Doctor Column
“Am I Going to Get Cancer?” Cancer in Families
March 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
JoAnn, a 67 year old retired secretary, experienced abdominal pain that at times radiated to the back which she dismissed as indigestion. Usually energetic, she uncharacteristically complained of fatigue and, from time to time, itchiness “all over my body.”
Powerful Warning Signs of Cancer — Red Flags to Look For
March 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2018 there will be close to 610,000 deaths in the United States due to cancer and approximately 1,735,000 new cases of cancer. The early diagnosis of cancer increases dramatically the cure rates and the five year survival rates of this disease.
“I’m Blushing… Why Can’t I Stop Myself from Blushing?”
February 25, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Charles Darwin considered blushing to be “the most peculiar and most human of all expressions.” Mark Twain said: “Man is he only animal that blushes. Or needs to.” Patricia, a high school student said: “Whenever a teacher asks me a question, I can’t stop myself from blushing.”
“Can the Rainbow Diet Help Prevent Cancer?” — “Roy G. Biv?”
February 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop MD, in a report dealing with “Diet” said: “If you do not smoke or drink excessively, your choice of diet can influence your long-term health more than any other action you may take.”
The Cancer Enigma: “If There’s No Magic Bullet, is Prevention the Cure?”
February 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Nobel Prize laureate Paul Ehrlich coined the term “magic bullet” in 1900, meaning a way to kill (bullet) a specific target (magic). He thought it might be possible to target and kill bacteria with a single agent without hurting the body itself.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: ‘Early’ Management is Key
January 25, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack itself. It destroys healthy tissues in the joints and in other part of the body.
Osteoarthritis and Five (5) Risk Factors
January 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in the U.S. affecting more than twenty million Americans and costing billions of dollars each year. It’s due to the wearing down of the joints — a degenerative disease of aging, more common in women and localized to the joints. It doesn’t spread to the internal organs.
Osteoporosis; What to ‘Know’ … What to ‘Do’
January 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
You might have heard this refrain: “I’m shrinking. I’m 2 inches shorter than I used to be. The older I get, the shorter I become!” The culprit most likely is osteoporosis, a bone disorder that reduces bone strength and bone density. It can lead to a forward curvature of the spine (hump), typically in women.
Think Twice About Aspirin: “One Size Doesn’t Fit All!” Report says; ‘Aspirin is of No Help for Healthy Seniors’
December 25, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Three articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine on September 16, 2018 call into question the usefulness of aspirin for healthy seniors.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: “Low Iron”
December 15, 2018
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Iron deficiency anemia is due to a low level of iron in the blood. There is a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in the body which appear under the microscope to be smaller in size and paler in color.
