This message was passed on to me by someone wanting to know if it's true or an internet hoax, and the general information in the message sure looked true to me. I did a search for "paget" on "snopes" and "urbanlegends" just to be sure and got no matches. I honestly don't remember enough about the details of how different forms of breast cancer present to be certain, but it certainly sounds very familiar from med school. Any comments? Michael Sachs, M.D. General Pediatrician ------------------- >>> Subject: FW: Paget's Disease - Important Information for Women >>> >>> Subject: PAGET'S DISEASE OF THE NIPPLE >>> >>> Is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast, >>> on the nipple and areola. 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 went to my doctor for that. Sometimes >>> it itched and was sore, but other than that it didn't really 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 >>> areola can be breast cancer. >>> >>> What are the symptoms? Mine started out as a single red pimple on the >>> areola. 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. >>> >>> 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 areola >>> 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 of 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, this after receiving >>> mega doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and taking >>> tamaxofin. If this had been diagnosed in the beginning as breast >>> cancer and treated right away perhaps it would not have >>> spread........ >>> >>> I did try to spread the word through Rosie O'Donnell show on breast >>> cancer awareness but it failed trigger importance enough to announce >>> on her show last year. This is sad, as woman are not aware of Paget's >>> disease. If by passing this around on the e-mail we can make others >>> aware of it and it's potential danger we are helping women >>> everywhere. >>> >>> Thanks for taking the time to share.