By the way, Biggirl, I’m glad to see you’re taking this rather well. It sounds like this was tough news for you to learn, and I’m glad that you’re keeping a sense of humour about it. My mother has breast cancer and I think her good spirits helped her overcome the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, tough as they are.
Keep in good health for your family!
We have a winner, folks!
Anemic squamulatory carcinomid arthropodism??
DAMNIT!!
oh
sorry…
Biggirl, I’m sorry if I was rude by bringing it out in the open, but when you gave hints it seemed to me that it was turning into an intellectual challenge, and I cheated and used a search engine (since of course I would have had no idea.)
Make sure you get the right treatment! I wish I could be at the next NYC dopefest and wish you well in person.
Arnold, I’d hate to see what you get now that your the winner. HAR!
So biggirl… whats this all about? The disease that is.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is an illness characterized by multiple abscesses that form under the arm pits and in the groin area.
So says Medterms.com.
Sounds different, but I don’t doubt that there are many symptoms.
…well that seems totaly inappropriate now…
Pardon me while I go crawl back under my rock.
Biggirl, you’ll be glad to know you’re not alone here 
Both my mother and myself have Hidronitis boils…in fact, I’m just getting over a MAJOR, NASTy, buggery, damned one.
It sucks, hot packs are your friend, trust me 
-Sam
P.S.- I’ve never heard of anyone who has gotten anemia or arthropathy from Hidronitis supporativa.
“Hidradenitis Suppurativa”.
Bah!
Either way, this too, blows majorly.
-Sam
I have 7 sites! And I’m beginning to think it’s not that uncommon. Beer Chick’s husband developed squamous cell carcinoma. A particularly aggressive form that spread quickly. He passed within months of finding out he had cancer. We both called them “our lumps”.
No one (not even, it seems, his oncologist) saw the connection. BTW, the boils are a secondary symptom. Infections happen because you have HS and not the other way around.
Um, I think I’m getting bummed again.
I’m so upset I’m speaking in bold. Sorry— what does this little preview button do?
I agree Biggirl. I don’t see much of a connection to cancer with the exception of the fact that your skin can be teribly irritated for lengthy periods of time.
As far as infection goes, HS is actually, AFAIK, not infectious. I believe most HS infections aren’t septic. In my case, and my mother’s, most of our boils are simply pocketed blood. If you’re able to draw the fluid out in a timely manner, you can avoid blood infections and secondary infections.
When I get the BIG one(in a very sensitive place), I simply seclude myself for a time, and get the bugger to pop. It sucks, but then it’s over with and I forget all about it until the next one.
Most antibiotics aren’t helpful(since it’s not septic), with the exception of tetracycline. I’ve never taken it because it’s not a terribly active. HS has also been linked to stress, and some studies have shown anti-depressants to be of help in treating HS.
Best of luck Biggirl!
-Sam
My husband has this too. He was always told by his doctors that it was from his acne condition. He breaks out mostly on his inner thighs. In fact, he just had to have one of these abscesses incised and drained a couple of weeks ago. They never told him anything about skin cancer though.
Biggirl! I’m glad that’s you’ve been diagnosed (that’s the worst part - not knowing) and now you can begin treatment. I wish you tons of luck, let me know if you need help with the brats (I mean angels).
Take care of yourself, buddy!
Sax