THE DOC REPLIES

I’M 93 and have been and inflamed and may even troubled by a sore knee and burst. This tends to be a hip, which I’ve been told is painful condition. down to wear and tear. There’s not much else they I have recently been can do. I wonder if it’s worth diagnosed with prostate going private? cancer and wonder what the

I am sorry to hear that you prognosis is for the average are suffering from knee and man? I am 69 and I wonder hip pain. This is likely to be how many years I have left. osteoarthritis and Most cases of prostate unfortunately there is likely to cancer develop in older men. be little else that they can do. In many cases the cancer is It is unlikely that a private slow growing and does not professional is going to reduce life-expectancy – it recommend anything other also may not need treatment. than mild exercise such as In some cases, it is more walking to stay active, while aggressive and spreads to also recommending you take other parts of the body and paracetamol and perhaps a may benefit from treatment. topical painkiller such as In general, the more Ibuprofen gel. advanced the cancer the

less chance the I WANT to give my body to treatment will be medical science, but my curative. However, family aren’t happy. I wonder, treatment can slow is there anything left that will the progress of the be buried in a grave? cancer. So the

Giving your body to prognosis is likely to This sort of Medical Science is a noble be good but problem can be consideration. It is of course depends on what assessed by either. up to yourself and it’s other symptoms you Without further unfortunate your family are have. information it is not very supportive. If you do impossible to hazard a guess choose to go down this line WHAT are shingles?

as to the diagnosis of this but the family are given the It’s an infection of a nerve

I’d suggest that you should remains around a year later area caused by the Varicella

seek an appointment soon. and they can then choose to Zoster virus. It causes pain and have a burial or a cremation. a rash along the band of skin

MY husband loves to wear supplied by the affected WHAT’S the difference nerve. Symptoms usually go sandals now the weather is between otitis externa and within two to four weeks. Pain getting better, but he has otitis media? can sometimes persist after smelly feet despite washing

The former is inflammation the rash has gone, especially them every day. in the outer ear canal and among over-50s. The Varicella Smelly feet are unlikely to usually gives an itching Zoster virus is the same one have any sinister cause. sensation. The latter is that causes chickenpox. Washing them regularly will inflammation in the middle Anyone who has had alleviate some of the problem ear. It affects the ear drum, chickenpox can develop and wearing sandals may which often becomes red shingles. actually be helpful!

Unfortunately The Doc can’t directly reply to individual letters. When in doubt speak to your GP