Old fear replaced by new one - always!

[colls22]

Hi all,

So, my blood work and abdominal ultrasound were all totally fine! Strangely, my lower back pain, hot flashes, nausea, and everything else I was feeling that I thought was lymphoma have all but disappeared. Or, maybe not strangely.

But of course, new concern! Caution, this next part might be a little tmi, and is more for the ladies.

I went through a scare about a year ago,when I noticed that the skin on my right areola was rough and spotting looking, and appeared a little thick and raise. I of course Googled and found out about Paget's disease, a rare form of breast cancer that begins in the nipple/nipple area.

Well, one biopsy and several very scared days later, I find out that its something called sebaceous hyperplasia, which really isn't a whole lot of anything beyond a skin condition.

Fast forward to now, and I notice that in addition to the weird looking area, which I've found out about, the skin on the areola is a little dry, red, and what would best be described as irritated. So, I'm freaking out again, since this is how Pagets can present! Yes, I realize that there are legitimate skin conditions that could be the issue, but my mind right now is thinking the worst.

Of note, since I was a teenager I've had bouts of super itchy nipple areas, one then the other. Cream has always cleared it up. I guess I'm just scared now because of the things I've read, and because this is only one breast, not both.

I hate this!

[SighNoMore]

How are you doing colls? I suffer from the same itchy issue from time to time too. Freaks me out.

[colls22]

So sweet of you to respond. I was kind of regretting the tmi posting! But you know sometimes you just write it and post it, without really thinking.

How am I...hmmm...well, I keep rotating back and forth between fearing lymphoma, colon cancer, and now breast cancer because of the itching! I've sure got a lot on my plate, eh? I really don't know what to think, from one second to the next. I think this is a perfect example of me not being able to deal with ANYTHING going on with my body, clearly.

I think about how freaked I would have been in the past, when I had things going on but no access to google, if i HAD been able to research things! Man. The Internet really blows sometimes.

[bertybotts]

Could just be winter. Winter is chilly, and miserable! Makes my skin itch like a motherf**!!!

You should see my boyfriend's skin. It's parched. He has sores -- YES, SORES!! -- from the cold. On his shoulder! WTF, right?
He used to get several inches of skin that would turn red, flake, peel, and itch/hurt from the Montreal cold. Not so much anymore.

Perhaps it is just climate.

[mollyfin]

Sounds like dry skin to me!  Get a heavy duty moisturizer and use it for a few days.  My entire body is completely dried out thanks to New York wintertime. 

[colls22]

Some friends in cold climates! New York and Montreal - fabulous!

It's absolutely frigid in Toronto right now...but I must admit, being a Canadian, I kind of love the winter :)

[sassparella]

I could do with some of that cold right now it's 37 degrees C here today veeeeery hot. Anyway as others have said it sounds like dry skin, try some moisturiser and see if it clears up :)

[colls22]

Sass - I did hot yoga the other night and I believe the room was that temperature!