Health Tips - New kind of Breast Cancer - Paget's disease
New kind of Breast
Cancer
Please forward to all
of the women in your lives Mothers,
daughters, sisters, aunts, friends, etc.
In November, a rare kind of breast cancer was found. A lady developed a rash on
her breast, similar to that of young mothers who are nursing..
Because her mammogram had been clear, the doctor treated her with antibiotics
for infections.. After 2 rounds, it continued to get worse, so her doctor sent
her for another mammogram. This time it showed a mass.
A biopsy found a fast growing malignancy. Chemo was started in order to shrink
the growth; then a mastectomy was performed; then a full round of Chemo; then
radiation.. After about 9 months of intense treatment, she was given a clean
bill of health.
She had one year of living each day to its fullest.
Then the cancer returned to the liver area. She took 4 treatments and decided
that she wanted quality of life, not the after effects of Chemo. She had 5
great months and she planned each detail of the final days. After a few days of
needing morphine, she died. She left this message to be delivered to women
everywhere:
Women, PLEASE be alert to anything that is not normal, and be persistent in
getting help as soon as possible.
Paget's Disease: This is a rare form of
breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast, on the nipple and aureole
It appeared as a rash, which later became a lesion with a crusty outer edge. I
would not have ever suspected it to be breast cancer but it was. My nipple
never seemed any different to me, but the rash bothered me, so I went to the
doctor for that. Sometimes, it itched and was sore, but other than that it
didn't bother me. It was just ugly and a nuisance, and could not be cleared up
with all the creams prescribed by my doctor and dermatologist for the dermatitis
on my eyes just prior to this outbreak. They seemed a little concerned but did
not warn me it could be cancerous.
Now, I suspect not many women out there know a lesion or rash on the nipple or
aureole can be breast cancer. (Mine started out as a single red pimple on the aureole.
One of the biggest problems with Paget's disease of the nipple is that the
symptoms appear to be harmless. It is frequently thought to be a skin
inflammation or infection, leading to unfortunate delays in detection and
care.)
What are the symptoms?
1. A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting of your nipple causing it to itch
and burn (As I stated, mine did not itch or burn much, and had no oozing I was
aware of, but it did have a crust along the outer edge on one side.)
2. A sore on your nipple that will not heal. (Mine was on the aureole area with
a whitish thick looking area in center of nipple).
3. Usually only one nipple is affected. How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will
do a physical exam and should suggest having a mammogram of both breasts, done
immediately. Even though the redness, oozing and crusting closely resemble
dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), your doctor should suspect cancer if the
sore is only on one breast. Your doctor should order a biopsy of your sore to
confirm what is going on.
This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your
relatives and friends as possible; it could save someone's life.
My breast cancer has spread and metastasized to my bones after receiving mega
doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and taking Tamaxofin. If this
had been diagnosed as breast cancer in the beginning, perhaps it would not have
spread...
TO ALL
READERS:
This is sad as women are not aware of Paget's disease.. If, by passing this
around on the e-mail, we can make others aware of it and its potential danger,
we are helping women everywhere.