A very rare form of cancer, Paget’s Disease accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers. Paget’s Disease develops in the breast ducts, spreads to the nipple skin, and then to the areola, the dark circle around the nipple. Many times, Paget’s Disease is associated with in situ carcinoma or with infiltrating breast carcinoma.
The nipple and areola of a woman suffering with Paget’s Disease often appear scaly, red and crusted. Bleeding and oozing from Paget’s Disease are also common, as are itching and a burning sensation. Despite these unsettling symptoms, the prognosis for women with Paget’s Disease is very good if a lump has not been detected in the breast tissue and a biopsy has determined that there is no invasive cancer.
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