From moles changing to a heart bypass – Dr Jeff answers your health questions
DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help YOU.
Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women. See h3health.co.uk.
Q) I AM a 47-year-old sales manager and during lockdown I noticed one of my moles had changed slightly.
I didn’t want to bother my GP, though.
But in April I knocked the head off it. It didn’t bleed but it grew back and is now black rather than brown and a funny texture.
I think it’s skin cancer and I’m terrified as I’m married and have two young children.
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I’m so worried. What should I do?
Jack Marsh, Windsor
A) Small moles and blemishes are quite common and tend to occur more with age.
However, the most worrisome skin cancer, melanoma, accounts for only four per cent of all skin cancers.
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Many of us who have been exposed to sun damage may develop non-cancerous skin problems such as seborrheic warts, which can often be picked off and bleed but are not cancerous or sinister.
In general, the vast majority of abnormal moles and skin problems we see are benign.
But we always advise that if a mole bleeds, changes colour or shape, becomes itchy, or you are just not sure, see your doctor.
Even if it does turn out to be cancerous, most are curable if caught early.
Q) I AM due to go into hospital soon to have a heart bypass.
I have been told I have a leaky aorta valve.
They have tried keyhole surgery but it hasn’t worked.
At my age, 85, is it worth me having this done?
Apart from getting out of breath going upstairs I don’t feel too bad.
Your advice would be most welcome.
RF Walker, Hampshire
A) There are some principles that apply in virtually all cases of cardio-thoracic surgery.
A leaky heart valve means that when the heart pumps blood around the body, not all of it is being ejected properly from the heart with each pump.
For most, in the early stages of valve disease, there may be no symptoms as the heart simply has to pump a bit harder to get the same amount of blood out.
However, as the valve becomes less effective, symptoms include ankle swelling, shortness of breath and heart failure.
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If left untreated, heart failure can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death.
Surgeons will only consider cardiothoracic surgery if they feel the risks of not treating are more serious than the risk of the operation itself.