Crusty Nipples

Nipples and the areola surrounding them should be soft and supple. But if you notice some crusty or scaly skin, it can be a sign of Paget's Disease of the breast (sometimes called Paget's disease of the nipple), a type of breast cancer. The crusty skin actually contains cancer cells. Found primarily in women, Paget's disease of the breast is a medical condition that should not be confused with another disease called Paget's Disease, which is a bone disorder.

Typically, only one nipple is affected in Paget's disease of the breast. The nipple may be flattened or inverted any may produce a straw-colored or bright red discharge. Other signs include flaky skin, redness, itching, and burning, much like signs of the skin condition eczema. These signs may come and go, making a woman, and sometimes her doctor, think that she has just a simple recurrent skin condition. unfortunately, many women with Paget's disease of the breast have these warning signs for 6 or 8 months before their cancer is diagnosed. This may be because they put off going to their docotr, or their doctor initially attributed the signs to another disorder.

As with other forms of breast cancer, Paget's disease of the breast can be classified two ways: either as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), which is a very early stage of breast cancer with cancer cells that are confined to the milk ducts, or as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, a late-stage with cancer that has spread from the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

Besides a breast lump, here are other signs of breast cancer:

Crusty or Scaly Nipples

Inverted Nipples

Bloody Nipple Discharge

Redness or Swelling of the Breast

Breast Skin That Resembles The Texture of an Orange Peel (Peau D'orange)

Breast Assymetry

A Sore or Ulcer that Does Not Heal