Definition
Nipple Paget's disease - otherwise known as Paget's disease of the breast (not to be confused with Paget's disease of the bone) - is a rather rare form of breast cancer, affecting the nipple and areola.
This neoplasm mainly affects patients over the age of 50 and, in many cases, already affected by an in situ or invasive ductal breast cancer.
Causes
The exact cause that causes the onset of Paget's disease of the breast has not yet been fully identified, although there are some hyposteses about it.
The first hypothesis is that the tumor cells of a pre-existing breast cancer migrate through the galactophore channels, then invading the nipple and areola and thus giving rise to Paget's disease of the breast. This would explain why this disease and breast cancer are often associated.
The second hypothesis, instead, supposes that the nipple and areola cells undergo a neoplastic transformation in an independent manner and this would explain the reason why, in some patients, Paget's disease develops in the absence of a preexisting carcinoma otherwise.
Symptoms
Paget's disease of the breast usually affects a single nipple and can also extend to the areola, causing an eczema-like alteration of the skin. This manifestation can be confused with other skin disorders and this can make the diagnosis of the neoplasm difficult.
Other symptoms that may occur in patients suffering from Paget's disease of the nipple are dry skin, irritation, swelling, redness, itching, tingling sensation, burning, formation of straw-colored nipple secretions, inversion or introflection of the nipple, formation of a breast lump, skin erosions and formation of skin ulcers.
Information on Nipple Paget Disease - Drugs and Care is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Paget's Nipple Disease - Drugs and Care.
drugs
Treatment of Paget's disease of the nipple generally involves the surgical removal of the nipple and areola involved in the pathology and of the portion of the breast affected by a possible concomitant breast carcinoma. Furthermore, in some cases it may also be necessary to remove the axillary lymph nodes.
In addition to surgical treatment - if deemed necessary - the doctor may also decide to prescribe a radiotherapy treatment, a hormonal therapy and / or a therapy based on anticancer drugs, in such a way as to eliminate any residual malignant cells and in order to prevent the onset of relapses.
Photo Paget's disease of the Nipple
Capecitabine
Capecitabine (Xeloda ®, Capecitabine Accord ®, Capecitabine Medac ®, Capecitabine Sun ®) is an antineoplastic drug with therapeutic indications for the treatment of breast cancer, therefore, it can be used as adjuvant therapy in nipple Paget's disease.
Capecitabine belongs to the class of antimetabolites and is available as tablets for oral administration.
The dose of drug usually used is 1250 mg / m2 of body surface area per day, to be administered in two divided doses. A course of therapy has a duration of 21 days divided as follows: 14 days in which the drug is taken which is followed by 7 days of break in which the medicine is stopped.
If capecitabine is used in combination therapy, then a reduction in the dose of the drug administered may be necessary.
Docetaxel
Docetaxel (Taxotere ®, Docetaxel Winthrop ®, Docetaxel Teva ®, Docetaxel Teva Pharma ®, Docetaxel Mylan ®) is an active ingredient with antitumor action belonging to the class of antimitotics.
Docetaxel is an anticancer widely used in the treatment of breast cancer available in pharmaceutical formulations to be taken intravenously.
The dose of the drug to be administered must be established by the doctor, depending on the body surface and the condition of each patient.
Exemestane
Exemestane (Aromasin ®) is an anticancer drug belonging to the class of aromatase inhibitors and has specific therapeutic indications for the treatment of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
It is available as tablets for oral administration. The usual amount of exemestane is 25 mg a day. The active ingredient is generally absorbed more if taken immediately after a meal rich in fat.
