Forum Discussion
ymewhynotme
14 years agoMember
Paget's disease
I was diagnosed with Paget's disease of the nipple eight months after diagnosing myself through the internet. Misdiagnosed first time round.
I had surgery followed by 7 weeks of radiotherapy.
I was diagnosed in April 2009 and had radiotherapy from early August to early October 2009.
The reason for my blog is to make it easier for anyone that is looking for someone to talk to about Paget's disease as I realised it is not that easy to find my page. Paget's disease is a rare form of cancer therefore there is not much support available for women newly diagnosed with it.
Love Liz xx
77 Replies
- familyfirstMember
Liz4,
i am truly sorry that you had to endure your GP being rude and unsympathetic to your concerns.
I hope that you have found a GP that is considerate and compassionate and treats you with respect and dignity.
I have just come back from a visit to my GP as I haven't been sleeping well and just generally concerned. He was empathetic and listened to me and gave me some solid advice on keeping active and spending time doing this i love to keep my mind active. i Truly hope that you find a GP that fits your needs and has a much better bedside manner than the one you've previously seen
- familyfirstMember
hi Sue,
thanks very much for your kind words. i am hoping that everything is ok. I have tried to call the surgeon to see if there are any results back from the discharge and the mammogram but i keep getting the answering machine. i've left 2 messages and am hoping they will call me back today or tomorrow. I have an appointment on the 23rd of this month for the biopsy. the waiting and wondering is the hard part.
I feel like something isn't right but don't want to over react. The ithcing, heat in my breast and everynow and then a tingling sensation has been ongoing for so long. I just want to get some answers on why it won't clear up. it's frustrating not having anyone to discuss with and I am so thankful that I decided to get on to this website.
The support shown here has really helped in the last day. i am appreciative that you have shared your story with me and hpe that all is well with you now.
- ymewhynotmeMember
Hi familyfirst,
I am sorry to say that it does sound like Paget's to me. I had the same symptoms and it does not show up on a mammogram the only way to diagnose it is a biopsy. I went to a breast surgeon who ordered a mammogram and told me I was fine just use lucas paw paw ointment.
Eight months later my nipple started to go black. I went to another breast surgeon who said she was not convinced it was Paget's as I was only 48 at the time. It is usually older women that get it and it is very rare. She decided to do a biopsy anyway and sure enough it was Paget's.
I had surgery where they took the nipple and aerolea back to the chest wall and reconstruction at the same time. I had no underlying breast cancer so I had 7 weeks of radiotherapy around three months after surgery.
It is 5 years now and all is good.
Make sure you have the biopsy and take care. Please let me know how you go. It is not the worst type of cancer you can have if that is any help. I guess not as it is pretty scarey.
Bless you,
Liz x
- Liz4MemberHi, The breast surgeon removed my milk ducts and did a nipple biopsy . He wasnt prepared to take it further and a very rude GP told me there was absolutely no need. I had to give up for the time being. I got the bowel cancer scare just after all this . I feel as if I have spent most of the year fighting for a diagnosis I didnt want anyway.
- familyfirstMember
Liz4,
I really hope you go to see another doctor and get the answers you're after. Sorry to hear about the bowel cancer scare. I hope that is all ok now.
My GP did let me know that nipple discharge is common and mostly a normal thing unless accompanied by other symptoms. Some women from what i have read don't get discharge and just have a persistently itchy breast as their only symptom.
- familyfirstMember
yes flaky and my nipple is red and so itchy. the aereloa has become itchy over the last couple of mths also.
the discharge just looks like breast milk. cloudy in colour. the doctor said nipple discharge is normal in all ages - except when it's accompanied by other symptoms
- Liz4MemberNo you are not re-acting . Sounds like they are investigating . Listen to the ladies on here and read the other posts . They were of great help to me when I was and still are getting nowhere with my crustiness. I had a bowel cancer scare too . I will never do the test that comes in the mail again. Anyway thats a different subject . I am dismayed at the lack of knowledge amongst medical people re pagets . I cant keep pushing to see anyone else. I am just not well enough . If mine discharges again I will go to another clinic and start all over again. Ugh Good Luck family first .
- ymewhynotmeMember
Hi Familyfirst,
Is there flaky skin on the nipple when you don't use cream?
- familyfirstMember
hi,
I have had a severly itchy nipple with tingling for several months.
have been to the doctors several times and my GP prescribed differenty types of creams and then steroid cream
when i went back to my doctor i mentioned that my breast had been hot and he scheduled an ultrasound which was clear. it showed a 2cm mass which was described as a lymph node.
I've had some discharge from my nipple also so he schedule and appointment with a regular surgeon.
on seeing the surgeon; he performed a breast exam and took a swab of the discharge to send it off and get checked. he also sent me for a mammogram (i looked at the pictures and they look ok to me - not that i know what i'm looking for).
The surgeon asked me to stop all steriod creams/bio oil and to come back on the 23rd October when he will take another look to see how my nipple appears without cream for 2 weeks and perform a biopsy.
i'm trying not to worry. some days though my mind wanders into the thought of what is this? when will i get some answers? am i over reacting and wasting peoples time? what is this funky discharge and why the heck is my nipple so itchy?
- familyfirstMember
hi,
I have had a severly itchy nipple with tingling for several months.
have been to the doctors several times and my GP prescribed differenty types of creams and then steroid cream
when i went back to my doctor i mentioned that my breast had been hot and he scheduled an ultrasound which was clear. it showed a 2cm mass which was described as a lymph node.
I've had some discharge from my nipple also so he schedule and appointment with a regular surgeon.
on seeing the surgeon; he performed a breast exam and took a swab of the discharge to send it off and get checked. he also sent me for a mammogram (i looked at the pictures and they look ok to me - not that i know what i'm looking for).
The surgeon asked me to stop all steriod creams/bio oil and to come back on the 23rd October when he will take another look to see how my nipple appears without cream for 2 weeks and perform a biopsy.
i'm trying not to worry. some days though my mind wanders into the thought of what is this? when will i get some answers? am i over reacting and wasting peoples time? what is this funky discharge and why the heck is my nipple so itchy?