Can a Man’s Deodorant Cause Breast Cancer in a Woman?
Is there a link between using a man’s deodorant and breast cancer in women?
With all the fear of this and that causing breast cancer, some women are seriously wondering if using a man’s deodorant can lead to cellular mutations that can trigger malignant transformation in breast cells. (more…)
Percentage of Mole Biopsies that Come Back Melanoma?
If you’ve ever had a mole removed for biopsy, have you ever wondered what the mathematical odds were of it coming back as melanoma?
It’s unimaginable how many moles every year in the U.S. or any other given industrialized nation are removed for biopsy on a yearly basis.
The number must be astronomical, but the percentage of these mole biopsies that come back positive for melanoma would be a constant, not a variable, as long as the parameters remained the same (e.g., only those moles that a dermatologists finds suspicious).
For instance, five percent of 100,000 is the same “odds” as five percent of 100 million.
Percentage of Mole Biopsies that Are Positive for Melanoma
“The percentage of mole biopsies that come back as melanoma is dependent on why the mole is biopsied,” begins Jena Martin, MD, a board certified anatomic and dermatopathologist based in the Minneapolis area.
Common mole
“I like to think of this concept (statistically called the positive predictive value) as ‘garbage in, garbage out.’
“So if your doctor biopsies a mole that he or she believes is benign, the odds it will be melanoma is nearly zero.
“When we look at biopsies of moles that dermatologists are worried about (moles that look odd or funny), the typical rate is about 15-20 biopsied needed to diagnose melanoma.
“In the medical literature this is called the number needed to diagnose (NND).
“For every 15-20 worrisome moles that a dermatologist biopsies, they can expect to find one melanoma.”
What does this mean in terms of percentage?
Let’s look at the upper end of this: one in 20. A ratio of one out of every 20 is five percent.
If you recall your grade school math, to figure out a percent, divide the “out of every” number INTO the smaller number.
So one divided by 20 equals 0.05. Move the decimal to the right two places to get 5: five percent.
Using this grade school formula to figure out percentages, you’ll see that one out of 15 means 6.6 percent.
So if a dermatologist wants a suspicious spot removed, the odds that this will come back as the deadliest skin cancer are 5 to 6.6 percent.
But remember, this percentage pertains strictly to moles that a dermatologist is concerned about.
If the doctor says, upon examining your moles, “I’d like to remove this one here because its network gets my attention,” then there is probably a 5 to 6.6 percent chance that you’ll get horrible news.
“Many moles that are benign are also removed for cosmetic reasons, or because a patient is worried and the dermatologist is not; those don’t count in that statistic,” says Dr. Martin.
A study of over 80,000 skin samples which included lesions other than moles, that were sent out for biopsy, turned up a different percentage rate of melanoma diagnoses. Continue reading…
Dr. Martin trained at Mayo Clinic Pathology and has been practicing for 20+ years and is with Dermatology Consultants in St. Paul, MN.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
Top image: Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov
When a Skin Sample Is Sent for Biopsy: Handling the Anxiety
It’s just plain total anxiety when a skin sample is sent off for a biopsy, especially when you did not expect this to happen, and all you can think of is “What if it comes back as melanoma?”
If this occurs on a Friday, your entire weekend will probably be shot down with intense anxiety. (more…)
How Common Are Bloody Stools with Colon Cancer?
Seeing blood with your stools is just plain frightening, as this immediately brings to mind colon cancer.
Though hemorrhoids are a common cause of blood mixed with poop, it’s hard to ignore more sinister explanations. (more…)
Can Melanoma Be Mistaken for Normal Cells Under a Microscope?
It’s scary but true:
For any number of reasons, a pathologist may mistake melanoma for benign cells under a microscope and incorrectly diagnosed the sample. (more…)
How Long It Takes a Lab to Analyze Mole Biopsy for Melanoma
When a dermapathologist views mole cells under a microscope, how long does it take them to identify if it’s melanoma or benign?
Your doctor will tell you it takes a week to two weeks for “the results to come back.” Sometimes the doctor will say it’ll take “a couple days.” (more…)
Can a Mole Be Too Tiny to Biopsy for Melanoma?
If your dermatologist told you that a mole is too tiny to be biopsied, and to wait a little longer to see if it gets bigger, get a second opinion. (more…)
Is the 16:8 Diet Just Another Passing Fad?
Let’s get the straight & narrow on the 16:8 diet: Is it effective or just another hyped up fad?
In the 16:8 diet, you eat whatever you want for eight hours only during a given day, and then absolutely nothing (other than water and zero-calorie drinks) for the other 16 hours. No exceptions.
The hours of feasting are from 10 am to 6 pm.
The hours of fasting are from 6:01 pm to 5:59 am.
Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, according to a study of 23 obese people (average age 45, average body mass index 35), the 16:8 diet has merit.
The participants followed the 16:8 diet for 12 weeks and lost weight plus improved their blood pressure.
• On average they ate 350 fewer calories/day.
• The average weight loss was three percent of their body weight.
• This is the first study of the 16:8 diet, and the full report is in Nutrition and Healthy Aging (June 2018).
