Paget’s Disease of the Breast

Paget’s disease of the breast is a type of cancer that outwardly may have the appearance of eczema, with skin changes involving the nipple of the breast. The condition in itself often appears innocuous, limited to a surface appearance and it is sometimes dismissed, although actually indicative of underlying breast cancer. Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare form of breast cancer. Paget’s disease of the breast starts on the nipple and extends to the dark circle of skin (areola) around the nipple. Paget’s disease of the breast isn’t related to Paget’s disease of the bone, a metabolic bone disease. Paget’s disease of the breast affects your nipple and usually the skin (areola) surrounding it. It’s easy to mistake the signs and symptoms of Paget’s disease of the breast for skin irritation (dermatitis) or another noncancerous (benign) skin condition. Possible signs and symptoms of Paget’s disease of the breast include: Flaky or scaly skin on your nipple, Crusty, oozing or hardened skin resembling eczema on the nipple, areola or both, Itching, Redness, A tingling or burning sensation, Straw-colored or bloody nipple discharge, A flattened or turned-in (inverted) nipple, A lump in the breast, Thickening skin on the breast. Signs and symptoms usually occur in one breast only. The disease typically starts in the nipple and may spread to the areola and other areas of the breast. The skin changes may come and go early on, or respond to topical treatment, making it appear as if your skin is healing.