DR. OTIS BRAWLEY
Otis Webb Brawley, M.D., is the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, which means he's responsible for promoting the goals of cancer prevention, early detection, and high-quality treatment through cancer research and education. A world-renowned cancer expert and practicing oncologist, Brawley also has been a professor of hematology, oncology, and epidemiology at Emory University, medical director of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, and deputy director for cancer control at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. He has also held other roles with the cancer society, co-chaired the Surgeon General's Task Force on Cancer Health Disparities and filled a variety of capacities at the National Cancer Institute.
Brawley, a self-described "science nerd," says he gravitated toward research as a way of mixing the clinical practice of medicine with pure science. He traces his passion to his teenage years, when he volunteered in the lab of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit, near his hometown. The scientists there taught him to use sophisticated equipment and how to help them with their work. "That's where I got the research bug," the doctor says.
He's a graduate of University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He interned at University Hospital of Cleveland, Case-Western Reserve University and completed his residency at University Hospital of Cleveland and his fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.
In his work with the cancer society, he champions efforts to decrease smoking, improve diet, detect cancer at the earliest stage and provide the critical support cancer patients need. He also guides efforts to enhance and focus the research program, upgrade the society's advocacy capacity, and concentrate community cancer control efforts in areas where they will be most effective. Brawley is also a key leader in the society's work to eliminate disparities in access to high-quality cancer care.
Really, how much secondhand smoke does a nonsmoker get anyway? If a person who smokes a pack a day for 30 years is only 1/3 more likely to die younger than a nonsmoker, then how likely is it that a nonsmoker is even more likely to die younger merely because other people smoke?
I have had severe, chronic back and sciatic pain for many years. My particular problems cannot be resolved surgically. Nerve blocks and other minimally invasive procedures have been partially successful in temporarily reducing the pain.
I wanted to see what you thought about cancer/chemotherapy patients and protein malnutrition. I have read it leads to as many as 45 to 50% of cancer deaths.
What is the cause and significance of very low diastolic blood pressure? While my systolic blood pressure fluctuates from 115 to 130, my diastolic pressure ranges from 36 to 64, with the average in the low 50s.
I was controlling my blood sugar with regular insulin injections, so why did my doctor add metformin during my last visit?
How does Hodgkin lymphoma affect the organs in the lymphatic system?
I have ischemic colitis. I was in the hospital for four days and got better. But a week later, the pain came back. Will I have this for the rest of my life?
Hi, I got multiple sclerosis about a year ago, and I'm very young. I was curious if there has been any further information about a possible cure or not. I know that people have been searching for a cure, but I'm curious as to how close they really are.
I have wet macular degeneration that is being "successfully" treated with Avastin. Please comment on reports of blindness related to this treatment. Many thanks!
I learned I had breast cancer early this year. I also have heart problems that led to placement of two stents. Is it possible to get MRI's of my breasts or other parts of my body with stents in place?
I had Kawasaki syndrome when I was young. My question is, can you outgrow Kawasaki syndrome? I have always wondered about it, and no one has been able to tell me yes or no.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
My husband is a Type 2 diabetic who takes insulin three times a day. He often reuses the same syringe day after day or multiple times in one day. I am very concerned about this habit. It is unhealthy or dangerous?
I had breast reduction surgery two years ago and went from a size GG to DD. I wanted to know, does a reduction lower the risk of breast cancer or abnormalities in the breast?
I am in 55 and just started having difficulty breathing on occasion. I am a usually healthy, slightly overweight, never smoker. Could I have developed asthma at this age?
I am a 30-year-old male. I am having episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. The doctor says she suspects ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and wants to do a colonoscopy. What are these diseases? What else could this be and is it appropriate to do a colonoscopy?
Is there a treatment for macular degeneration of the eye?
