Health & Wellness - January 2015 Archives

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 73 and just had a prostate biopsy that showed a malignant tumor with a Gleason score of 8. Is this an indication of an aggressive cancer and if so, what are my treatment options? ANSWER: Gleason score indicates the grade of your prostate cancer. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive the cancer is likely to be. Of the factors related to prostate cancer that doctors take into consideration when deciding on treatment, Gleason score is probably the most important one. In most cases, treatment with radiation and hormonal therapy or with surgery is recommended based on a Gleason score of 8. The Gleason score was developed in the 1960s by a pathologist named Donald Gleason. It has stood the test of time, and doctors now rely on it to predict how likely prostate cancer is to grow and spread. For most kinds of cancer, tumor grade is determined by looking at individual cancer cells through a microscope using a high level of magnification to examine the details of those cells. Gleason score is different. With this method, a pathologist examines prostate tissue samples under a microscope using low magnification to observe the patterns of the cancer cells.

Does having a cancer biopsy increase the chances your cancer will spread? We’ll explore this topic with cancer surgeon Dr. KMarie Reid Lombardo on the next Mayo ...

USA Today - "An outbreak of measles that began at Disneyland before Christmas is disrupting lives in six states. Arizona became the latest state to report a case of measles related to Disneyland when a woman in her 50s was diagnosed. The outbreak has spread to Utah, Washington, Colorado, Oregon and across the border to Mexico." Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Signs and symptoms of measles include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash. Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year, most under the age of 5. Learn more: Symptoms   Risk factors Tests and diagnosis

Magic mouthwash: Effective for mouth sores resulting from chemotherapy? Some forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy cause painful mouth sores. Magic mouthwash may ...

Tomah, WI - People often want antibiotics to tackle a sinus infection but that might not be the best treatment since most infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses. There are also complications that can develop with dependency on these drugs. The more antibiotics are used the less effective they can become, with possible side effects like dizziness, stomach problems and rashes. Instead of turning to antibiotics, Alan Conway, M.D., family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in Tomah, suggests some alternative methods of treatment. Dr. Conway says, “First of all, you should give yourself enough rest. Your body needs the time to fight the infection with full force, especially in the first few days when symptoms are the most severe.”

Many people first learn they have diabetes through blood tests done for another condition or as part of a routine physical exam. But in some cases, diabetes may not be detected before damage to your eyes, kidneys or other organs has occurred. That’s why the American Diabetes Association recommends adults have a fasting blood glucose test at age 45. If the test results are normal, repeat the test every three years. If your results are borderline, have a fasting blood sugar test every year. Your health care provider may also test for diabetes based on your symptoms or risk factors. Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine provider Steven Adamson, M.D., says, "Although the amount of sugar in your blood fluctuates, the range is relatively narrow," says . "After fasting all night, most people have levels between 70 and 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). That’s the equivalent of about one teaspoon of sugar in a gallon of water. If you consistently have fasting glucose levels above 125 mg/dL, you likely have diabetes." Dr. Adamson shares tests that can detect diabetes:

Individualized medicine, also known as personalized medicine or precision medicine, means tailoring diagnosis and treatment to each patient to optimize care. Patients have experienced this kind of care for 150 years at Mayo Clinic, where teams of specialists have always worked together to find answers. Now, at a time when we can routinely sequence a whole human genome and better understand the function of genes, individualized medicine at Mayo Clinic has been taken to the molecular level. We're using genomics and other sequencing technologies to more effectively and precisely diagnose, treat, predict and eventually prevent disease. And that's what the Center for Individualized Medicine is all about — solving the clinical challenges of today and tomorrow by bringing the latest discoveries from the research laboratory to your doctor's fingertips in the form of new genomics-based tests and treatments. MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Smith, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

#Glaucoma Twitterchat TODAY at #ABCDrBchat 1-2  p.m. ET  @ArthurSitMD @NatEyeInstitute will join ABC’s Dr. Richard Besser Glaucoma is a challenge for Baby Boomers, but how early in life ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Eleven years ago I developed deep vein thrombosis, which led to a pulmonary embolism. A vena cava filter was put in place, and I’ve been on warfarin since that time. Will I ever be able to discontinue warfarin and take aspirin instead? Would changing my diet allow me to eventually stop taking warfarin? ANSWER: This is a very common and important question for people in your situation. How long you need to continue to take warfarin depends on several factors. They include the circumstances surrounding the development of your deep vein thrombosis and whether you have had any recurrences since then. As you and your doctor consider your long-term treatment plan, your medical history and your preferences should be taken into consideration, too. Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, happens when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. DVT is a serious condition because the blood clot can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and become stuck in your lungs, blocking blood flow. This condition, called a pulmonary embolism, can be life-threatening if it is not treated right away. When a DVT results in pulmonary embolism, it is known as venous thromboembolism.

Miss the show? Here's the podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 1-24-2015 Does having a cancer biopsy increase the chances your cancer will spread? We’ll ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Sleep deprivation: Know the risks Making sleep a low priority may seem harmless. But not getting enough rest can affect your mind, weight and immune system. Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour Running, swimming or bicycling — which burns the most calories in 1 hour? Check our chart to see how your favorite fitness activity rates. EXPERT ANSWERS Sensitive teeth: What treatments are available? Your dentist may recommend special toothpaste or dental procedures to help ease tooth sensitivity. Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm? Find out if drinking milk will irritate your throat if you have a cold. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZZ0zpUQhBQ&app=desktop Amit Sood, M.D., is director of research in the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. ...