There was a merger -- God knows when or why -- that made cancer a mid-level manager. Cancer is fat, lazy, and unaware. It manages maniacally from a fluorescent-lit, second-floor office window.

I am usually perfectly capable of holding a conversation via my Bluetooth connection while driving my car. Almost three years ago, I received a phone call from a close relative that caused me to pull over to the side of the road to give the call my absolute attention.

When you go to the doctor, you want to find out what's wrong and how you can get better. In modern-day America, though, what you will get are tests to "rule out" problems rather than figure out what you actually have.

CT examinations, like all medical tests, should be performed only when medically required. The results of the proposed CT or any imaging examinations should answer a clinical question and either confirm or exclude a suspected condition.