I had surgery eight months ago to remove stones from my bladder. Today I found what I believe was a stone stuck to my vagina wall. I also had to have a urine bag for seven days after the surgery. Could it have come from where they inserted the tube in my kidney? I have had surgery for kidney stones in the past. I believe I recently passed another stone. Is this possible? What should I do?
I had fibroadenoma [a benign breast tumor] and had it removed with surgery. I am 31 and I want to know if I can take precautions to prevent breast cancer or other related problems.
I just learned I have a tear in my meniscus. Can this heal any way other than surgery?
A dermatologist told my sister she has ichthyosis. What is it, and how is it treated? She has been on medication for six months, and it is still not gone.
My boyfriend's feet sweat and burn profusely. He washes them and changes socks/shoes several times a day. He's tried every athlete's foot remedy at doctor's advice, and nothing works. What could this be? He's very clean, doesn't have bubbles or blisters or anything unbecoming on his feet. He even warms his feet in front of a stove before putting socks and shoes back on.
Something is wrong with my left wrist. When I bend it or touch the area or put pressure on it, it hurts really badly. Could this be a ganglion cyst? What should I do about it?
Two weeks ago I began having a really disturbing sound in my ears. The noise is constant, with high frequency. I can hear it almost all the time, especially in the mornings. Why is this happening? I have not had any accidents. What can I do about it?
I am 35, female and have elevated levels of uric acid. My doctor wants me tested for gout in my left ankle, but the pain in my ankle didn't start until I began using it to overcompensate for my other injured leg by limping. Will the black cherry concentrate I've heard about in pill form lower the uric acid levels, and how can I tell the difference between gout and tendinitis?
I just heard I am glucose intolerant (or pre-diabetic) and diabetes runs in my family. However, whenever I try to find information about pre-diabetes, I only get diabetes type 2 information. Are there any helpful websites with good information?
I am an average person -- good health and slightly overweight. Last year on a dare/challenge from a friend I rode my bicycle 50 miles without any previous training. I successfully completed the 50 miles, although I had extreme pain in my tailbone following the ride. I assumed this was temporary and continued to live my life. However, a year or so later it still has pain when I sit down. I'm not sure where to start besides seeing my normal doctor. Is this something that can be cured or could I have done lifelong damage to my tailbone?
I have inflammatory breast cancer and I have been through chemo and a double mastectomy. They found active cancer cells so the cancer has spread. The oncologist said she didn't think there was anything more they could do for me. I start radiation soon but she didn't think that that would be very helpful either. Is there anything out there that may help me?
How long does it take to completely recover from hip fracture? I fell on December 8, then had surgery December 10 and came home from the hospital December 11. I'm doing well -- walking with a cane but still limping.
I am generally a very healthy woman. I frequently wake up at night with painful cramps in the thighs and the back of my legs below the knee. What causes cramps and how can I get rid of them?
Can diabetes be a (possible) cause of fatigue, leg and lower back aches? I have had bursts of energy for 10 to 15 minutes, but then need to sit for about 10 minutes, and I'm ready to go full steam again. PLEASE, Thank You, Mike
I have been taking two drugs combined within one pill to control my blood pressure.They are olmesartan and hydrochlorothiazide (known as Benicar-HCT). I took them for approximately eight years, during which time I was part of the world of employment. For seven months since I retired I have found that my blood pressure seems to be holding around 120/78 or less each day when measured. I discussed the matter with my doctor, who advised me to use only half of the prescribed dosage. My question is: Is it possible to rid myself of taking the medication all together?
My husband has non-Hodgkins lymphoma, stage 4, and has been treated with chemotherapy. His doctor says it is under control. He wonders does that mean it is gone or just being held at bay? He has been having "hot flashes" since he began his treatment for his prostate cancer (cannot remember the Gleason score, but tumor was in both lobes of prostate, without changes to his bone marrow.) He was treated with hormones, brachytherapy and radiation for this. We can't seem to get an answer for the question of the "hot flashes." Are they a symptom of ongoing disease, the hormone therapy or will he just continue to have them for the rest of his life?
