One of the rare types of Breast Cancer is Paget's disease of the nipple, which can appear as a rash on the nipple. The rash or other changes in the nipple can indicate a cancer in the breast ducts, many times located under the nipple, which has then extended itself onto the surface of the nipple.
Sometimes this sign of breast cancer indicates a small ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a very early breast cancer that has not yet left the duct. Other times, Paget's disease of the nipple may indicate an invasive cancer somewhere else in the breast. In some cases, a woman who shows signs of Paget's disease of the nipple will additionally have an abnormal mammogram or have lump in her breast.
Before we move on I want to clarify that Paget's disease of the nipple is not the same as Paget's disease of the bone, which is a severe bone disease. Sir James Paget, a British surgeon and physiologist, discovered both conditions which were first documented by him, but they are completely unrelated diseases. Paget's disease of the nipple can also affect men, although it is rare.
Paget's disease of the nipple is often first noticed when physical signs of the disease appear. Signs of Paget's disease usually only occur on one nipple and can include persistent crustiness, scaliness, or redness of the nipple, itching or burning of the nipple and surrounding areola and bleeding or oozing from the nipple and areola.
Paget's disease can often be confused with other skin conditions, such as breast eczema. Breast Eczema is a highly treatable condition which can be characterized by red, itchy patches or weeping blisters around the nipple which reoccur, but clear up with proper treatment. Paget's disease does not clear up with routine treatment for eczema or infection and usually only affects one nipple.
A mammogram is the next step to check for cancer in the actual breast. Sometimes any underlying abnormal breast mass will not be present on a mammogram. A clean mammogram combined with an abnormal nipple finding requires further investigation.
A biopsy of the nipple tissue will need to be performed. Usually this consists of a "punch biopsy" that removes a small amount of tissue to check for cancer. If the mammogram indicates other areas of concern within the breast, biopsies of those areas should be performed.
If Paget's disease is caught early while it is still confined to the nipple and underlying breast ducts, the patient typically has an excellent prognosis. However, if Paget's disease of the nipple is associated with an invasive breast cancer or if the cancer has spread out of the breast to other areas of the body (metastatic disease), the survival rate can be lower.
Treatment of Paget's disease of the nipple involves surgery, radiation treatment and Chemotherapy or drug therapy (such as tamoxifen). Like other types of breast cancer, the location of the cancer will determine which type of surgery is done - a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Radiation therapy usually follows a lumpectomy.
A recent development in surgical treatment involves removing only the nipple and areola (sometimes followed by radiation therapy) in patients whose Paget's disease has no other underlying breast cancer, thus allowing the woman to keep her breast. Following treatment, an artificial nipple can be recreated using skin grafts and tattooing.
Chemotherapy Of Breast Cancer
There are various different kinds of cancer that people are now being diagnosed with and of all of these breast cancer is actually one of the more easily treatable. However it is vital that if a woman wants to get her breast cancer treated then it is best if it is detected during its early stages of growth. The reason why this form of cancer is so easily treatable is because of the methods of detection of that are employed. These methods have now made this form of cancer one of the more favorable for not only being treated easily but is more likely to provide the sufferer with a cure.
When it actually comes to detecting breast cancer today especially in its early stages of growth then most doctors will use breast examinations and mammography to do this. In studies that have been carried out over the years in to this particular form of cancer the results have been showing that the earlier the disease is detected then the greater chance the woman has of surviving it.
Today women are being advised and told that it is vitally important that they learn how to carry out examinations of their own breasts on a regular basis. The reason for this being that they will be more aware and notice any slight changes to the formation of their breasts that were not there before. Also it is now being highlighted that having a regular mammograph is important as well especially for women where there is a history of breast cancer in their family. Certainly using this form of examination will help to ensure that the cancer is detected at the earliest stage possible. As you will soon find out both these forms of examination are used as the basis in helping to detect breast cancer in women today.
But a lot of women will be wondering just how often they should under go a breast examination or mammogram in order to help to see if they have this form of cancer or not. Certainly with breast examinations a woman could carry out this for herself each month and the best place to do this is when you are having a shower.
In the USA today the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that once a woman reaches the age of 40 she should have a first mammography and then another annually. It is the first mammography that a woman has which will be used as a base reading for all future tests that take place. However the American Cancer Society are suggesting for women where there is a history of breast cancer in their family should actually have their first mammography at the age of 35. They also feel that women who suffer from any other type of breast problems should also have a mammography at the age of 35.
A mammogram uses an x ray machine which is then able to detect cancer in a woman's or even sometimes in men's breasts. These machines are able to detect the cancer at its earliest stage when it is very small and would not be detected using the more traditional breast examination.
Around 85 to 90% of all the breast cancer that is now being detected and thus treated has been done through the use of mammography. But not only is the number of women being detected and treated for this particular form of cancer increased but the number of women actually dying from it has reduced. In fact in those women who are over the age of 50 and have been diagnosed with having breast cancer today around 30% more are likely to survive.
Although using mammography does help to detect breast cancer in its very early stages in most women there are some around 10%-15% of women that this method of detecting this form of cancer can not help. So it is extremely important that all women learn the right way for carrying out a self examination of their breasts and what are the main signs to look for. It is preferable for a woman to carry out her own self examination as she will be more aware of any changes that take place in her body each month. Yet if she does not feel that she is able to carry out the examination properly or she has discovered something untoward then it is important that she arranges for her doctor to carry out a physical examination as well.
Both Michael Russell & Allison Thompson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michael Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Celebrities, Dieting and Diabetes Treatment. Michael RussellYour Independent guide to . Michael Russell's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.
Allison Thompson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Free Credit Report Score, Tarot Card and Guide Guitar. Certainly finding out that you or are loved one has breast cancer is a horrifying experience, no longer does it mean a person's life is at an end. However by visiting
Are People Good Or Bad Its really going to scare people away from their legitimate medical use.?
