Dear Dr. Gott: Several years ago, I had a very bad case of shingles on the right side of my waist. It was misdiagnosed on a Friday, and by that Monday I was in a lot of pain with many blisters.Two weeks ago, I awoke with the same shocking pain on my left side. I managed to see the doctor that morning. To play it safe, he started me on Famvir. In four or five days, the pain began to subside, but there were no blisters.

I realise you are quite busy, but could you answer two questions?

1. Can you get the shingles more than once?

2. Can you get shingles without a rash or blisters?Reply: 1. Yes, without a doubt. 2. Yes, but that would be unusual.

Although your herpes zoster infection may not reflect another health concern, shingles can be caused by hidden infection or cancer. I urge you to address this issue with your physician because testing might be appropriate. Note that I am probably being overly cautious, but if you do have an underlying health problem, now is the time to diagnose and treat it.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Viruses and Cancer”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title.Dear Dr. Gott: I have written a couple of other medical columns regarding this matter, but nobody seems to want to answer my question.I am very concerned about my 12-year-old granddaughter, who has been bleeding from one of her nipples for the past couple of months now.

My daughter took her to their family paediatrician, who sent her to a surgeon. They did many tests, including an ultrasound, and found she had a cyst in that breast. My concern is that the doctor is not going to do anything about it!

He just said that it might go away in six months or so. I have never heard of such a thing before.

Why wouldn’t he offer some kind of treatment? I have tried fruitlessly to get my daughter to take her to a specialist, but she said she trusts the word of the doctor she already went to. Am I being an overly worried grandma? Would you say that this is a normal thing for a 12-year-old girl to have?

In case you are wondering, yes, she has already started her menstrual cycle. I will anxiously read your column to see if you can answer me.>Reply: The main concerns about bleeding nipples are infection and cancer, both of which have been found to be absent through appropriate examination and testing. By the process of elimination, I conclude that this is hormone-related and can be monitored. You may be overly worried — a normal response under this circumstance. However, if the bleeding continues for several more months, I recommend that your granddaughter be examined by a gynaecologist. Dr. Gott is a practising physician and the author of the new book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet”. Contact him c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016