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"Virus Hoax:
Urband Legend Example"
Virus Hoax Warnings: Page 21
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Paget's Disease
June 1999
Paget's Disease of the nipple is a real, but extremely rare (less than
1% of all breast cancers according to the American Cancer Society)
disease that is associated with breast cancer. While we sympathize with
the writer this disease does not rank really high with diseases that we
think everyone should be told about right now. If you are really
interested in this disease, you are more likely to get accurate
information by connecting to one of the more credible oncology sites on
the net such as the University of Pennsylvania or the American Cancer
Society.
Paget's Disease
This is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the
breast, on the nipple and aureola. 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 there are not many women out there who know a
lesion or rash on the nipple or aureola can be breast cancer.
Mine started out as a single red pimple on the aureola. 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? The symptoms include:
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 aureola
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.
They will take a sample of your breast tissue in that area to test for
cancer.
If the cancer is only in the nipple and not in the breast, your doctor
may recommend just removing the nipple and surrounding tissue or suggest
radiation treatments. Had my doctor caught mine right away, instead of
flaking it off as dermatitis, perhaps they could have saved my breast,
and it wouldn't have gone to my lymph nodes.
This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your
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. Please, if you can,
take a moment to forward this message to as many people as possible,
especially to your family and friends.
It only takes a moment, yet the results could save a life!
Copyright 2004 by Jay Jennings
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