Information on mycosis fungoides

Dear Dr. Weitzel:

My wife Yvonne's mother died of mycosis fungoides, which is a 
malignant lymphoma in its final stages. It is far more typical in men than women, 

but generally a rare disease.

Mostly, it is characterized by multiple cutaneous ulcers that are
extremely painful, with or without palpation. They crust over and drain
at periodic intervals. Ulcerative sites occur and partially heal over
with no particular etiologic factors. Some believe that pemphigus is
related to it.

The final stages of mycosis fungoides is a horribly disfiguring skin
manifestation that occurs nearly all over the body, similar to 70% third degree

burns. It is an unimaginable curse, which could be well
represented in Dante's Inferno. This disease alone is enough to
de-convert believers to atheists.

I was shocked to see this listed as a disease that one of your patients
had. To assume that this patient was not terminal is a pathetic joke.
Unfortunately, even after these many years, mycosis fungoides (which has nothing 

to do with a fungus), is still terminal and not particularly treatable. It 

progresses in stages to its final stage. Sometimes patients can have it for years 

in the earlier stages.

It used to be treated by Grenz radiation (a variant of total body
irradiation), nitrogen mustards, skin grafting (if any suitable donor
sites could be found), and eventually terminal care. Any patient who has this 

disease should be considered very lucky if they are demented, as should their family.

The presence of mycosis fungoides (alone) as a disease represented in
this patient group should take this patient "out of the loop" regarding
any charges brought against you. A brief conversation with any local
dermatologist who has treated it will confirm my statements.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Rosenblatt

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