| One of the rare types of Breast Cancer is | | | | Paget's disease does not clear up with |
| Paget's disease of the nipple, which can | | | | routine treatment for eczema or infection and |
| appear as a rash on the nipple. The rash or | | | | usually only affects one nipple.A mammogram |
| other changes in the nipple can indicate a | | | | is the next step to check for cancer in the |
| cancer in the breast ducts, many times | | | | actual breast. Sometimes any underlying |
| located under the nipple, which has then | | | | abnormal breast mass will not be present on a |
| extended itself onto the surface of the | | | | mammogram. A clean mammogram combined with |
| nipple.Sometimes this sign of breast cancer | | | | an abnormal nipple finding requires further |
| indicates a small ductal carcinoma in situ | | | | investigation.A biopsy of the nipple tissue |
| (DCIS), which is a very early breast cancer | | | | will need to be performed. Usually this |
| that has not yet left the duct. Other times, | | | | consists of a "punch biopsy" that removes a |
| Paget's disease of the nipple may indicate an | | | | small amount of tissue to check for cancer. |
| invasive cancer somewhere else in the breast. | | | | If the mammogram indicates other areas of |
| In some cases, a woman who shows signs of | | | | concern within the breast, biopsies of those |
| Paget's disease of the nipple will | | | | areas should be performed.If Paget's disease |
| additionally have an abnormal mammogram or | | | | is caught early while it is still confined to |
| have lump in her breast.Before we move on I | | | | the nipple and underlying breast ducts, the |
| want to clarify that Paget's disease of the | | | | patient typically has an excellent prognosis. |
| nipple is not the same as Paget's disease of | | | | However, if Paget's disease of the nipple |
| the bone, which is a severe bone disease. | | | | is associated with an invasive breast cancer |
| Sir James Paget, a British surgeon and | | | | or if the cancer has spread out of the breast |
| physiologist, discovered both conditions | | | | to other areas of the body (metastatic |
| which were first documented by him, but they | | | | disease), the survival rate can be |
| are completely unrelated diseases. Paget's | | | | lower.Treatment of Paget's disease of the |
| disease of the nipple can also affect men, | | | | nipple involves surgery, radiation treatment |
| although it is rare.Paget's disease of the | | | | and Chemotherapy or drug therapy (such as |
| nipple is often first noticed when physical | | | | tamoxifen). Like other types of breast |
| signs of the disease appear. Signs of | | | | cancer, the location of the cancer will |
| Paget's disease usually only occur on one | | | | determine which type of surgery is done - a |
| nipple and can include persistent crustiness, | | | | lumpectomy or mastectomy. Radiation therapy |
| scaliness, or redness of the nipple, itching | | | | usually follows a lumpectomy.A recent |
| or burning of the nipple and surrounding | | | | development in surgical treatment involves |
| areola and bleeding or oozing from the nipple | | | | removing only the nipple and areola |
| and areola.Paget's disease can often be | | | | (sometimes followed by radiation therapy) in |
| confused with other skin conditions, such as | | | | patients whose Paget's disease has no other |
| breast eczema. Breast Eczema is a highly | | | | underlying breast cancer, thus allowing the |
| treatable condition which can be | | | | woman to keep her breast. Following |
| characterized by red, itchy patches or | | | | treatment, an artificial nipple can be |
| weeping blisters around the nipple which | | | | recreated using skin grafts and tattooing. |
| reoccur, but clear up with proper treatment. | | | | |