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Defining the characteristics of the four stages of cancer

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you define the characteristics of the four stages of cancer? I understand that stage I is generally when cancer is caught early and can be treated with a good success rate, while stage IV is usually the opposite. But I’m not sure what the intermediate stages are. — B.G. ANSWER: Unfortunately, the exact staging for cancers depends on the type of cancer. But in general, you are correct that stage I cancers for solid organs generally consist of small tumors that have not spread, while stage IV usually signifies that cancer has spread to distant organs. Stage I ...

Why health care is so expensive in America, and what to do about it

Columns

America’s health care system consistently ranks as the most expensive in the developed world. It’s not, as some politicians claim, expensive because markets have failed. It’s expensive because the market has been repeatedly blocked from succeeding. Until we’re honest about that, any potential reforms will only address symptoms while ignoring the disease. The health care market is hindered in many ways, but the core structural problem is simple: The person receiving care is almost never the person actually paying for it. Roughly 90 cents of every dollar is covered by a third ...

From retired accountant to uninvited inspector

Columns

Dear Annie: My 72-year-old father retired from his accounting job two years ago and appointed himself “Director of Operations” of my household. He lives 15 minutes away and stops by unannounced at least three times a week. He’s reorganized my garage (“Your shelving system was illogical”), corrected how my kids load the dishwasher and replaced the batteries in our smoke detectors without asking. Last week, I came home to find he had trimmed our hedges because they were “inviting rodents.” He insists he’s “just helping.” My wife is annoyed but tries to stay polite. ...

Trump needs to get ready for the blowback

Columns

It is a special kind of folly to make long-term predictions amid the fog of war. Nobody knows how Operation Epic Fury will end. But there are already a few things we can celebrate and condemn. On the celebration side: The professionalism and courage of the American military stand out. So does the just demise of Ayatollah Khamenei, amid scores of his murderous henchmen. Other things worth celebrating are merely possibilities at this point. If the nearly half-century of Iranian repression at home and terrorism abroad is poised to end, along with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, that would be ...

WPSU needs us, and we need it

Letters to the editor

Dorie Evensen State College Public media in central and northern Pennsylvania is at a pivotal moment. When Penn State announced it would no longer support WPSU, the future of local public television and radio became unclear. More than 20,000 people signed a petition urging the University to protect this essential community service. A path forward emerged: transfer the WPSU broadcast license to WHYY while preserving WPSU’s regional identity and local mission. That transfer is underway. Once final agreements are completed, the license request will be filed with the FCC. After ...

The high cost of being maid of honor

Columns

Dear Annie: My younger sister is getting married in June and has asked me to be her maid of honor. I was genuinely touched — until she handed me an extensive “wish list.” It includes hosting a destination bachelorette weekend (on my dime until others reimburse me), attending dress fittings three hours away on weekdays, organizing a bridal shower with “an elevated garden-party aesthetic” and being available for “brainstorming calls.” I work full-time. I have two small kids and a husband who travels. When I mentioned how excited I was but that I might not be able to meet ...