Posts by Kevin White5

swiftbison7 said:I think they’re specific to stomach cancer.

They aren't.

Those markers are mostly used to track existing cancer or flag potential issues... but they can spike during all sorts of "normal" illnesses too.

Cancer of what? Which organ?

Like I said, it's possible, but it's so specific that you shouldn't jump to that conclusion first.
It'll likely be something autoimmune, like they suggested.
But what?
You can't tell from this.

So... more testing is needed...
And you didn't mention if your mom has had any skin issues, kidney problems, or anything else like that.

First off, her C3 levels are low, not high. Like I said, this is part of an immune system designed to fight off foreign invaders—whether they’re actually external or just our own cells being misidentified by the body.

C3 isn't a tumor marker, and it's incredibly non-specific...

Standard tumor markers would be things like beta HCG or CEA...
But none of them are perfect. Still, they're definitely more specific than C3.

I wouldn't jump straight to thinking about cancer. The probability is very low.

(My opinion based on my knowledge of internal medicine)

Dr. Madjar on Sjenjak 48
It’s just a small extra fee on top of the basic insurance—covers better fillings and stuff like that.

🙂

www.hdmh.net
Take a look at this.

I think Professor Miller over at Johns Hopkins deals with that kind of thing.

Why the sudden interest?

C3 is a complement component, not a tumor marker
The complement system is just one part of the body's defense against infection.

ps. You aren't getting a diagnosis from anyone based on those numbers alone.

Went to campus today. Got into an argument with my professor about milk. He’s under the impression you don't need it once you're done breastfeeding.
I'll probably go back tomorrow to bug him about it.
Personally, I'm a huge advocate for dairy. I drink about a quart a day—honestly, I might be addicted. I've never broken a bone or anything like that. Besides, I've read that milk fats are actually beneficial.

So, what's the consensus here? Any actual intel for or against my obsession with this stuff?

Thanks
🙂

What kind of nonsense is this?
No offense intended.

It's fine if you're dealing with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. If not, watch yourself. There's really no reason to bother...
Don't you think?

P.S. It’s a proven fact that tanning beds are a potential cause of skin cancer.
(I don't know the exact percentage, but the risk is there.)

Hey
Decided to chime in with something a bit more personal instead of just listing facts.

Honestly, I don't think you have depression. If what happened to you counts as an illness, then it's PTSD. Since you aren't taking your issues out on everyone around you, you don't have that either.

What you went through happens to people. Everyone has some kind of handicap; unfortunately, yours was physical and hit you young. But that shouldn't stop you from doing what you love, hanging out with people, or actually enjoying life on your own terms. Talking to a psychologist or a priest might help. Or join a support group where people actually get it. I know a spot over near the University campus—there's a lounge near the dorms where students with disabilities hang out. They have a good setup, the dining hall is decent, they have friends of all ages, and everyone helps each other out. They’re just as interesting as anyone else.

Get out there. Do some research, find those students, and maybe we'll run into each other since I'm basically at the dining hall every day for lunch.

Don't just sit there feeling defeated and let life pass you by while you're this young. Relax and enjoy yourself. Get active.

PS. I'm dealing with relationship drama too... even though nothing is missing on my end (actually, there's too much 😉—classic Midwest girl)... and I'm happy being single right now rather than being with someone just because I need them. For that, I've got my friends, books, and the internet.😉

Take care.

---Write down some goals... things you like doing... stuff you're actually good at... then slowly start making them happen.

Symptoms:

lethargy (everything feels like too much effort);
sleep issues (waking up too early, trouble falling asleep, or feeling exhausted after a "full" night's rest);
brain fog;
irritability;
burnout;
low libido;
intense despair;
feeling like everything is pointless or useless;
fear of death;
various phobias;
OCD tendencies;
constant anxiety;
wanting to cry but being unable to;
suicidal ideation or fear of acting on it;
fluctuations in appetite and weight;
other symptoms not listed here.

