What is Paget’s disease of the breast?

Paget’s disease is a rare form of breast cancer. An eczema-ish, dermatitis like, scaly red rash forms on the skin of the nipple (often harmless in appearance); and it perhaps spreads to the areola (darker area of skin around the nipple). This inflamed skin may be crusty, bleeding, or have an oozing discharge; and there may be an itchy or burning sensation. The majority of women with Paget’s disease also have an undetected breast cancer lump. Treatments include a lumpectomy (surgical removal of the tumour); mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast); radiotherapy (radiation); hormone therapy (e.g. Tamoxifen); and chemotherapy (i.e. celldestroying cytotoxic drugs).