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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Neck Rash linked to Paget's or Other Cancer?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Neck Rash linked to Paget's or Other Cancer?
by Pam573, Sep 20, 2004 12:00AM
I have had a rash at the base of my neck for the past month, and about three weeks ago began to notice some ropey lumps under the skin on my right side, on and just below the ribcage (mildly painful). I have not been able to get an appointment with my doctor for six weeks. Today a friend told me that an acquaintance had been diagnosed with Paget's of the breast, but that her first symptom had been a rash on the neck similar to mine. Is there any link between Paget's (or other cancer) and a neck rash? Any possible link between the neck rash and the gowth's under the skin on my side?
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 20, 2004 12:00AM
, Sep 20, 2004 12:00AM
No. Paget's disease of the breast presents as a scaly patch of the nipple and surrounding tissue. I don't know what your friend is talking about. Please leave the affected areas alone and show your doctor when you can.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
The second example is I went off to London for vacation early this October. I started to have an itchy neck- the place around the adam's apple. Again, very itchy- and because of the location, flaky too. While on vacation, I also found a spot that has turned out this week to be testicular cancer. I'd bet my last penny that whenever this testicular cancer goes away (please God) the excema and itch on my neck will too. Connection between excema and cancer? I believe so.
Can there be excema without cancer? Sure. Is itchy skin the sign that there *could be* something much more seriously wrong and life-threatening with you than itchy skin? I believe I'm living proof that yes, it certainly can. Know that I have had no side effects to indicate cancer in my body, but itchy skin, until of course, physical lumps showed up.
I hate to be a fear monger, but I say if you have itchy skin, be very aware of what's going on with your body- it could be telling you something you should not ignore or gloss over with all sorts of skin creams, herbal remedies, panaceas, etc... Seeking help or a wider range of knowledge and expertise of the body beyond dermatology just might be the thing to help save your life. I still hope it will save mine. I think by not addressing my itch situation in a dermatologist's office (as well meaning and competent professionals that I'm sure they are within their realm of expertise/study) has allowed me to consider perhaps a wider set of possibilities as to what is wrong with me and allowed a faster track to exploration and diagnosis that I hope will one day pay off and allow me to ultimately be cancer-free.
If I knew then what I know now and I could do it all over again and roll back the clock to early Fall 2003 when I started to itch, I would have submitted myself to one of those "full body" scans or to other scans such as CT Scan and the CAT Scan to see what is really going on inside the body. Yes, those scans are expensive and I'm not suggesting everyone run out and book up all the local CT and PET Scan machines in your area, but in this case, and in my case the axiom is very true that a.) an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and b.) what you don't know (may) kill you. And of course, the CT and PET Scan machines are only as good as the people who read or interpret the results. I digress.... Still, watch yourself. Be aware. Be your own advocate.
Thank you for your time. Contact me if you like.
Brad
"Is there any link between Paget's (or other cancer) and a neck rash? Any possible link between the neck rash and the gowth's under the skin on my side?"