Nipple cancer treatment

Breast cancer, or Paget's disease, is a malignant neoplasm that develops in the ducts of the mammary gland and is localized in the nipple and areola. It is diagnosed in only 5% of patients with breast cancer, mainly in women aged 50-60 years.

In the early stages, the disease is well treatable, so more than 90% manage to achieve a complete recovery.

Nipple cancer has no specific symptoms, so many patients miss the onset of the disease. Initially, as a rule, there is a slight peeling of the nipple and redness of the skin around it. After some time, these symptoms may go away on their own or after the use of ointments, thereby causing a false sense of recovery.

Later, as the tumor develops, patients experience itching, burning and pain in the nipple area. It may change shape, become flatter or retracted inward. Also characteristic is the appearance of a small amount of discharge. Over time, crusts, erosions and ulcers may appear on the skin, the area of ​​which increases with the growth of the neoplasm.

First of all, surgical treatment is considered for nipple cancer. If the tumor can be removed, surgery is performed immediately. If it is voluminous and radical removal is impossible, the patient is prescribed radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other treatment to reduce it, and then, if possible, surgery is performed.

Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the following are performed:

• lumpectomy - removal of the nipple and areola tissues while preserving areas of the healthy breast;
• mastectomy - removal of the entire breast;
• mastectomy with removal of adjacent tissues and affected lymph nodes.

To restore the aesthetic shape of the breast, the patient may be offered plastic surgery. It is performed simultaneously with the removal of the tumor or after the end of treatment.

In addition to surgery for Paget's disease, the following are used:

• chemotherapy - performed before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor or after to treat and prevent the development of metastases;
• radiation therapy - also performed before or after surgery;
• hormonal therapy – prescribed if the tumor is hormone-dependent;
• targeted therapy – used if the tumor has receptors sensitive to HER2.

In each case, oncologists create an individual treatment program taking into account the type of neoplasm, its size, spread and other factors.

“Oxford Medical” is a modern medical center with a high-tech oncology department and a surgical hospital. The clinic offers thorough diagnostics and treatment of cancer in accordance with national and international protocols. The clinic has new expert-class equipment and employs oncologists and surgeons who are rightfully considered among the best in Kyiv and Ukraine. Specialists have many years of experience and possess modern methods of treating oncological diseases.

To make an appointment for a consultation, call our contact center or write to the chat on the website.

Nipple cancer can be a primary or secondary disease. In the first case, it begins to develop in this location. In the second, it is a metastasis or spread of breast cancer.

The likelihood of the disease is increased by:

• mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes;
• age over 40 years;
• benign breast tumors;
• early sexual development (up to 12 years);
• late onset of menopause (after 55 years);
• lack of pregnancies and childbirth;
• artificial abortion;
• refusal to breastfeed;
• overweight;
• insufficient physical activity;
• diabetes;
• hypertension;
• long-term use of oral contraceptives or other hormonal drugs;
• smoking;
• regular alcohol consumption;
• unfavorable environmental environment;
• previous radiation therapy, contact with carcinogens.

For prevention, women are recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, treat all diseases in a timely manner, not give up breastfeeding, take hormonal drugs only under the supervision of a doctor, and undergo an examination by a mammologist at least once a year.