Doctor Column
Low Back Pain Diagnosis and Treatment
June 15, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Low back pain (LBP) is common, costly, and treatable. It’s a common reason patients visit their family doctor, a common cause of disability, and costs Americans billions of dollars annually to manage this condition. Accurate diagnoses, and proper treatments are keys to successful outcomes.
Low Back Pain — Red Flags, Symptoms, and Causes
June 5, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Years ago, a colleague of mine was removing leaves from a rain gutter, slipped off the ladder, fell, and landed on his back. He was rushed to the hospital complaining of excruciating lower back pain. The ED physician took his medical history, and noted the physical examination was normal except for hypersensitivity in the lumbar- sacral region (lower back).
Liquid Biopsies In Cancer: Seek and Destroy
May 25, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The best chance for patience winning the battle against cancer, in addition to a healthy lifestyle, is early detection, and precise, treatment of this death-dealing disease. Liquid biopsy, (LB), is a term first used around 2010. It’s a blood test that detects and analyzes circulating tumor cells and their products released by cancer cells into the blood.
11 LESSONS COVID-19 TAUGHT US
May 15, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
On Friday, May 5th of this year, WHO declared COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. On Saturday, the day after the announcement, Dennis, a 68 year old retired dentist, tested positive for COVID. Dennis had read the headlines about COVID-19: Nursing Homes — No Mask Requirements; the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services declare an end of the COVID-19 as a public health emergency.
Tumor Biomarkers and Angellina Jolie
May 5, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“I choose not to keep my story private, because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options,” said Jolie.
Biomarkers Are Essential Medical Tools
April 25, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
A biomarker, in medicine, is anything that can be used to measure the health status of a person. A wide range of biomarkers is available to determine whether a person is healthy or sick. For instance, some are as simple as taking your pulse, body temperature, or measuring your blood pressure. Other biomarkers can be more complex, such as biological molecules used to identify genetic changes in cancer cells.
Allergy Season — Allergy Prevention: Allergy Is Bustin’ Out All Over
April 15, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Jennifer’s 11 year old son was diagnosed with seasonal allergies four years ago. She’s wondering why her son is showing allergy symptoms earlier in the year compared to previous years. Also, his symptoms seems to last into the late summer. Mom is worried because his allergies triggered asthmatic attacks causing him to miss four days from school.
“Snapshot” Medicare’s $35 Out-Of-Pocket Insulin
April 5, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Over 3.3 million Americans on Medicare use insulin. In August 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act which included caps on out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 per month for each insulin product covered by a person’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, or Medicare Advantage plan. The law took effect on January 1, 2023. For Medicare patients who use an insulin pump, the law goes into effect on July1, 2023.
Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
March 25, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
As noted in a previous post, “The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped endocrine gland located in the neck below the Adam’s apple and in front of the windpipe It consists of right and left thyroid lobes joined together by a narrow strip of thyroid tissue called the isthmus.
Thyroid Cancer and Jared Kushner. Four Major Types of Thyroid Cancer
March 15, 2023
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Jared Kushner, the 42 year old former White House senior advisor, and son-in-law of ex-President Donald J. Trump, revealed in his 2022 book “Breaking History” that he had been treated for thyroid cancer. He was diagnosed as having thyroid cancer in October 2019 when a biopsy performed at Walter Reed Hospital tested positive for thyroid cancer.
