Surgery is the most common treatment for Paget's disease of the nipple (1, 2,
5). The specific treatment often depends on the characteristics of the
underlying breast cancer.
A modified radical mastectomy may be recommended when
invasive cancer or extensive DCIS has been diagnosed (5). In this operation, the
surgeon removes the breast, the lining over the chest muscles, and some of the lymph nodes under
the arm. In cases where underlying breast cancer is not invasive, the surgeon
may perform a simple mastectomy to remove only the breast and the lining over
the chest muscles (2, 5).
Alternatively, patients whose disease is confined to the
nipple and the surrounding area may undergo breast-conserving surgery or
lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy (1, 2, 5). During breast-conserving
surgery, the surgeon removes the nipple, areola, and the entire portion of the
breast believed to contain the cancer. In most cases, radiation therapy is also
used to help prevent recurrence (return of the cancer).
During surgery, particularly modified radical
mastectomy, the doctor may perform an axillary node dissection to remove the
lymph nodes under the arm (1, 5). The lymph nodes are then examined to see if
the cancer has spread to them. In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed to remove only one
or a few lymph nodes.
Adjuvant treatment (treatment that is given in addition to surgery to prevent
the cancer from coming back) may be part of the treatment plan, depending on the
type of cancer and whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes.
Radiation treatment is a common adjuvant therapy for
Paget's disease of the nipple following breast-conserving surgery. Adjuvant
treatment with anticancer drugs or hormone therapies may also be recommended,
depending on the extent of the disease and prognostic factors (estimated chance
of recovery from the disease or chance that the disease will recur).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Paget's disease is a chronic bone disorder due to irregular breakdown and formation of bone tissue. Symptoms of Paget's disease include bone pain, headaches and hearing loss, pressure on nerves, increased head size, hip pain, and damage to cartilage of joints.
Breast lumps in women can have a variety of causes such as breast inflammation, infection, injuries, cancer, and non-cancerous growths. Breast lumps in women are diagnosed with physical exam, mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy. Treatment of breast lumps in women depend on the cause.
The breast generally refers to the chest, however, more specifically, to the mammary gland. The mammary gland is a milk producing gland comprised largely of fat. Within the mammary gland is a complex network of branching ducts. The ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules, which can produce milk in females. The darkened area around the nipple is called the areola. Common medical concerns in regard to the breast include breast lumps, breast cysts, breast cancer, and breast infections.
Male breast cancer accounts for 1% of all breast cancers, and most cases are found in men between the ages of 60 and 70. A man's risk of developing breast cancer is one in 1,000. Signs and symptoms include a firm mass located below the nipple and skin changes around the nipple, including puckering, redness or scaling, retraction and ulceration of the nipple. Treatment depends upon staging and the health of the patient.
Lymphedema is a common chronic, debilitating condition in which excess fluid called lymph collects in tissues and causes swelling in them. It is common after a mastectomy, lumpectomy or breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Lifestyle changes, a healthy antioxidant-rich diet, exercise, and weight reduction can help reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. It's important to be aware of how risk factors such as family history, lifestyle factors, breast conditions, radiation therapy, and hormonal factors may influence your chances of developing breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examinations are crucial steps in breast cancer prevention.
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