Symptom 3: A Change in the Appearance of Your Nipple
Paget’s disease may cause noticeable alterations in the nipple’s appearance, often a sign of the disease’s progression. These changes could include the flattening or inversion of the nipple or even a shift in size or shape. Thickening of the skin or the development of ulcers and sores may also occur.
Flattening or inversion of the nipple can be particularly distressing for many patients. Normally, nipples can invert (pull inward) as a natural variant of their shape. However, if your nipple starts to pull inward or change shape and you’ve never noticed this before, it’s worth getting it checked out by a healthcare professional. This is particularly true if the change is one-sided and doesn’t affect both nipples.
Additionally, some individuals might observe thickening of the skin around the nipple. The skin might appear unusually hard, rigid, or dense. Such changes in the skin’s texture could be a response to the abnormal growth of cells under the skin. As the disease progresses, these changes can become more apparent and may even extend to the breast skin, causing more generalized thickening or hardening.
In the more advanced stages of Paget’s disease, the affected skin could also develop ulcers or sores. These skin alterations might seem similar to an open wound or abrasion and can be incredibly painful. The sores may ooze fluids, further complicating the situation. (3)
