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