Are clinical trials (research studies) available? Where can people get more
information about clinical trials?
Yes. The NCI is currently sponsoring many clinical trials for all types of
breast cancer. These studies are designed to find new treatments and better ways
to use current treatments. As new and improved treatments are found for breast
cancer, the treatment options for Paget's disease of the nipple will also
improve (2, 5).
People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their
doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI's Cancer
Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1-800-4-CANCER and in the NCI booklet
Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know, which can be
found at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet. This booklet
describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible
benefits and risks. Further information about clinical trials is available at
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the NCI's Web site. The Web site offers
detailed information about specific ongoing studies by linking to PDQ®, the
NCI's cancer information database. The CIS also provides information from PDQ.
Selected References
Kaelin CM. Paget's Disease. In: Harris JR, Lippman
ME, Morrow M, Osborne CK, editors. Diseases of the Breast. 3rd ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004.
DeVita,VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors.
Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott
Williams and Wilkins, 2004.
Beers MH, Berkow R, editors. The Merck Manual of
Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Company,
Inc., 1999.
American Cancer Society (2005). Cancer Facts and
Figures 2005. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Retrieved April 20, 2005,
from http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2005f4PWSecured.pdf.
Marcus E. The management of Paget's disease of the breast. Current
Treatment Options in Oncology 2004; 5:153-160.
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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