I started smoking socially in high school and still do. How long would it take for someone like me develop lung cancer?
Really, how much secondhand smoke does a nonsmoker get anyway? If a person who smokes a pack a day for 30 years is only 1/3 more likely to die younger than a nonsmoker, then how likely is it that a nonsmoker is even more likely to die younger merely because other people smoke?
I am allergic to aspirin and wonder: If I ever needed a blood thinner or daily aspirin, is there any option for me? There is a history of heart disease in my mother's family. I do take irbesartan (Avapro) for high blood pressure and simvastatin (Zocor) for cholesterol control.
I have heard that there is an increase in the number of people getting thyroid cancer. Is this true and is radiation from dental X-rays a cause for the increase?
Last winter, my husband fell on some ice. Instead of landing on his backside, he landed on his left hip. He was in a great deal of pain in both the hip and lower back, and went to an ER for X-rays, which came back negative. The pain persisted for the following two weeks, and eventually he was referred to an orthopedic surgeon, who did MRIs and a bone scan (both negative). After a round of PT with no decrease in pain, he was referred to a physiatrist, who diagnosed traumatic facet syndrome.
I just learned that I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. Can you tell me about it and what the prognosis is? I also have coronary artery disease and have had stents placed.
I have had severe, chronic back and sciatic pain for many years. My particular problems cannot be resolved surgically. Nerve blocks and other minimally invasive procedures have been partially successful in temporarily reducing the pain.
If someone with a type B aortic dissection needs to travel a long distance, for example from the United States to Asia, what precautions should be followed?
What should you do if your blood pressure skyrockets from 130 to 159 and switches constantly?
I have had episodes of blurriness in my right eye and vertigo with difficulty walking. I have had five of these episodes within the past six months and most only last 5-10 minutes. There is no pain involved, just right eye blurriness and trouble walking. The worst episode lasted 30 minutes and was accompanied with nausea and the vertigo and walking was extremely impaired. I am a 51-year-old female in good health.
I had a liver resection in late December 2008 because of a cavernous hemangioma (an abnormal buildup of blood vessels). I now have about a 10-inch scar from about center of my rib cage following along to the outer ribcage. Are there known complications of scar tissue like this? I am eight weeks pregnant and have started to wonder if the scar tissue may be an issue for natural birth and if there may be other issues that I should be aware of.
One of my neighbors has breast cancer. Her doctor has asked her to completely stop eating soy and its products, including edamame and tofu. My neighbor used to eat tofu at least three times a week before she got breast cancer. Is there a link between soy and breast cancer? Is there a potential that I will get breast cancer because I used to eat edamame?
Are vitamin D, calcium and magnesium effective in preventing type 2 diabetes? If so, how much should one take?
How many stages are there in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
How many stages are there in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
How long can a stent stay in the body? What is a sign of a stent closing up in the artery?
Are there any travel limitations on one who has had an aortic valve transplant two years ago?
When I'm exercising, I often get jaw pain. It feels like someone is pressing inward on the joint with their fingers very hard. I've been very careful to maintain a relaxed posture and avoid tensing while I exercise, but the pain still comes. The kind of exercise I'm doing is low impact on the elliptical machine. I've even stopped using the arm holds because I've been worried the back and forth motion was making me tense. I've looked online and found that this could be a sign of heart problems, but I'm only 23 with no family history. Should I be concerned?
If, during a cardiac catheterization procedure, the doctor determines that more than one stent is required to open one or more partially closed coronary arteries, can multiple stents be inserted in the same procedure or are multiple procedures required to insert multiple stents? Also, are coated stents more effective and do they last longer at preventing the artery from closing than bare or otherwise untreated stents? There is a lot of confusion out there on these two important points. Thank you!
My mother had triple bypass surgery one year ago. She was having chest pain again and hospitalized. There are more blockages, one right below a bypass and 70 percent blockage through a bypass. Also one bypass has failed. Her cholesterol and blood pressure are in good ranges and under control. What would have caused the new blockages so quickly from a year ago?
