Paget's disease in the breast dangerous?

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Paget's disease of the breast is a form of skin disease, common in older women, first manifesting as lesions on the breast skin and around the nipple area. Predisposing factors for the development of the disease are chafing, inflammation around the nipple, trauma...

1. What is Paget's disease of the breast?

Paget is cancer of the apocrine gland epithelium in the epidermis. Paget's disease was first described in 1874 and is divided into two main types, including: Paget mammary and extramammary Paget. These two types differ only in the location of appearance, but the clinical manifestations are similar. Paget's disease is easily misdiagnosed with other skin conditions.
Paget's disease of the breast is common in women over the age of 50. The most common site is one breast. From one location, the lesion begins to spread to surrounding areas. Characteristic manifestations of the disease are red, scaly, eczema-like macules under the skin, with clearly distinguishable boundaries from the surrounding area. Besides, the patient can feel a tumor or lymph node on the opposite side. More dangerous, Paget's disease of the breast is often combined with breast cancer, threatening the patient's life.

2. Signs of Paget's disease of the breast

Initially, the lesion is only a few small scales or keratinized organization around the breast. These scales are firmly attached to the skin and can be dry or slightly wet. The patient may feel a tingling sensation in this area. When the scab is removed, a short time later another scab forms. After a few years, the lesions develop to form an area that spreads throughout the nipple. Specific manifestations of Paget's disease of the breast:
Primary lesion: The skin around the breast appears red or gray. Lesions form first on the nipple or areola and then spread around. The lesion margin is clear. Skin lesions are red, scaly, with fluid, nipple indentation

Bleeding, itching, ulceration, pain: Patients may experience these symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Paget breast can penetrate the hair follicle but not down to the dermis. It can only penetrate down to the dermis when combined with breast cancer, causing extensive metastasis.

3. Diagnosis of Paget's disease of the breast

3.1. Differential diagnosis Differential diagnosis of Paget breast with skin diseases such as:
Psoriasis Eczema Nipple Bowen's disease Melanoma... 3.2. Definitive diagnosis Clinical examination: based on lesion location, lesion characteristics Long-lasting lesions, conventional treatment unresponsive Histopathology Immunohistochemical staining

4. Is Paget's disease of the breast dangerous?

Up to 98% of cases of Paget's disease of the breast are associated with breast cancer. Therefore, patients should be very careful not to be subjective with this skin disease. The disease is very easy to misdiagnose with other skin diseases, so it is difficult to detect and the time to detect the disease is slow. Many women only go to the doctor when the disease is too advanced, breast cancer has developed. If left for a long time, metastatic cancer is very difficult to treat, with a high probability of death.
Prognosis for people with Paget's disease of the breast depends on many factors such as: the stage of disease detection, whether there is a tumor in the breast or not... If there is no tumor, the prognosis will be worse. The 10-year survival rate is about 80-90%. But if there is tumor, invasive breast carcinoma, the 5-year survival rate of the patient is about 40% and the 10-year survival rate is only about 20%.
To prevent breast cancer, women need to be wary of lesions in the nipple and areola area, even very small but lasting lesions. When detecting abnormal signs, it is necessary to immediately go to a medical facility so that doctors can diagnose and treat promptly.

Vinmec International General Hospital has been deploying Packages for screening and early detection of breast - gynecological cancer for female customers over 40 years old, who need to be able to screen for cancer. breast-gynecological (cervical, uterine, ovary). Support customers to examine and detect diseases early for timely treatment.

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