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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Where is the tail of the breast?

Peter H. Gott, M.d. The Spokesman-Review

Dear Dr. Gott: A readers wrote to you saying she found a lump in the tail of her breast. I am 70 and do not know where the tail of my breast is.

I’ve asked several of my women friends, ranging in ages from 25 to 75, and none of them knows where it is, either. I am assuming there are many other women that read your articles who also would like to know where the tail of the breast is.

Dear Reader: Normal breast tissue extends almost into the armpit, where it is flat, thin and resembles a tail. Being breast tissue, it can be a source of inflammation and/or tumor formation.

It should be palpated (and X-rayed) along with the major breast tissue at appropriate intervals.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my health report “Breast Cancer and Disorders.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: Our son, who is a doctor, suggested that we get Zostavax, the shot for shingles. We are both in our early 80s.

Do you recommend it?

Dear Reader: Without a doubt. The vaccine will prevent shingles in most people.

Shingles is a miserable and painful viral infection of the nerves in the skin. I took the shot this year without problems. I urge every adult over 60 to get the vaccine.

Dear Dr. Gott: Recently I read your column about the man who stated that he has sleep apnea. I can understand this gentleman’s frustration with the CPAP mask.

I recently started using one. It is a bit noisy and cumbersome.

I cannot understand your reply to his letter.

Taping one’s mouth shut might be an option for a person who snores. I don’t think that it can be considered an option, intriguing or otherwise, for a person with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas (literally “without breath”), last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep.

I understand that sleep apnea can be mild or severe. I still don’t think that taping one’s mouth closed would be an option for someone even if he/she has very mild sleep apnea.

Taping one’s mouth does not treat some of the sleeping problems associated with sleep apnea.

Dear Reader: I apologize for suggesting mouth-taping for patients with sleep apnea. This practice could significantly worsen the risks of sleep apnea, as many readers brought to my attention.

I should add that the gentleman who wrote did not state he had sleep apnea – only snoring. Because he was prescribed a CPAP, I assumed his snoring was due to sleep apnea and therefore gave the Band-Aid therapy a chance.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my health report “Sleep/Wake Disorders.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.