Is there anything currently in trials for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia that can help my father, who has had triple-bypass surgery and is 81 years old?
Could you give me a brief outline of chronic pancreatitis? My husband has recently been diagnosed with this, yet the doctors tell us all the time it will get better when in fact it is getting worse. Thank you.
I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy about four years ago. Recently I noticed that when I am lying down flat on my back I experience chest pain/tightness and difficulty breathing. Is this related to my heart disease?
Last week, Dr. Brawley answered a question about whether Jessie from North Carolina has symptoms that could indicate gallbladder problems. This week, he offers another theory for what could be causing her pain.
My mom, grandma and older sister have all had their gallbladders removed. For the past month, I have been getting nauseated and/or experiencing pain in my upper belly after many meals. It seems as though I can tolerate little of any type of fat. The only thing that makes my discomfort manageable is Mylanta and Zantac. Are my symptoms and family history indicative of gallbladder problems? My doctor didn't immediately think so.
My husband had non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1990. He was treated with m-BACOD, then switched to CHOP. Now he is diagnosed with adenocarcinoma.
Is it really worth it to get a mammogram? Should I be getting mammograms?
I wanted to see what your experts thought about cancer/chemotherapy patients and protein malnutrition. I have read it leads to as many as 45 to 50 percent of cancer deaths.
I'm an American living in China. Two months ago I had a pyogenic granuloma surgically removed from the palm of my hand. It had grown to about 2 x 3 centimeters in size and would often bleed. Now I have several (eight) small granulomas starting in the same general, but larger area. Could there be an alternative diagnosis or cause?
I have suffered from eczema for many years. I changed doctors last year and she thinks that my skin condition may be a result of being allergic to gluten.
Last week, I answered a question about the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Today I want to talk a little about how dementia is treated.
Is hearing things that aren't there a symptom of Alzheimer's? Is Alzheimer's treatable?
Is there a cure or treatment for ALS?
I had a hysterectomy for multiple non-cancerous tumors and kept my ovaries. I am 47. Do I still need Pap smears? I do not take hormones.
I keep having this terrible heartburn. It hurts to elevate my legs. Food feels like it's coming back up, and it burns very badly. Sometimes it makes me cough. What should I do?
Is there someone who can give me information about pericardial cysts -- how and when they are treated, how to find the best cardiologists?
I am a type 2 diabetic with an average hemoglobin A1C of 6.1. Would it be safe to use an over-the-counter liquid corn remover on my foot?
It seems more and more young people are dying of heart attacks/disease. When I was growing up (1960-70) a heart attack was an older person's disease. Today I'm hearing of people in their 30s and 40s dying.
What is the percentage of false positives from the PSA test?
Can you tell me about glaucoma? What is it? How is it detected? What happens if it is not treated?
I was diagnosed with a slightly slower thyroid about a year ago when I was on the Atkins diet. I went off the diet, gained back the weight and now I am having the hardest time losing it again. My hair is half its usual thickness and I am tired all the time. Can this be from my thyroid?
What can I do when I am getting A1C test results that vary widely from multiple sources?
My glucose levels usually run between 120 and 135 with a nonfasting blood test, though do not have a diagnosis of diabetes. I suffer greatly with my feet and been told by a podiatrist that it is neuropathy. Is it possible that my high glucose levels are causing the neuropathy?
Can you explain a little about Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome? I have it at 53. My sister died two years ago at 53; her heart and lungs were involved. Our aunt had the same autoimmune disease and passed away many years ago. Is this becoming more common? What kind of hope to we have? Is science working on a cure?
Can an 87-year-old woman with aortic stenosis travel on a jet without complications?
Are cysts on the liver necessarily cancerous?
I have severe gastroparesis with a gastric pacemaker and have had no relief. I am now on a full liquid diet and still have many problems. Is there anything else I can do?