During the eight hours that one can eat, there are no limits on type of food or quantity.
Shutterstock/Hurst Photo
On one hand, it’s easy to see why there was some weight loss. Many overeaters do much of their feasting after they get home from work – the very hours that are off-limits from eating on the 16:8 diet.
But on the other hand, knowing that you can’t eat even a bite between 6 pm and bedtime might encourage more overeating earlier in the day to avoid feeling hungry later in the evening.
Overall, though, for the 23 participants, this did not happen enough to thwart a collective weight loss over 12 weeks.
Another point to consider is that for some individuals, most overeating occurs at home for several reasons, and most people are away from home, at work between 10 am and 6 pm — where binge eating can be impossible with certain jobs.
Being at home, watching evening TV shows, means a strong conditioned stimulus for overeating.
The study authors do not recommend that the 16:8 diet be a permanent solution, as it still encourages overeating, and includes unlimited amounts of junk food.
Sustainability of the 16:8 Diet
“16:8 is one of the many versions of intermittent fasting which is not sustainable in the long run,” says Shana Spence, MS, RDN, CDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in New York, and was not involved with the study.
“There are some researched benefits to fasting — weight loss being one. Yes, you’ll definitely lose weight if you’re restricting your intake — but is it sustainable? I don’t think so.
“As for my overall opinion, the idea of limiting yourself to an eight hour window seems like an extreme.”
Shana Spence of The Nutrition Tea is committed to providing trending information and nutrition facts covering a wide range including nutrition for heart disease and diabetes, pediatric nutrition and healthful lifestyles.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
Top image: ©Lorra Garrick—
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180618113038.htm
Why Your Child’s Poop Smells Like Mothballs
You don’t even have mothballs in the house, so what makes your child’s poop stink like mothballs?
“Foul smelling stool is a byproduct of gut inflammation and dysbiosis [a state of imbalance in the gut’s natural bacterial population],” says Joel Gator Warsh, MD, of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, Studio City, CA, and part of the pediatric staff of Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
“If your child’s poop smells like mothballs, I would consider a food sensitivity or allergy.
“The inflammation in the gut and the undigested food particles can make your child’s bowel movement be very foul smelling.
“One description of this smell is a musty ‘mothball’ odor. The most common allergies leading to this smell are gluten/wheat and dairy, so I would consider removing those from the diet and see if the smell changes.”
This means if a loaf of gluten-containing bread was on a cutting board, do NOT use that cutting board to cut up something that’s gluten-free such as fresh vegetables.
Even one crumb of gluten, in someone with a gluten sensitivity, can mess things up.
“You can also be lactose intolerant and that causes abdominal pain, bloating, severe flatulence and foul smelling, mothball stools,” says Dr. Warsh.
Give your child lactose-free milk (if they already drink milk) and see what happens.
“I would also consider having stool tested for bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens.
“An infection in the gut can lead to changes in stool consistency, smell and size.
“Infections with parasites can be particularly worrisome and can create distinctive, odd odors.”
The parent’s subjective interpretation of the odor can resemble that of mothballs.
Dr. Warsh and his Studio City, Los Angeles clinic treat a wide array of common pediatric issues using holistic and conventional treatments. He works with nutritionists, naturopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, acupuncturists and more.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
Top image: Shutterstock/Anatoliy Karlyuk
What Causes a Baby to Drag a Leg when Crawling?
A baby may have a dragging leg from the time they begin crawling, or, it may develop at some point after crawling has become habitual.
“Motor developmental milestones vary greatly from child to child,” begins Joel Gator Warsh, MD, of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, Studio City, CA, and part of the pediatric staff of Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
“No two are exactly the same. Some children crawl at seven months, others never crawl.”
That second group of babies amazingly go from not crawling to actual pitter-pattering.
When a Crawling Baby Drags a Foot…
Dr. Warsh continues, “Favoring one leg when crawling is usually normal. Babies do what works, so some scoot, and some use just one side, while others master the bilateral skill more quickly.
“If you notice a baby favoring one side or not using one limb, it is important to have a thorough neurologic exam at your doctor’s to insure that the signals from the brain are getting sent appropriately to the leg.
“Nerves, tendons and muscles can all be injured or damaged, leading a child to favor one side.
“Most of these issues will be noticed after birth, but it is possible that they can develop at a later age or not be noticed until motor skills are tested at an older age.
“Another common injury is a toddler fracture. If you suddenly notice a child not using one limb, consider a fracture.”
Do not try to diagnose the absence of a fracture, and do not move the affected limb in an attempt to see if it brings out pain. Bring the baby to a doctor.
“Babies and toddlers can get injured, even when we are not looking, so just because there wasn’t a known trauma, does not mean a fracture couldn’t occur. Obtain an X-ray to rule out an occult fracture.”
And it needs to be pointed out that a fracture could have been caused by a caretaker (teen babysitter, nanny, even older sibling) of the baby.
Dr. Warsh and his Studio City, Los Angeles clinic treat a wide array of common pediatric issues using holistic and conventional treatments. He works with nutritionists, naturopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, acupuncturists and more.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
