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An MRI is superior than a CT scan in the case of a neoplasm

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a pacemaker that was installed in January 2024. This is a newer model that’s said to be safe for those who need an MRI. I have a neoplasm that was recently discovered in the parotid gland on the right side of my head. The doctors at a referral hospital attempted to do a biopsy on the mass in the center of the gland. But the biopsy failed as the tissue samples were only obtained from benign tissue surrounding the neoplasm, not from the mass. My doctor doesn’t want to attempt another biopsy, as the biopsy procedure that failed was very lengthy and lasted for ...

A prescription for pharmacy closures

Letters to the editor

Jennifer Riley Malvern, Pa. Mill Hall Pharmacy closed in July after decades of serving local families. It delivered medications and gave patients a familiar pharmacist to call with questions. For local families, losing that kind of care is more than an inconvenience. Clinton County had just seven licensed pharmacies as of May 2025, according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. That count predates Mill Hall’s closure. Each loss raises the risk of a “pharmacy desert,” an area where residents no longer have reasonable access to a local pharmacy. Keeping the remaining ...

Early cancer screening saved my life

Letters to the editor

Joe Lahr Harrisburg The American Cancer Society now recommends that anyone 45 and up get screened for colorectal cancer, but when I turned 45, the recommended age to begin testing was still 50. However, with my family history of colorectal cancer, once I hit mid-forties, I asked my doctor about early screening. Looking back, that choice saved my life. During the colonoscopy, my doctor found pre-cancerous spots on my colon, but because of how early we found them, they were able to be removed right then and there. I left that appointment feeling like I’d been given a second ...

The revolt against tariffs

Columns

In 2016, Donald Trump’s support for tariffs helped propel him to a shocking electoral victory. In 2026, his tariff policy may help tank Republicans in the midterms. This turnabout counts as a surprise of Trump’s second term, and an unwelcome one for the president and his party. During his political ascent in 2015-2016, Trump exploited issues where there was a disconnect between popular and elite opinion, and trade was prominent among them. His protectionism — expressed in pungent and excoriating terms — poached traditional Democratic ideological territory and appealed to ...

Dear Annie: Different money habits than my husband

Columns

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 12 years, and we agree on most things. We like the same kind of vacations, have similar values and rarely argue about family. Money, however, is our recurring sore spot. I am a saver. I grew up in a household where unexpected expenses could throw everything into chaos, so having money set aside makes me feel secure. My husband grew up very differently. His parents believed that if the bills were paid, you should enjoy life while you can. A few weeks ago, we were having dinner and talking about taking a trip next spring. I mentioned ...

Why parents sometimes need to go to school, too

Columns

Everybody, according to an old saying of unknown but apparently wise origin, is an expert at raising other people’s kids. One child of recent national interest is the daughter of Nikole Hannah-Jones, the journalist who led “The 1619 Project,” a controversial and Pulitzer Prize winning reexamination of American history through the lens of slavery, instead of treating that American horror story as a sidelight. In a conversation that occurs in middle-class Black households nationwide, including mine, Hannah-Jones and her husband, Faraji Hannah-Jones, decided to take a bold, ...