Dr. Joseph Torkildson
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Oakland, CA
41 years experience male
Locations
Office
Oakland, CA
Phone
About
Bio
I was born and raised in Wisconsin, attended medical school on a Navy scholarship, and spent 21 years on active duty. I have a research interest in the use of intensive chemotherapy and BMT to decrease use of radiation therapy in children with brain tumors. I enjoy singing, acting and photography.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Doctor Q&A
161 Answers
33 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Very Unlikely: Sickle cell trait is considered by most pediatric hematologists to be a largely asymptomatic condition under most circumstances. One exception is urin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It depends: There are many types of childhood brain tumors. Some are very aggressive, but many are not. Treatment usually involves some combination of surgery, ch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
No!: Ideally, palliative care simply means care that maintains the psychological, emotional and spiritual health of the patient receiving treatment, regard... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Several weeks: I generally treat children with iron deficiency anemia with iron for about 4 months. I expect them to correct their anemia in about two months; the ot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It Doesn't Matter!: You're getting ahead of yourself. You need to get into medical school; there are very few colleges that will keep you from doing that. Accomplishing t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It Doesn't Matter!: You're getting ahead of yourself. You need to get into medical school; there are very few colleges that will keep you from doing that. Accomplishing t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It depends: There are too many factors involved to give a "one size fits all" answer. The bottom line is, the patient and family are satisfied with the outcome. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Helps carry oxygen: Iron is essential for transferring oxygen in the body. The majority of it is in hemoglobin, the compound in red cells that makes them red. It picks up... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Usually: If only one kidney is affected and the other is clearly normal, most of the time the entire kidney is removed along with the tumor. In the rare case w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Be happy! : A rbc count of 5.62 (this actually means 5.62 million red cells/microliter of blood) is normal for an adult male.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Needs attention: This doesn't sound like something that should wait 4-8 weeks for attention. Did you speak to a medical professional at your PCP's office, or an appoin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Elevated white cells: Leukocytosis simply means an increased white blood cell count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell, 'neutrophilic leukocytosis' means your whit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
The beta globin gene: Hemoglobin is a complicated molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It contains 4 protein chains, 2 Al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Yes!: Sickle cell and beta thalassemia both affect the same part of hemoglobin. If you inherit a sickle gene from one parent and a thalassemia gene from the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
No: As far as i can tell there is no medication named cyclomethicone. The closest to this is simethicone, and it has never been shown to be carcinogenic.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
No information: Since Plan B was developed and is marketed as emergency contraception (morning after pill) the effect of repeated use has never been studied. This is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
I'm not sure: An absolute lymphocyte count of 2, 700 - 3, 700 in a 4 year old isn't abnormal. I'm curious who drew the test and why you feel it's abnormal. This is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Yes: Individuals with sickle trait are allowed to be blood donors.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Not sure: Anemia is diagnosed by having a blood count performed. This has to be ordered by a doctor. So, if you don't want to go to a doctor you can't really kn... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Not likely: Although everyone who has sickle cell anemia has the same gene mutation, the severity of the disease can be quite different in different people. Howev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Yes: Vwd is an inherited condition. It affects both males and females. If one parent has the most common type, type 1, then each child has a 50% chance of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
If needed: Palliative care is a broader term than hospice care or end-of-life care. Many patients with life-threatening conditions receiving palliative care do n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Change in hemoglobin: Sickle cell disease is caused by an abnormality in adult hemoglobin (hgb). Before birth fetuses make fetal hgb; this works normally. At birth babies h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Yes and no: Sickle cell disease is recessive; you need to inherit a sickle gene from both parents to get the disease. It is not x-linked, however; if it were it w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Unfortunately no: Von willebrand's disease is a deficiency or abnormality of a protein in the blood that helps with clotting. This is caused by a damaged gene (or genes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It should not: Von willebrand's disease is a condition where a deficiency or abnormality in a protein in the blood leads to an increased risk of certain types of ble... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Yes: There are no concerning interactions between Amoxicillin and iron supplements.