(found this online, though I agree with most of it)

What depression actually is

Think of depression as an illness of emotion. Labeling it a mental health issue doesn't make it any less real or painful. It’s a widespread condition affecting about one in twenty people.

Essentially, depression is a mood disorder defined by varying levels of sadness, disappointment, isolation, hopelessness, self-doubt, and guilt. These feelings can hit hard and stick around for a long time. While some people manage to push through their daily routines, others find basic tasks nearly impossible. At its worst, the sense of helplessness becomes so overwhelming that suicide starts looking like the only way out.

Someone dealing with severe depression might experience massive mood swings or a total urge to withdraw from society entirely. There is zero reason to be ashamed of it; it isn't a sign of weakness. It is treatable, whether through medication, therapy, counseling, or a mix of everything. God hears prayers, and persistent prayer can certainly aid the emotional healing process.

For a Christian watching their world fall apart, prayer might not feel like a viable option. In those moments, the steady prayers of close friends or family members can help.

What depression is not

Depression isn't "all in your head." It isn't a made-up illness, it isn't laziness, and it isn't just feeling down for a couple of days. It isn't PMS or simple stress. Most importantly, it isn't God rejecting or abandoning you. If it were a divine consequence for a specific sin—like refusing to end an affair—you wouldn't be left wondering. You would know.

Just a reminder: feeling down every once in a while is just part of life. But the people—mostly women, in my experience—who actually suffer from clinical depression? You haven't seen anything until you've seen them. It’s pathological at that point. They become completely apathetic, unable to function, totally sunk. They don't socialize, they won't even cook dinner for their families, and they make constant scenes with those closest to them. It's a mess. They definitely need psychiatric help. Unfortunately, family support can only go so far; what they really need is medication and psychotherapy.

hey
Look, I'm not trying to sound like I'm sucking up to anyone. I have a mild prescription and astigmatism, and honestly, finding someone who actually does a decent job with an eye exam is tough.

Go see Dr. Curuvija-Opacic in Washington, D.C. She has a private practice under the Slosser stairs, right across from that new gas station near Langov Square. I've been going to her for four years. It isn't expensive (around 250-$93) and she's genuinely excellent.

Before I found her, I used my insurance to go to Rebra for exams and glasses, and everything was terrible. But I guess it all comes down to the doctor.

Just go see her and let me know how it goes.

She handles complex cases for people from all over the US, and I've heard nothing but good things about her from multiple sources.

I know this sounds like an ad. It's not. I just think when people actually do their jobs and act like experts, they deserve some recognition. Unfortunately, everyone usually only talks about the bad ones.

Here’s my take... I’m not denying bribery exists, but generalizing all doctors because of a few bad actors isn't right. Bribery happens in plenty of other industries too; people just don't make as much noise about it because it isn't life-threatening. For example, someone paying off a city official to move a greenbelt zone so they can build a house on the edge of a local nature preserve, or bribing an aunt to leak exam questions with a box of chocolates—which happens all the time—or professors running private tutoring sessions where you basically can't pass the class unless you pay them extra. Not to mention straight-up buying degrees.

Why does nobody complain about that???
I could list a billion examples.

Everyone only starts screaming when there’s a LEGAL OR MEDICAL ISSUE, because those are LIFE-THREATENING.

So, apparently, it doesn't matter if you can buy diplomas at half the universities out there.

Bribery and corruption will probably always exist, but if we want to function like a civilized nation, we need to squeeze it down to as close to zero as possible.

My own family was forced to hand over $100 to a nurse just to get her to answer the call button while my grandfather was dying. She wouldn't even step into the room to let me see him, only to be seen at a nightclub later that same night. I honestly felt like punching her.

I’m hoping things improve as we integrate further with the European Union and healthcare quality goes up. But that only happens if we raise our standards as a nation and actually invest in expertise.

