Opinion

Skin is the largest organ in the human body, but it’s easy to take it for granted. Unless we notice pain or itching or funny spots, most people don’t give it much thought.

Dear Amy: I really like my job, my boss, and my immediate coworkers. Recently though, I’ve been assigned to work on a project managed by “Bob” -- a man who’s been accused of sexual harassment multiple times.

DEAR. DR. ROACH: I saw a recent reply to a letter about estrogen and wanted to ask my own related questions. I’m a 93-yearold woman with many of the problems and issues of others my age. When I was going through menopause, my doctor put me on oral estrogen. He said it was to protect my heart and bones. About 20 years later, I developed uterine cancer. I’m wondering if the estrogen could have led to the cancer. I had a hysterectomy and radiation treatments six times a week for six weeks. I find myself wishing I could go back and refuse the estrogen. I could have coped with the menopause issues and maybe now I wouldn’t have the worse problem of neuropathy. I certainly wish there was some treatment available for it. -- B.

Q: There’s so much going on with new medical treatments, but are they actually making a difference in my health today? -- Gregory Y., Columbus, Ohio A: It’s been an exciting year in medical research, with more insights into how cancer forms and how to stop it, how genes operate, and how technology can personalize medicine. Every year, the Cleveland Clinic identifies the top 10 breakthroughs.

Dear Amy: My husband and his sister have been feuding for almost a year. This began when she told us via email that she couldn’t bear to see me pregnant at my baby shower.

Dear Dr. Roach: I have spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, along with scoliosis from childhood polio. A few weeks ago, I developed sciatica and started a course of physical therapy, but quit halfway through because it seemed to make the pain much worse. The therapist recommended I try a TENS unit. Does a TENS unit help with sciatica? -- J.S.B.