As Paget's disease of the nipple is usually a sign of breast cancer, it's very important you see your GP if you notice changes to the tissue or skin of your breast.

In particular, you should tell your GP if you notice any changes to:

• the skin of your nipple or areola (the darker area of skin around the nipple)
• your breasts, particularly lumps in your breast 

Paget's disease of the nipple can sometimes be confused with eczema, a skin condition that also causes red, itchy and dry skin.

Therefore, you should visit your GP for a diagnosis rather than assuming you have eczema. Paget's disease is a form of breast cancer and the sooner it's diagnosed, the better the outcome is likely to be.

Examination and history

Your GP will examine both breasts, even if you only have a problem with 1 of them. They may also ask you:

• about your symptoms and how long you've had them
• whether you have eczema or have had it in the past 
• whether you've had breast cancer or have a family history of it 
• your age and whether you've had the menopause (when a woman's monthly periods stop)
• whether you're taking any medication, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is used to treat some of the symptoms of the menopause, or the oral contraceptive pill
• how much alcohol you drink
• how much you weigh and if you've recently gained weight

If your GP thinks you may have breast cancer, they'll refer you to a specialist breast clinic for tests.

Breast clinic

At the breast clinic you'll have tests to find out whether you have breast cancer and, if you have, what type of breast cancer.

Staff at the clinic may photograph your breasts to record their current appearance and help identify any further changes that may occur.

Tests you might have at the clinic may include:

• an examination of your breasts to check for lumps or other abnormalities
• a mammogram (if you're 35 years of age or over)
• an ultrasound scan – which is the first line of investigation used in younger women
• a skin biopsy will be carried out if Paget's disease is suspected (a punch biopsy of the skin of the nipple and/or areola)

Mammogram

A mammogram is a simple procedure that uses X-rays to create an image of the inside of your breasts. It can identify early changes in your breast tissue when it may be difficult to feel a lump.

Younger women often have denser breasts than older women, which can make identifying changes more difficult. Therefore, mammograms are not as effective in women under 35 years of age. If you're under 35, your doctor may suggest you have a breast ultrasound instead (see below).

However, if Paget's disease of the nipple is confirmed, mammography will become an important part of pre-surgery assessment.

During a mammogram, the radiographer will position 1 of your breasts on a flat X-ray plate. A second X-ray plate will press down on your breast from above, temporarily compressing and flattening it between the 2 plates.

An X-ray will be taken, which will give a clear image of the inside of your breast. The procedure will then be carried out on your other breast.

Having a mammogram can be slightly uncomfortable or even painful, but it only takes a few minutes. The image that's produced will be looked at by 2 people, called film readers, image readers or radiologists, for signs of cancer.

Breast ultrasound

If you're under 35 years of age, a breast ultrasound may be recommended. This is because your breast tissue may be too dense for a mammogram. Your doctor may also suggest a breast ultrasound if they need to find out whether a lump in your breast is solid or contains liquid.

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your breasts. An ultrasound probe or sensor will be placed over your breasts to create an image on a screen. The image will show any lumps or abnormalities that are present.

Skin biopsy

A skin biopsy is often used to confirm a diagnosis of Paget's disease of the nipple. A small tissue sample will be taken from your nipple or the skin around it. The sample will be examined under a microscope and tested to see if it's cancerous.

Further tests

If a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed, a number of other tests can be carried out to help determine what types of treatment might be used.

Read more about further tests for breast cancer.

Paget's disease of the nipple is usually associated with breast cancer.

It's treated by removing the cancerous part of the breast, or sometimes the entire breast using a procedure called a mastectomy.

You can discuss any concerns you have with your oncologist (cancer specialist), who will be able to explain each phase of your treatment.

Surgery

If you're diagnosed with Paget's disease of the nipple, surgery is often the first type of treatment you'll receive.

The 2 main types of surgery are:

• mastectomy – surgery to remove the whole breast, which can be followed by reconstructive surgery to recreate the removed breast
• breast-conserving surgery – where only the cancerous lump (tumour) and a little surrounding breast tissue are removed 

These types of surgery will also involve removing your nipple and the darker area of skin surrounding it (the areola).

The 2 different types of surgery are discussed in more detail below.

Mastectomy

During a mastectomy, all of your breast tissue, including your nipple, will be removed. You may need to have a mastectomy if:

• the tumour is large or in the centre of your breast
• there's more than 1 area of breast cancer
• breast-conserving surgery will not provide acceptable results

If lymph nodes (small glands) are removed from your armpit during a mastectomy, the scarring may block the filtering action of the lymph nodes, resulting in a condition called lymphoedema.

This is a long-term condition, but can be treated with:

• specialised massage techniques
• compression sleeves – tightly fitting bandages that push excess fluid out of your arm
• exercises
• skin care 

Lymphoedema can develop months or sometimes years after surgery. Contact your GP or breast care nurse if you notice any swelling in your arm or hand on the side of your operation.

Read more about mastectomy.

Breast-conserving surgery

Breast-conserving surgery aims to save as much of your breast as possible while removing the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue.

