Medical Hotline with Dr James Wright

quality read
All About Breast Cancer, by a long-time professor of surgery at Sydney University, Fred Stephens (Oxford Press), is a simple and sensible book on how to prevent breast cancer, what to look for, what to do if it occurs. It is impeccable, receiving top reviews in such medical journals as Lancet. It is written with empathy, tenderness and understanding by a doctor who’s treated thousands of cases in a lifetime dedicated to patients.

for men
A vasectomy is usually for life, but is sometimes reversible, although requiring tedious microsurgery. Usually after a vasectomy, there is local tenderness and bruising, so it’s best done on a Friday, before returning to work Monday morning!

for women
Period pain can often be controlled by using “the pill.” Birth-control tablets contain oestrogen and progestagen (the two female hormones) and prevent ovulation, which in turn often “cures” period pain, especially among younger women. It also prevents formation of prostaglandin, which is manufactured pre-period to help expel blood by contracting the womb. Neutralise this, and pain vanishes. That’s why simple aspirin and the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) work. Hot-and-cold sitz baths work to improve blood circulation, so also help, but if pain persists or is extreme, a pelvic check by the doctor is a good idea.

take care
A leg ulcer is more than annoying, it’s dangerous. Using compression bandaging or stocking will help fix it, but any persisting ulcer, especially when in conjunction with diabetes or clogged arteries (from excess cholesterol) needs special and quick attention. Doctor-operated ulcer and “vascular” clinics are available for accurate diagnosis and treatment. But do not delay, as the condition will only worsen, infecting and deepening, when, at its worst, an amputation is a probability.

a food tube
If you have difficulty swallowing, a stent might be the answer. Ulceration and scarring from acid regurgitation can also lead to stricture. More serious is a constriction at the lower end of the food tube (oesophagus) where it enters the stomach. A stent is a mesh cylinder that is inserted to keep the passage open.

lost rhythm
Your body’s circadian rhythms—the method by which our biological process are regulated—will be out of sync after a long-distance flight from another time zone. Stay awake in bright light until your normal bedtime, resisting the temptation for a kip. Do this each night until the pattern is re-established. Have a hot drink of milk (but not tea, coffee or cocoa), then “will” yourself to sleep. The more your rhythm is disrupted, the longer it takes to return to normalcy. Darkness activates the tiny pineal gland at the base of the brain to produce melatonin, nature’s sedative.

radioactivity
Some are afraid that using a mobile phone at a distance from the mobile base will increases the strength of the phone’s radioactivity, increasing the likelihood of cancer. However, the atmosphere is filled with radio-activity of many frequencies, natural and artificial, which you can’t escape. They’re a likely contributor to the general increase in cancer rates over the past century. You can do a little to help, but If outdoors, protect yourself from the sun. Follow a healthful lifestyle and eat plenty of cancer-inhibiting leafy greens.

a serious condition

Q: My son is an “iron man” but not the good sort. The doctor says he has too much. He often gets an upset tummy. What can I do?

A:Haemochromatosis is a condition where excessive iron accumulates in the system, which then has no way of naturally escaping. This leads to damage of the intestinal system, heart, kidneys and other vital organs. Symptoms will usually worsen over time, and the only treatment is the regular removal of blood. A specialist (haematologist) is often involved.

Extract from Signs of the Times, May 2003.

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