What to expect from lumpectomy for Paget disease of the breast

Paget disease affects the skin of the nipple and may be linked with abnormal cells deeper in the breast. During breast-conserving surgery, the surgeon removes the nipple-areola complex and a surrounding area of breast tissue. Imaging and examination help define what needs to be removed. The laboratory checks the tissue and the surgical edges. Removal of the nipple and areola changes the breast surface; reconstruction or tattooing can be discussed later if wanted.

The pathology findings, breast imaging and any other cancer features help your team decide whether radiotherapy, hormone treatment or another operation should be considered.

Give your team a complete list of medicines and tell them about smoking, allergies and previous reactions to anaesthesia. Plan transport home and loose, comfortable clothing. Keep the dressing dry as instructed, take prescribed pain relief, and avoid pressure on the wound. Gentle shoulder movement may help prevent stiffness, but follow the specific limits set by your surgeon. Attend the appointment where the pathology result and treatment plan are reviewed.

Call the care team for fever, spreading redness, increasing warmth, drainage, wound opening, worsening pain or swelling that feels tense. Get urgent help for uncontrolled bleeding, sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or collapse. Changes to the nipple-area wound should be checked if they progress or do not improve as expected.

Ask how much tissue will be removed, whether imaging suggests disease elsewhere in the breast, how the nipple-area wound will be dressed, when pathology will be ready, whether radiotherapy is advised and what reconstruction options are available.