Category: Medicine Hat News

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Esophageal Cancer

Cancer of the esophagus (gullet) is relatively uncommon condition. But because of its poor prognosis, it ranks among the 10 leading causes of cancer death in Canadian men 45 years of age and older

Dave’s uncle Bill finds out about it when he has difficulty swallowing food.

Bill starts to lose weight. He tries bland and pureed (liquid) diet. But he continues to lose weight. Except for saliva, nothing goes down.

Bill lives alone. He does not like to complain or bother other people.

One day, Dave runs into Bill at a shopping mall. Dave is surprised to see how much weight Bill has lost. Dave invites Bill to come over for a good home cooked meal.

Dave’s wife Susan cooks roast beef. Bill is hungry and takes the first bite. He chokes. The food is stuck in the esophagus. He is unable to swallow saliva. He is rushed to the Emergency Department.

Bill undergoes emergency gastroscopy (a flexible long instrument with light and camera at the tip) to check and remove the food bolus from the esophagus. The physician also finds the cause of the blockage – a tumour. He takes biopsies and within few days the result shows cancer.

Bill undergoes more tests to see if the cancer has spread. These tests are chest x-ray, blood tests, ultrasound of the liver, and CAT scan of the chest. Unfortunately, the results show that the cancer has advanced.

Bill is shocked. So is Dave. Naturally, their first question is – now what? They want to know everything about the cancer.

In an adult, esophagus is a long straight tube, 40 cm. long. It starts in the throat, travels through the chest cavity, behind the heart and the big vessels (aorta), passes through the diaphragm and joins the stomach. About 4 cm. of the esophagus is below the diaphragm.

Esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach. What a journey our food has to take before it gets to the stomach!

The esophagus is kept lubricated by saliva we swallow and the mucous secreted by the esophageal glands.

Esophageal cancer is slightly more common in males than females. Some of the possible causes of this cancer are alcohol, tobacco, chronic inflammation of the esophagus, and previous lye-induced injury.

Esophageal cancer occurs either in the upper, middle, or lower part of the gullet. Since the gullet is fairly small in diameter, the symptoms of blockage occur early. But it does not help improve prognosis. In approximately 95 per cent of cases, surgical cure is impossible by the time diagnoses is made.

Hence treatment options are very limited. Besides surgery, radiotherapy has shown promising results in some cases. But 5 year survival rate for surgery, radiotherapy or the combination of the two is poor (5 to 15 percent).

In most cases, the only treatment option is palliative in nature. This may include chemotherapy to treat the systemic disease (cancer spread), dilatation, stent or laser therapy to keep the esophageal lumen open.

Unfortunately, Bill’s tumor has already spread to lungs and liver. Therefore, he has very limited treatment options. And the prognosis remains poor.

Bill and his family need emotional support in this trying time. Pain control is very important for comfort and to keep the moral up. Therefore, he is referred to Cancer Clinic, Pain Clinic and Palliative Care Program.

This series of articles explore the health problems of Dave and his family. They are composite characters of a typical family with health problems.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Euthanasia

Euthanasia – is it murder or mercy?

Recent editorials in this newspaper have examined the Dutch government’s proposed legislation to legalize euthanasia under tight guidelines.

Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning “good death”. Webster’s encyclopedic dictionary of the English language describes euthanasia as the deliberate, painless killing of persons who suffer from a painful and incurable disease or condition, or who are aged and helpless.

Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics for physicians says that passive euthanasia (allowing patient to die by witholding treatment) is morally permissible in certain circumstances. But active euthanasia (taking measures that directly cause a patient’s death) is wrong.

The issue of euthanasia is not new. Part of the Oath of Hippocrates says: I will follow that method of treatment which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients, abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked nor suggest any such counsel.

Gradually, people’s opinions have changed. In the last 10 years, North American surveys have shown that public consistently show strong acceptance of mercy killing and regulated physician-assisted suicide, says Dr. Douglas Kinsella, MD, in a study published in the June 1999 issue of the Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Significant proportions (49 percent) of Canadian Physicians accept its morality and future legalization, and would wish it for themselves and close relatives, if legalized.