Why is no one here questioning the actual competence of medical staff? Why doesn't anyone see how many college-educated professionals are essentially bought and paid for? Personally, following my faith, I'm always ready to help others. But if my future as a specialist—after six years of school, a year of residency, and four years of fellowship—is called into question, I won't be in this field anymore. I don't want that to happen, but I do think $2000 the salary for a specialist doctor is nowhere near enough.

To be clear, I am strictly against corruption in every single part of society. (Don't come at me thinking I'm defending my profession; I still look up to the shining examples—the people who helped me as a student and went out of their way to explain things without expecting a dime, just out of pure goodwill. I'm grateful for them.)

I agree with what’s already been said. You just have to learn how to live with it. It's also partially genetic.

The one thing you can actually control is staying on top of hygiene and clearing away those flakes regularly. As for treatment, you’ll mostly be looking at corticosteroid creams or lotions, depending on how bad the psoriasis has gotten.

Starting treatment early is key, and maintaining good hygiene is non-negotiable.

I get that dealing with this is tough since it's visible, and people immediately jump to the conclusion that it's contagious. It isn't.

If it helps, this is a pretty common skin condition. Depending on which type of psoriasis we're talking about, I might be able to give you more specific info.

👍

It’ll have an impact, so watch out.
But honestly, people smoke around you, so you end up hanging out with smokers anyway.

Do you think cell phones actually emit radiation?
Heh.

P.S. Sorry for the joke.
I wouldn't take that apartment if I were you, but do whatever you think is best.
Cheers.

😁

HPV is highly infectious, with an incubation period lasting anywhere from three to eight weeks. Spontaneous regression occurs in about 10-30% of cases within three months, depending entirely on your immune system. Even after the symptoms clear, you might carry a subclinical infection for life. It can resurface in people with perfectly healthy immune systems just as easily as those who are immunocompromised.

Condylomas often recur even after successful treatment because of latent HPV hiding in the skin cells—cells that look completely normal under a microscope. Recurrence is more frequently caused by the existing latent virus than by actual reinfection through sexual contact. If left untreated, the condition stays the same or gets worse.

It’s important to note that flat condyloma are oncogenic, meaning they have the potential to turn into cancer. Specifically, types 16, 18, 31, and 33 carry the highest risk for malignancy.

Condylomata acuminata (the spiked variety) aren't nearly as oncogenic.

The idea that condoms provide zero protection against infection is simply false.

There is no "cure" for condylomas. Treatment only manages the symptoms.
Treatment is most effective when the lesions are small and have been present for less than a year.

Bottom line: Most Americans are carrying an HPV infection that hasn't manifested as visible condylomas. It sucks if you have them, but whatever. Shit happens. Treat the issue and don't lose sleep over passing it on. Get them removed if you want to for aesthetic reasons. It isn't the end of the world; like I said, most people are dealing with this.

Same as before.

Best,

🙂

Fibrocystic breast disease isn't something you cut out. It's not dangerous.
It’s just a common thing for young women...

That said, regular screenings are a must—there are plenty of resources and guides on how to stay on top of them. If you feel something weird, go see a doctor. If they think it’s actually an issue—say, if there's bloody discharge from a lump or other red flags—they'll run a biopsy. You can't tell a dangerous change from a benign one just by looking at it. Unless, of course, someone is being incredibly negligent and hasn't noticed half their left breast is missing. Then you'd be surprised to find it's still there.

Basically, the doctor takes a biopsy, the pathologist examines those breast cells, and determines what's actually going on. The pathologist is the one who provides the diagnosis based on the sample.

Lisa Moore61 said:It’s most likely just a lymph node.
Malignant tumors usually attach to the surrounding tissue and don't move.
Keep an eye on it for about a month, or if you're really losing sleep over it, just run to the doctor and get some professional advice.👋

Yeah, I agree... it's probably nothing. But go see a doctor if you need to clear your conscience.