Show C4 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Monday September 16 2002 Don’t forget By Kathy Mitchell & Mercy Creators Syndicate Inc DEAR ANNIE: I am female a and thought I was in excellent health Last year I fell a small lump Sugar Jl in my breast while I doing a wasn't too concerned since my doctor had just seen me and said £H self-exa- m C seDf-exam- FOR BETTER OR WORSE s MOM LOOK! -- I CAM WEAR VOUR MtW 6E£? THEY FIT MePEKFECTiy SHOES) I insisted on another opinion and went to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston There I was informed by an excellent oncologist that I was a good candidate for a lumpectomy — and that the cure rate was the same whether I had a lumpectomy or mastectomy ' The lumpectomy was done the following month and fortunately the cancer was confined to the lump Please tell your readers to do a monthly breast self-exaand if they find a lump that doesn’t go away to see a doctor The good news is that eight out of 10 lumps are benign but you can’t be sure without a biopsy Thanks to family friends and wonderful doctors I'm doing great — Lucky Me in Louisiana DEAR LUCKY: Hundreds of women who read your letter today will make appointments for breast examinations Several dozens of these examinations will reveal a tumor Some of those tumors will be malignant Unfortunately for some' the tumor will have spread For many others however a lumpectomy will save the breast and the woman's life I urge every woman who finds a lump to get it checked out as soon as possible Do not delay Nothing on your calendar is as important as this It’s no exaggeration to say it can be the difference between life and death A m I was fine The lump didn't go away so I made another appointment for a breast exam The doctor said there was nothing to be concerned about but offered to do a mammogram even though they are not usually recommended for women under 40 who have no history of breast cancer The mammogram showed a sikiall mass so I went back for more tests I Was told I had a benign fibrocystic lump and not to worry although the radiologist did suggest I see a surgeon about having the lump biopsied The surgeon reviewed my records and said the lump looked benign but I scheduled a biopsy for the next day anyway The results confirmed my worst fears — the lump was malignant The surgeon said a mastectomy was my only option GILBERT MAYBE ITS BECAUSE ALL OF OUR COMPUTERS ARE CARDBOARD PROPS THAT UJE STOLE FROM A FOR SECURITY PURPOSES WOULD YOU CARE TO FRISK ME? FURNITURE STORE I a ARLOANDJANIS AMWUWBAft M ORttUfiftlfEEL KUOffUMS MOlOU&SSIHSftAMS BUT1 LAUAHAfflfAU WHBU6XRI ttOU Medical practice is changing has become an example of life imitating art Consequently I’ve had to become more per-- ' soiial If I don’t understand why a doctor does ' (or doesn’t) do something I’ll say so If I have a tendency to criticize I usually do so after a statement to the effect that I am not in possession of all the pertinent data If I suggest to readers that they change physicians it’s usually because the present practitioner is surly uncommunicative and arrogant — qualities that any good doctor regardless of the medical climate in which he practices tries to avoid ' Actually that's the point I want to steer patients toward physicians who — along with beingknowledgeable — are available con? cemed sympathetic supportive ami underthe very qualities that I try to bring standing to my own medical practice Therefore if I sometimes seem brusque and overly critical of colleagues please forgive me I'll try to do better1 Heaven knows that I am only human and make mistakes But I admit to criticizing physicians who commit egregious errors distance themselves from patients follow the almighty dollar and then pretend to be blame-fre- e That’s quite simply pure crap Peter H Gott MD Newspaper Enterprise Association By DEAR DR GOTT: During the 23 years you have written your col umn you have occasionally used scathing satire to criticize your colleagues Recently however you seem