Plastic surgery is the only field in medicine where unqualified non-plastic surgeons work without the necessary training, knowledge or experience. If you plan to have plastic surgery do your research. Make sure you are in safe and qualified hands of a specialist Plastic surgeon. In this article I will go through the basics of what to look […]
06
Aug
Aug
State-of-the-art surgery for lymphedema offers a promising treatment for patients who are frustrated by their condition. Plastic surgeons use specialised microsurgery to transplant healthy lymph nodes to the affected area to help drain the excess lymph fluid and reduce swelling in the affected limb. WHAT IS LYMPHEDEMA Lymphedema is an uncomfortable and painful swelling that can occur in a person’s arms or […]
31
May
May
If you have ever looked at cigarette packaging, you will know that cigarette smoking is hazardous to your health. Tobacco use is estimated to cause 35% of all cancers, 33% of all heart attacks and strokes, and 90% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema. If you are planning on having plastic surgery – either cosmetic […]
09
May
May
Bone cancer or bone sarcoma is a very rare tumour of the bone. Until quite recently, amputation was inevitably required to treat such tumours. But doctors at the Cape Orthopaedic Reconstructive Unit (CORU) are taking big strides in the treatment of bone sarcoma with limb-sparing techniques. Before 1970 bone sarcomas had a dismal survival rate […]
18
Apr
Apr
“How long until I am back to normal?” This is one of the most frequent questions my patients ask. Simply put, recovery time will vary depending on the complexity and length of a particular surgery. Fortunately there are some things you can do to help your recovery. Here are some helpful tips for a healthy […]
21
Feb
Feb
A vitamin supplement, nicotinamide, reduces recurrence of common skin cancers by 23%. This is exciting. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in South Africa according to CANSA. The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In third place is malignant melanoma, which is the […]
24
Jan
Jan
Gynaecomastia is a common condition that mainly affects teenage boys and older men, but it can affect men at any age. “Gyno” or “man boobs” as it’s sometimes called, is a benign enlargement of breast tissue in males. It does not pose any health risks in itself, but it can cause social embarrassment. Fortunately, gynaecomastia […]
11
Jan
Jan
Dr Anees Chagpar from Yale University has put together an incredibly informative course: Introduction to breast cancer. It is meant for anyone who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and for family or friends and carers.. Find out more about the course. Video of Dr Chagpar introducing the introduction to breast cancer course. WHY LEARN […]
07
Jan
Jan
Obesity research has traditionally focused on finding a single explanation and solution. One gene or one miracle diet or pill. A team of experts at Johns Hopkins University introduce a different perspective on obesity research with the online course Systems science and obesity. WHAT IS SYSTEMS SCIENCE? System science is a study of complex systems […]
20
Dec
Dec
Continuous brain monitoring called Bispectral Index monitoring or BIS for short, is a relatively new medical technology that can reduce common side effects of anaesthesia. I have asked Dr Stephen Rous, specialist anaesthetist in Cape Town to enlighten us about the BIS technology and how it works. Medical technology has been a little slow to […]