Last week, Dr. Otis Brawley answered Beth's question about whether her chemotherapy for breast cancer could be causing her hands to shake excessively. Now he looks at other reasons this might be happening.
How many, if any, cases of nervous system disorders have been reported because of A-C breast cancer chemotherapy? I'm 45 and had treatment at 39 and 40. I now experience a very exaggerated amount of shaking of the hands.
My 7-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with Chiari's malformation. I have tried to do some research on it. I'm having problems not only understanding it but also finding information that relates to children. Where can I get more information in relation to children and possibly seek second opinion in my area? Thanks.
I have gallstones. They were described to me as a sandbag. My doctor recommended removing the gallbladder; however, I'm wondering whether there is an effective alternative to dissolve the gallstones? I would like to avoid surgery. Your input is highly appreciated.
I have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis. It would seem like every six months or so, I have an episode where I am unable to go to work for about three days because I develop a temperature, swollen lymph nodes, (recently, swollen, inflammed tonsils) headaches and skin flora on my scalp. How is skin flora associated with sinusitis? Will this ever stop?
Is it harmful to take extra Novolog [a form of injectable insulin] before eating a meal? There are times when I am not at a place where I can read the carb information on menus; therefore, I estimate the number of insulin units I take right before eating.
I am having trouble with losing control of my bowels while away from home. My husband and I want to travel, but I am scared stiff of doing that with this problem. Is there surgery that can be done? Would exercises work?
I have been suffering from PHN (post-herpetic neuralgia) for the past five years. I have tried every possible cure to no avail. Can you give me some info as to what to do, as it is too late for the vaccination.
Taking probiotics every day improves my digestive system and prevents constipation. Is there a risk in long-term consumption of probiotic pills? Is there a risk of becoming dependent on them?
Can early diabetes be controlled or completely stopped?
I would like to receive some advice concerning chronic constipation. The usual recommendations are not helpful for me. My friends laugh at me, but it's not funny when this is happening to you. This chronic problem leaves me bloated and feeling bad every day. I have had physicals with no finding, and no further testing, just prescriptions, which offer only temporary relief. Please help me if you can. Thanks so much!
I have a cyst in each of my kidneys. Can this be cancerous?
I have had two heart bypass surgeries, with five bypasses each time, about 18 years ago and again eight years ago. I have lived a very normal life after the surgeries with several heart medications. Recently, my heart has developed an irregular beat. My cardiologist recommends a cardioversion to get it back to a normal beat. Would you recommend this?
I'm a 21-year-old male college student, and a year ago, I had multiple fainting episodes within a few months. I was eventually diagnosed with a right bundle branch block (of no physiological relevance) and low blood pressure. I was prescribed 2,000 mg of salt each day to combat the low blood pressure. After my yearly checkup, my cardiologist said that I no longer had the RBBB. How does this disappear? While I admit the salt helps, I'm concerned it could have a long-term impact on my kidneys.
Hi, I'm 55 and have high cholesterol. I've been on Lipitor, Zocor and Provacol. They have tested me several times in recent years, and the statin drugs are messing up my liver enzymes. My new doctor is planning on putting me on Zetia. Now I'm hearing there are concerns about Zetia. Do you know what they are concerned about?
When does acute cardiac arrhythmia become life threatening? Lately I have been having episodes of heart skips, some pretty "big," to the point it's uncomfortable afterwards like being a bit lightheaded that lasts only a few seconds. Thanks, Pete
Once someone has shingles, after the infection clears, should he get the shingles vaccination to prevent recurrences?
What is your knowledge of Schamberg's disease, and are you aware of any cures for it?
I am at risk of rectal cancer because of my orientation and not able to find reliable info. Where can I go to actually get the true information about this? And where can I go to get free publications? Any info would be great, as I am hearing that this is on the rise.
How does tamoxifen affect weight? Can one expect weight loss after the prescription is over? Thanks.
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