Ask the Doc...
Dr. Uma Krishnaswamy, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Apollo Hospital, Chennai, replies to this week's questions:
I AM a 22-year-old male suffering from breast development. Is it possible to correct this through surgery? Also will the scars remain? Mahesh
Answer: Enlargement of the breast and nipples does occur occasionally in young men as a result of hormonal imbalance. If you are embarrassed, it can be rectified by surgery. Ask your family doctor to refer you to a surgeon. The costs vary from centre to centre. The scars of surgery are permanent, but are likely to be sited in a manner that is inconspicuous.
I AM 48 years old. I had an encapsulated benign tumour (lipoma) behind my neck, which was removed surgically. Again the tumour has developed in the same place. My surgeon says it developed from the FNAC of the previous tumour and can be removed only surgically. It causes pain — I can't write or ride the two-wheeler. Is it possible to remove the tumour completely? Is there any other way of dealing with this? Name withheld
Answer: Lipomas are simple benign tumours. In your case it recurred possibly from incomplete excision and not from the FNAC. The lesion needs to be re excised. Other forms of treatment are not reliable. After complete re excision, it is unlikely that the tumour will recur.
I AM 40. When I was 20, I had a problem of irritation while passing urine. My family doctor advised me to undergo circumcision, which was not done. I have the same problem again. Will circumcision help? Ravi
Answer: The origin of the irritation is not very clear. Request your family doctor to refer you to an urologist. If the source of irritation is a tight foreskin, then a circumcision may help.
I AM 65 years. About 12 years ago, I underwent surgery for haemorrhoids in Mumbai. Of late, when I travel or attend late night events, I find that I am bleeding the next day while passing motion. It continues for a couple of days and stops. I am a non-vegetarian but I try to eat as many fresh vegetables as far as possible. I also walk five km every day. Is there some cure for bleeding piles without surgery? Ramadoss
Answer: Ask your family doctor to refer you to a surgeon to determine whether you have a recurrence of haemorrhoids or not. If the piles have returned, there are many non-surgical options to control them: rubber banding, injection etc. Occasionally, the piles may be so florid that surgery may be the only treatment option. Please continue to take a high fibre diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water and continue to walk every day.
I HAD three episodes of rectal bleeding in 2003, 2004, 2005. It was diagnosed as colonic diverticulosis. I am 79 and have atrial fibrillation since 1998. I am on a strict diet. Is there some relief apart from surgery? Ramachandran
Answer: Check with your cardiologist to determine whether you are on any anti-platelet or anti-coagulant drugs for your atrial fibrillation. This may have triggered the bleed. Unless the bleeding was heavy, surgery is not advocated. Consult a surgical gastroenterologist for advice via your family doctor.
I AM 21 and suffering from constipation and piles for seven years. Since I am on a strict diet, bleeding is rare but there is a permanent capsule-like growth, which itches often. Is there any permanent cure? Sushant
Answer: You may be having an external pile mass or skin tag along with internal piles. Depending on the degree of piles your surgeon will advise you on the treatment that will suit you best: non-surgical or surgical or a combination of both. Meanwhile, please continue to have a high fibre diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
MY daughter (13) had a swelling in her lower stomach and was operated on for right inguinal hernia (laparascopy) in June 2005. But the pain and the swelling remain the same. She also experiences pain in the abdomen while singing or shouting. What is her problem? Saraswathi
Answer: After laparoscopic hernia repair, the local swelling may remain. The pain is probably from the surgery and will fade away with time. Please encourage her to be as active as possible.
There is a rare possibility of the hernia recurring. Have your surgeon rule out this possibility.
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