Paget's is usually associated with underlying cancers of the breast and that, depending on the nature of that cancer, the usual treatment in surgical in the first instance and may be followed up with either radiation or chemotherapy or both - treatments that are truly incompatible with breastfeeding. Mothers should be given the option of maintaining a milk supply (in the unaffected breast, given that the affected breast - or at least nipple will be removed) while receiving treatment to enable breastfeeding to be re-established in the event that the mother goes into remission ... As to your question, I believe that cancer is a non-infectious disease and so not transmissable from person to person. Nina Berry Australia -----Original Message----- From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Broviak Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 2:42 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Paget's Disease of the Nipple Paget's Disease of the Nipple- My name is Nick Broviak. I am currently enrolled in the RN program at Ivy Tech College of Indianapolis, IN. Throughout the semester we have been exploring multiple aspects of Obstetrics. One of the areas I took notice of was a condition called Paget's disease of the nipple. I didn't think I had read it correctly, but apparently I had. I know Paget's disease as the condition usually characteristic of abnormal bone growth. So as I speculate and critically work my way through the pathophysiology. I don't get very far. I don't get much past GO, because breast tissue is composed mostly of adipose tissue, not bone. Breasts made of bone would make it exceedingly difficult to facilitate the production and passage of milk. After arriving at this award winning conclusion, I decided to investigate just a little bit deeper. I felt fairly comfortable with my grasp of Paget's disease, but not so confident about the nipple condition. Nursing school, as most nurses remember, requires a student to establish multiple and consistent resources of correct information. I'm not sure if anyone has ever relied so heavily on a resource as I rely on Stedman's Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing. It is my secret decoder ring for medical terminology. I was unpleasantly surprised that, Paget's disease of the nipple didn't make the cut. It did serve to reinforce my initial understanding of the bone condition. Stedman didn't help. What resource did pull through, was my second in command, www.webmd.com. Paget's disease of the nipple, also called Paget's disease of the breast, is actually a type of cancer that forms around the nipple. Maybe one of the reason's it caught my attention is because it occurs so infrequently. The article said it occurs in less than five percent of all breast cancers. On an irrelevant note, I also learned that there is a Paget's disease of the vulva. Some of the signs and symptoms of the nipple condition include pain, itching, scaling of the nipple skin, and potential for nipple discharge. As I wind my way through this discovery, I begin to wonder what complications would arise if a postpartum mother, with the condition, chose to breastfeed her child. If the signs and symptoms present the way they do, I would anticipate difficulty in the mechanics. How will the newborn secure a firm and consistent latch with excoriated and scaling nipple tissue? Can mom tolerate continued and regular feedings? Would a barrier be used? After all of the speculating, one question seemed twelve times as important as the others. Have risk factors been identified for maternal-infant transmission? References: 1. DeVita,VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 2. Kaelin CM. Paget's Disease. In: Harris JR, Lippman ME, Morrow M, Osborne CK, editors. Diseases of the Breast. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 3. Martorana, Clare A., Breast Cancer Health Center, Paget's Disease of the Nipple. Retrieved on October 5, 2007, from http://www.webmd.com 4. Niederhuber, M.D., John E., Paget's Disease of the Nipple: Questions and Answers. Retrieved October 5, 2007, from http://www.cancer.gov *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask]) To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask]) To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]