to have changed your perspective Now you get up close and personal Why? DEAR READER: Medical practice has changed dramatically Ttoenty years ago it was fun to tweak my associates with outrageous satire I — and they —knew it was safe I was merely pulling their chains we were all in this medical thing for the duration In the past five to 10 years the Situation has : altered in large part because of government regulations and health maintenance organizations While my previous satire may amuse some readers and annoy others life in a doc- tor's office Is not fun anymore and my satire GRIZZWELLS &E 'tu finished nwwwat pHEOHRECTWSNEfcfc zits Horoscope By Bomlca Bode Oaol Newspaper Enterprise Association unusual occurrence might transpire that could turnout to be of benefit to you materially ' b AQUARIUS (Jan 19) — Use your influence to control things You are much better equipped to get things rolling dim most of peers your ' PISCES (Feb 20) — Chances are in the best you’ll operate background or behind the scenes where you will feel the most comfortable ABIES (March 19) — Try not to be too structured in your involvements so that you can leave some room for any spontaneous developments that might pop up TAURUS (April y 20) — Ambitious creative objectives can be achieved but you might have to be persistent about sticking with 20-Fe- For Monday Sept 16 2002 Your birthday In the year there is a strong chance you could get involved in a type of progressive endeavor that might launch something fresh and new VIRGO (Aug 22) — Something beneficial could develop for you concerning your work What's interesting is that it is not likely to come from the top L LIBRA (Sept 23) — If you’re feeling a bit restless it might not be wise to start any task that once initiated must be finished SCORPIO (Oct 24-N22) —The most to for you accomplish will be important thing to build a solid base concentrating in the area of hopes you'd like to achieve SAGITTARIUS (Nov 21)— Try to involve yourself in pursuits of a mental nature because you could have better than usual powers of concentration n CAPRICORN (Dec 19) —An 20-Mar-ch 23-Se- pt 5TA9TUNEP F0R A: RECITATION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE It 20-Ma- 23-Oc- them GEMINI (May 20) — If you’ve been toying with an idea lately today mightbe the day to put it into action CANCER (June 22) — Something that needs a bit of shoring up can be improved upon if you get out of the rut of doing everything by rote LEO (July 23-A22) — Being the agreeable person you are you’re fun to work with 21-Ju- ne pv 21-Ju- 23-D- ec - GARFIELD 21-Ap- ril ly ALLEY OOP ug 22-Ja- today Crossword September 16 2002 ACROSS 1 NYC airport Hike 8 River blocker 11 Is not well 13 Oscar's cousin 14 Emissions BP- - — rummy 24 Rodeo yell ' 27 City on the Paint gold Willamette Solid water 4 30 Ore deposit 31 Rude look 32 Car-buyer- 's concern ' Left Laughs Tex-M- pt snack FRANK AND ERNEST 54 Glamorous 34 Leather- wrap watchdog working tool 55 Historical ’ 15 Patella site 35Brookaand periods 16 Billie Jean— Hills Mongol 36 Prvz's stand-i- n of tennis dwelling ' 17 Illuminated Finale X WONPEJt WHCH ONE OF PN6 AtTHUR’5 INWTS IHVtNTW V i 18 Physicist's 37 Synthetic AIXword rtudy 20 Shaft 21 Cow's comment fabrics 39 Office machines 40 Way of Bring action 22 Patiertt-car- e Lao-tz- u Answsrte BiwSeus Bunts THE JtOW& PfiOtAtLY SfJt DOWN 10 Partner 12 Sunday 29 Copacetic neighLapp's delivery 19 DDE's org i 31 bor Swiss artist 20 Stooge with '33 ’ Honshu 35 bangs 22 Tints metropolis Hitter's slat 23 Exec 36 One to Fritz 24 Harpers Ferry Barrel 38 st Pastrami pur- - 25 Rough-cu- t 26 Unctuous 39 9 Neat as 27 Lampreys 41 28 Okla neigh i bor 1 42 Jeer at Pentathlon 43 Holy image event 44 Soft metal Host Jay- -1 46 Greek' 'letters Family MDs 47 Light brown Flightless bird 48 Be too fond of ' Dressing table 50 Pro vote 51 40up brewCorporate abbt Repair Mural' undercoat THE BORN LOSER ATOP MEDICAL fO0ESWIM£AH SCHOOL DID ASTWfOH NWSNCeCNElT bLCEP er 52 Com Belt st ' - i c jv |