Dear Doctors: My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I’m helping with her medical appointments. Her oncologist says she needs a liquid biopsy. She has already had a biopsy – that’s how they found the cancer. Why would she need another one?
CLINTON’S HISTORY 10, 20, 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO
DEAR HARRIETTE: My girlfriend and I decided to break up. It was mutual.
Hello, readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column! You are keeping our mailboxes full, so we will get right to your letters.
This time 10 years ago, much of the political commentariat, both Democratic and Republican, was having a grand old time making fun of Donald Trump. The real estate/ marketing/TV star entered the GOP race for president on June 16, 2015 – you remember the famous coming-down-the-escalator scene.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend is celebrating her son’s first birthday soon! We are all excited to be there for him, but it seems like my friend left a few people off of her guest list – my mom being one of those people. We have been best friends since we were 13. Our parents are close, and my mom is always there to support her for special occasions (graduations, birthdays, her wedding, etc.). This time, it seems like my mom didn’t even cross her mind. My mom and I were offended. It feels inconsiderate. Should I say something or focus on the birthday boy, despite my mom’s feelings? – Family Friends DEAR FAMILY FRIENDS: You should definitely speak to your friend. Assume that it was an oversight. Tell her that you noticed that your mom was not invited to the party. Ask if this was intentional. If she says yes, ask her why. Find out what reason she could possibly have for not including your mother, given her involvement in your friend’s life. Tell her your mother’s feelings are hurt, and ask her to reconsider.
Dear Doctors: We live in Wisconsin, and this year we’re seeing a lot of news about ticks carrying Lyme disease and a few other kinds I hadn’t heard of before. They don’t fly around like mosquitoes, so why is it so easy for them to bite you? Are there bug sprays that are good against ticks?
LYSEKIL, Sweden – You can’t see the Russian bear from here, but you can hear its growl.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister is trying to become a content creator. While I want to support her dreams, it’s starting to take a toll on our relationship. Every time we spend time together, whether it’s getting coffee, going on a walk or just hanging out at home, it somehow turns into a content production day. She’s constantly filming, taking pictures, asking me to retake videos or stopping in the middle of a conversation to capture the “perfect shot.”
My mother tells me, “It’s not normal to have a tiled bedroom.”