Rare Form of Breast Cancer

[purpleiris]

Hey everybody. I received this email a while back and everyone needs to read it.

RARE FORM OF BREAST CANCER
> from Juanita Bush
>
> In November, a rare kind of breast cancer was found.
> The sister of my friend 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 and it continued to get worse, her doctor
> sent her for another mammogram, and this time it showed a
> mass.
>
> A biopsy showed a fast growing biopsy. Radiation
> was started to shrink the growth; then mastectomy;
> then a full round of chemo; then radiation. After
> about 9 months of intense treatment, she was given a
> clean bill of health.
>
> One year of living each day to its fullest - then
> it returned to the liver area. She took 4 treatments and
> decided that she wanted quality of life, not the after
> effects of chemo. We had 5 great months and she planned
> each detail of the final days. After just a few days
> of needing morphine, she slipped away saying she had done
> what God had sent her into the world to do and now it was
> her time to go.
>
> Her message is shown below. And 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 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!
>