Dear Dr. Aiken,

At age 45, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (in 2003) and had a radical prostectomy (prostate and seminal vesicle were removed). How is it still possible to have a liquid stuff exactly like pre-cum after sex? I was told sex would be 'dry'. Is it that 'dry' was not meant to be 'totally dry'?

Dear Reader,

The continued presence of pre-ejaculate despite radical prostatectomy, in which the prostate and seminal vesicles are routinely removed and the vas deferens tied off, is simply explained by the presence of a pair of glands called Cowper's glands which are located below the prostate and secrete a viscid, clear fluid during sexual arousal into the urethra which helps to prepare it for ejaculation by lubricating the walls of the 'barrel' of the urethra. These glands are not interfered with during radical prostatectomy and, therefore, continue to function by secreting in response to sexual arousal. All the best.

- William Aiken

Breast cancer will not defeat me

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is Melaine, a Jamaican living in the United Kingdom for the past seven years, and a regular reader of The Gleaner. My attention was drawn to your article and it really made me think about the things I went through.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer last May. I had a full mastectomy which I think went very well as I have had the all clear.

- Melaine

Reps won't do it!

Dear Mr. Gardener,

I enjoyed your piece on abs and body fat. I found it out the hard way - body fat is one of the hardest things to get rid of. I was a long distance athlete in the '80s. Since I stopped running, I put on weight in the stomach. I do a lot of abs but it doesn't seem to work as well as the running. But living in Canada means you can't go outdoors for half of the year.

But now I am in an indoor running track. But if I stop running for two weeks the belly comes back. And as for the diet, I notice that rice, especially with the peas, really pushes up the belly.

- Radcliffe Robinson

Help! My breasts are uneven

Dear Dr. Rainford,

I read your response to the lady with the uneven breasts. I too had this problem, only mine was more severe; I suffered from Poland's Syndrome. I was born with this condition. The funny thing is that it was not until I was in my 40s that I learnt the name of the condition. I had an inplant put in my small side two years ago and I am very happy with the results. Your reader should read up on the condition as it can be more or less pronounced in some people. I hope this information will help.

- A.M.

Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialists' responses are usually published.