ago.
A few months ago I got what I thought was the beginning of a cold but it never really materialized into anyting but I lost my appetite and it hasn't come back! I still eat but not to the extent I used to as I don't have to feed a hunger. I'm wondering if my metabolism has just changed or is it possible something more serious is going on? I feel normal otherwise. |
A sudden loss of appetite should be evaluated. It may be metabolic in nature. A physical exam and blood tests can help determine if there is a metabolic basis for this change.
| I recently was reading a article on the use of cherry to help with pain relief with regards to sore joints and muscles. I was just wondering if you knew of any products approved for use in Canada which contain cherries. Looking forward to your response. |
I have checked on a natural products review website called Consumerlab.com and have failed to find any reference for cherry as an analgesic agent.
| An article by Dr Gott written in The Sun today referred to an article fron the Wall Street Journal (April 12,2006) bisphosphonates, a class of medications that include Fosamax which is taken to counter osteoporosis can cause a serious side effect. Called osteronecrosis of the jaw, the complication basically decay of the jawbone. He is recommending his patients discontinue use of the drug Fosomax immediately. This is of concern to me having taken Fosomax for over a year. I will discontinue further use and will be in contact with my physician. Thought this an important matter for discussion as I know many women taking this drug. |
I looked into this and this is what I have found:
Bisphosphonate therapy has been associated with osteonecrosis, primarily of the jaw; this has been observed mostly in cancer patients, but also in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and other diagnoses. Risk factors include a diagnosis of cancer, with concomitant chemotherapy, radiotherapy or corticosteroids; anemia, coagulopathy, infection or pre-existing dental disease. Symptoms included nonhealing extraction socket or an exposed jawbone. There are no data addressing whether discontinuation of therapy reduces the risk of developing osteonecrosis. However, as a precautionary measure, dental exams and preventative dentistry should be performed prior to placing patients with risk factors on chronic bisphosphonate therapy. Invasive dental procedures should be avoided during treatment.
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