Definition
Paget's disease of the nipple - otherwise known as Paget's disease of the breast (not to be confused with Paget's disease of 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 suffering from 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 hypotheses about it.
The first hypothesis is that the tumor cells of a pre-existing breast carcinoma migrate through the milk channels, then invade the nipple and the areola and thus give rise to Paget's disease of the breast. This would explain why this disease and breast cancer are often associated.
The second hypothesis, on the other hand, assumes that the cells of the nipple and of the areola undergo a neoplastic transformation independently and this would explain why, in some patients, Paget's disease develops in the absence of a pre-existing carcinoma at the otherwise.
Symptoms
Paget's disease of the breast usually affects a single nipple and can also extend to the areola, causing a change in the skin similar to eczema. This manifestation can be confused with other skin diseases and this can make the diagnosis of the neoplasm difficult.
Other symptoms that may arise in patients with Paget's disease of the nipple are dry skin, irritation, swelling, redness, itching, tingling sensation, burning, formation of straw-colored discharge from the nipple, inversion or inversion of the nipple, formation of a breast lump, skin erosions and skin ulcer formation.
The information on Paget's Disease of the Nipple - 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 Disease of the Nipple - Drugs and Care.
Medicines
Treatment of Paget's disease of the nipple generally involves the surgical removal of the nipple and areola involved in the disease and of the portion of the breast affected by any concomitant breast cancer. In some cases, it may also be necessary to remove the nipples. axillary lymph nodes.
In addition to surgical treatment - if deemed necessary - the doctor may also decide to prescribe radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and / or therapy based on anticancer drugs, in order to eliminate any residual malignant cells and in order to prevent the "onset of relapses.
Foto Paget's Disease of the Nipple
Below are some types of anticancer drugs most used in the therapy against Paget's disease of the nipple and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the active ingredient and dosage most suitable for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment.
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 Paget's disease of the nipple.
Capecitabine belongs to the class of antimetabolites and is available in tablet form for oral administration.
The drug dose usually used is 1250 mg / m2 of body surface area per day, to be administered in two divided doses. A cycle of therapy has a duration of 21 days divided as follows: 14 days in which the drug is taken, followed by a 7-day break in which the drug is interrupted.
If capecitabine is used in combination therapy, then a reduction in the administered drug dose may be necessary.
Docetaxel
Docetaxel (Taxotere ®, Docetaxel Winthrop ®, Docetaxel Teva ®, Docetaxel Teva Pharma ®, Docetaxel Mylan ®) is an active ingredient with anticancer action belonging to the class of antimitotics.
Docetaxel is an anticancer drug widely used in the treatment of breast cancer available in pharmaceutical formulations to be taken intravenously.
The dose of drug to be administered will have to be established by the doctor, according to the body surface and conditions 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 postmenopausal women.
It is available in the form of tablets suitable for oral administration. The usual dose of exemestane used is 25 mg per day. The active ingredient is generally absorbed more if taken immediately after a high-fat meal.