If you have Paget's disease of the nipple, your nipple and areola will be removed. You should be offered reconstructive surgery to improve the appearance of your breast after surgery (see below).

If you have breast-conserving surgery, the amount of breast tissue removed will depend on:

• the size of the tumour in relation to the size of your breast
• whether the tumour is in 1 place or scattered throughout your breast

Your surgeon will remove some healthy breast tissue around the cancer so it can be tested for traces of cancer. If cancer cells are found in the surrounding tissue, more tissue may need to be removed from your breast.

After having breast-conserving surgery, it's likely you'll need to have radiotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Read more about breast-conserving surgery.

Breast reconstruction

If you have a mastectomy, you may be able to have reconstructive surgery to recreate your breast. This can be done by:

• inserting a breast implant
• using tissue from another part of your body to create a new breast

The reconstruction can be carried out at the same time as your mastectomy or at a later stage. You should fully discuss your options with your surgeon and breast nurse before making a decision.

For example, it may be possible to have reconstructive surgery after breast-conserving surgery to improve the appearance of your breast and create a nipple.

A nipple can be created by:

• having a nipple tattooed onto the skin
• using your own body tissue, such as tissue from your other nipple, although around half of these flatten out and shrink over time
• using a stick-on latex (rubber) nipple, which can be made from a mould of your other nipple so that they're identical; you stick it on every day with glue and it can be removed for washing

Read more about breast reconstruction. 

Prostheses

If you decide not to have breast reconstruction, you can wear a false breast or breast prosthesis, which is available free on the NHS.

After having a mastectomy, you may have a temporary, fibre-filled prosthesis and a permanent prosthesis made from silicone, which can be replaced every 2 years.

Further treatment

After your surgery, you may need further treatment if you have invasive breast cancer (where the cancerous cells have spread into other tissue in your breast).

If you have non-invasive breast cancer (where the breast cancer cells are contained in 1 area of your breast), surgery may be the only treatment you need.

Other types of treatment for breast cancer include:

• chemotherapy – where powerful medicine is used to destroy cancer cells and prevent them dividing and growing 
• radiotherapy – where controlled doses of high-energy radiation, usually X-rays, are used to destroy cancer cells
• targeted therapy – if your breast cancer is HER2 positive, targeted therapy, usually a medicine called trastuzumab, can be used to treat the cancer by stopping the effects of HER2 and helping your immune system fight off cancer cells
• hormone therapy – if your breast cancer is hormone-receptor positive, hormone therapy can be used to treat the cancer by lowering the levels of hormones in your body or stopping their effects

Read more about how breast cancer is treated.

A number of things may help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Diet and lifestyle

Exercising regularly and eating a healthy, balanced diet are known to help prevent many forms of cancer, as well as other serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet and, although there are no definite conclusions at the moment, there are benefits for women who maintain a healthy weight, take regular exercise and who have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol.

It's been suggested that exercising regularly (a minimum of 150 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes a week) can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by up to a third.

Read more about the physical activity guidelines for adults.

If you've experienced the menopause (when your monthly periods stop), it's very important you're not overweight or obese. This is because these conditions cause more oestrogen to be produced, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Read more about preventing breast cancer.

Breastfeeding

Studies have shown that women who breastfeed are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than those who do not.

The reasons for this are not fully understood, but it could be because women do not ovulate as regularly while they're breastfeeding and their oestrogen levels remain stable.

Medicine

Medicines called tamoxifen and raloxifene are available on the NHS for women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

These medicines may not be suitable if you've had blood clots or womb cancer in the past, or if you have an increased risk of developing these problems in the future. If you've already had a mastectomy to remove both breasts you will not be offered these medicines because your risk of developing breast cancer is very small.

Either tamoxifen or raloxifene can be used in women who've had the menopause.

A course of treatment with tamoxifen or raloxifene will usually involve taking a tablet every day for 5 years.

Raloxifene can cause side effects including flu-like symptoms, hot flushes and leg cramps. Side effects of tamoxifen can include hot flushes and sweats, changes to your periods and nausea and vomiting.

Tamoxifen can increase your risk of developing blood clots, so you should stop taking it 6 weeks before any planned surgery.

Tamoxifen and raloxifene are not currently licensed for reducing the chances of getting breast cancer in women with an increased risk of developing it. However, they can still be used if you understand the benefits and risks and your doctor believes the treatment will be helpful.

Breast screening

Breast screening can pick up breast cancer before it forms a lump. The procedure uses mammograms, where X-rays are taken, to create an image of the inside of your breasts.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every 3 years for all women in the UK who are 50 years of age or over. In some areas, women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73 are also invited for screening as part of a trial looking at whether the screening age range should be extended.

NHS breast screening is not usually available for women under 47 years of age. This is because younger women tend to have denser breast tissue, which makes mammograms less effective at identifying abnormalities.

Speak to your GP if you're below screening age and worried about changes in your breasts, or you have a family history of breast cancer.

Read more about breast cancer screening.