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Absolutely!: It is the rule rather than the exception that children diagnosed with brain tumors will survive 10+ yrs, either because they are cured with treatment ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Blood test: The first test is a sickledex. This inexpensive, simple test will reveal if there is any sickle hemoglobin present. If so, a hemoglobin electrophoresi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Broader definition: The goal of palliative care is to maintain quality of life for those with chronic illness. It can be started at diagnosis and be provided while curati... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Several!: After training as a pediatric oncologist, you can provide clinical care to children. You can combine clinical care with research, or you can do resear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Needs clarifications: First, iwhat your doctor meant is that you had a normal karyotype, meaning your chromosomes were normal. I'm guessing you were told you were negative... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It's possible. : You don't mention if you are male or female. Women with VWD who have menorrhagia (very heavy periods) can develop severe anemia either acutely due to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Rapidly improving!: In 1900, virtually no child diagnosed with wilm's tumor survived. Between then and the mid-1950s survival improved to about 50% due to improved surger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Interesting!: I'm wondering about the reason for your question. The one place they will commonly overlap is in treatment of childhood brain tumors. Both pediatric n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Bleeding history?: Doctors would typically order a test for VWD if the patient had a history of abnormal bruising and/or bleeding that made them suspicious, especially i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Correction: I agree with dr. Ball's answer, but the inheritance pattern he described is autosomal dominant. Autosomal means you can get it from either parent; dom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Unlikely: A person is born with a genetic condition either because they inherit it or they experience what is called a "mutation". Being born with sickle cell a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Stimulaton test: Patients with type 1 VWD less vw factor than normal people. However, they store vwf normally in the cells that line their blood vessels. This can be r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Not necessarily: "risky" is hard to define. Because menstrual bleeding is one of the more common problems women with VWD have, it is considered "riskier" for women tha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Too little info: Very complicated question. If dad has beta thal minor, children have 50/50 chance of not having beta. If he has beta thal major, all will have trait. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Depends: If your doctor did a sickledex that was positive, this might not distinguish between sickle trait and sickle cell disease. The next test is a hemoglob... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
No: You do not need to fast to have blood drawn for this test. However, if you are having other tests drawn at the same time you may need to be fasting fo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Very rarely: Thalassemia comes in many degrees of severity. Patients with Alpha or beta thalassemia minor are mildly anemic but typically are very healthy and have... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
It depends: Tumors come in many shapes, sizes and locations. They vary dramatically in their aggressiveness and speed of growth. Some can double in a few days, so... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Normal: Ly stands for lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell (wbc). Gr stands for granulocytes (neutrophils), another type of wbc. These are normal percenta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Very unlikely: With that description, the likelihood of melanoma is very, very low.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Not likely: There are rare reports of hydroxyzine (Atarax) causing loss of appetite that can lead to weight loss. There are other rare reports of this drug causin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
None: Lysodren is not identified as a 'controlled substance' by the DEA and therefore does not have schedule number. It does require a prescription, however... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Joseph Torkildsonanswered
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 41 years experience
Unrelated: There are no diseases associated with a low red cell distribution width (RDW). A high total protein does not in and of itself suggest the presence of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
271
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Torkildson is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Torkildson is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
May 2, 2015
Knowledgeable
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I misread the results. AA is the baby's result. No result for father provided.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you, I will do that. I appreciate your detailed answer.
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You! AlLllskllslekesklvnmmKLkdkoiSOKMlzjmSkkkvlklklklklcolonkkzollKjzslkakk
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Medical College of Wisconsin, WI
Graduated 1982MD
Residency
Naval Medical Center Oakland CA
Awards
Top Doctor, Third Place, Alameda County Region, CA - Summer
2013
Thought Leader, Third Place, Alameda County Region, CA - Summer
2013
Top Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist, Second Place, California - Summer
2013
Affiliations
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Associates
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