Two recent Canadian court cases of euthanasia are well known to the public. Cases against Dr. Nancy Morrison and Mr. Latimar.

In US, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, otherwise known as Dr. Death, took this issue to a new level when physician assisted death of Mr. Thomas Yourk was shown on television. Dr. Kevorkian is seen to inject the lethal drug. On previous occasions, Dr. Kevorkian has let the patients inject themselves so the doctor does not get legally implicated in the process.

It has been 10 years since Dr. Kevorkian, a retired pathologist, started his “mission” to help terminally ill patients die with dignity. He has assisted in more than 100 deaths. He has been charged and acquitted by juries atleast three times. In Mr. Yourk’s case, he was convicted. Mr. Yourk lived in Michigan, which bans assisted suicide.

Oregon has legalized euthanasia (The Oregon Death with Dignity Act). But the controversy continues. There is continuous process to monitor the use and abuse of the Act.

Netherlands established guidelines on euthanasia in 1984. One of the requirements is that the patient should make a voluntary request to die. A study shows that in 1990, there were 900 cases of non-voluntary euthanasia recorded. Now the Dutch government is going to legalize euthanasia. Is that going to change anything?

Whether anything is legal or not, certain individuals in society will continue to abuse the system either for selfish reasons or because they feel they are morally justified. How can you change that?

Besides, who decides if euthanasia is morally and legally right? Why do we accept that it is all right to watch people suffer and die slowly but it is wrong to practice active euthanasia?

Reasonable thing should be to offer euthanasia to the right people, at the right time, for the right reason, at the right place, by the right individuals and in the most dignified and humane way! Is that possible?

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

“Dr. B, what is the difference between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?” asks Susan.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition where the symptoms are due to disturbance in the movement and sensation of the bowel. The person is otherwise well but presents with chronic or recurrent abdominal pain, change in bowel habit (constipation and/or diarrhea) and bloating.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition where symptoms are due to inflammation (redness, swelling, ulcers) of the lining of the bowel. This result in abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and loss of weight and feeling unwell.

The exact cause of either condition is not known. Sometimes the symptoms are such that it is difficult to differentiate between the two conditions.

“Dr. B, can you tell me more about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?”

IBS affects about 15 percent of the population. Only 30 percent of the people affected by the condition seek help from their family physicians.

Usually a diagnosis is made after extensive and uncomfortable investigations to rule out other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. This is called diagnosis by exclusion!

Couple of years ago, internationally recognized experts in IBS held a consensus conference to develop recommendations on diagnosis, patient education, psychosocial management, dietary advice and treatment. This is to help physicians understand and manage the condition better.

For diagnosis without investigations, the most reliable symptoms criteria used are 1. Abdominal pain 2. Pain relieved by defecation 3. Pain relieved with looser stools 4. Pain associated with more frequent stools.

Bloating is more common in women.

Using these symptom criteria, the chances are that the physician’s diagnosis of IBS is correct in 60 to 80 percent of cases. Physical examination is usually normal. In some cases there may be some abdominal tenderness or palpable colon.

Investigations are required in patients who have weight loss, rectal bleeding, anemia, family history of inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer, new symptoms in patients over 50 or the physician is uncertain of diagnosis of IBS.

These patients should have complete blood count and colonoscopy (a day surgery procedure under sedation in a hospital). Instead of colonoscopy, one can have air-contrast barium enema and flexible sigmoidoscopy (a 60-cm version of a colonoscope done without sedation in a doctor’s office).

Management of this condition is not always easy. Patient needs education and reassurance. It is a chronic, relapsing but benign condition although in some it can cause significant psychosocial problems.

Advice on balanced diet, exercise, and “toilet training” is important.

Most patients do not need drug therapy. No single medication has been shown to be beneficial for IBS. Symptomatic treatment of constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating is required.

Associated conditions like depression and anxiety should be recognized and treated.

As you can see, lot more research is required to unlock the mystery and frustration of this condition. In the meantime, we have to deal with the problem with patience and perseverance.

Physicians and patients have to understand each other’s limitations and difficulties and work together to relieve pain, anxiety and discomfort.

“Thank you Dr. B., this will certainly help me understand my problem!” says Susan as she gets ready to leave.

This series of articles explore the health problems of Dave and his family. They are composite characters of a typical family with health problems.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!

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Alaska Holiday 2

“One of the symptoms of approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important, and that to take a holiday would bring all kinds of disaster,” says The Conquest of Happiness.

With this in mind, Dave and family go on an ambitious Alaska cruise. Last week’s column describes Dave’s experience of a “stress free” holiday, mixed with food, fun and laughter.

Today, Dave tells us about the beauty of Alaska and the activities he enjoyed with his family during the short time he was there.

Let us start with a brief history.

In 1867, United States’ Secretary of State William Seward purchases Alaska from Russia for two cents an acre! Critics laugh. They call it foolish. But soon Alaska surprises the world with its wealth of natural resources (gold, oil, tourism, fishing, and lumber).

Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. It is 2.5 times the size of Texas, with a population of only 609,300.

The cruise ship’s first stop is Juneau, the capital city with a population of 26,800. It is inaccessible by land. Mountains, islands, saltwater bays, forested valleys and flatlands surround it.

With the few hours we had in Juneau, we had to decide whether we should go sea kayaking, canoeing, trail hiking, rain forest nature walk, glacier trekking by helicopter, wildlife cruise, salmon bake, pan for gold or sportfishing.

Our children decide that we go glacier trekking by helicopter! Well, dad has the plastic card! The helicopter soars over Juneau’s wild backcountry and spectacular glaciers. The tour covers 65 miles of Alaskan wilderness and makes a brief glacier landing within the massive Juneau Icefield. The view is spectacular and breathtaking.

Our pilot/guide unveils the beauty and the mystery of the area. Walks us through some interesting spots (require special boots) and help us explore its surface.

Juneau icefield is North America’s fifth largest icefield. It covers more than 1,500 square miles of land. It is estimated that icefield’s snow and ice depth to be from 800 to over 4,500 feet deep. Annual snowfall on the Juneau Icefield exceeds 100 feet.

During the flight, we see mountain goats. The goats favor the high ridges surrounding the icefield during the summer months. We see deep icefield crevasses, hanging icefalls and jagged spires.

Well, it is time to board the ship. In the next couple of days, we disembark at Skagway (population 700), Haines (population 1,200), and Ketchikan (population 8,300).

Each place has its own history and beauty. But there is something special about Skagway – the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad tour in search of gold!

Well, the Klondike Gold Rush was 100 years ago! But there is still high adventure and scenic drama. A ride along the shoulders of granite mountains.

The train (some train cars straight out of the 1890s), leaves Skagway (elevation: 0) on a narrow gauged railroad (built 1898), climbs through the Coast Mountains in Tongass National Forest, through mountain tunnels to the White Pass Summit (elevation: 2,865 ft). Takes you through unforgettable spectacular scenery.

Well Dave, what’s left?

The Glacier Bay! Naturalist and adventurer John Muir is credited with discovering the bay in 1879 but continues to remain isolated and undeveloped. Enter Glacier Bay and you cruise along shorelines completely covered by ice. As water undermines some ice fronts great blocks of ice break loose and crash in to the water. A beautiful sight to cherish.

Well, it is time to cruise back to Vancouver and to the real world. But you cannot disembark until you have cleared your bills, tipped all the kind people who made your trip a delight and cleared the customs!

Dave jumps in the cab, looks at the ship and says, “Alaska, we will be back!”

This series of articles explore the health problems of Dave and his family. They are composite characters of a typical family with health problems.

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!