Are you breast care aware?
Sponsored feature | Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, affecting almost 55,000 women each year. The good news is that more women than ever are surviving thanks to advances in treatment and earlier detection through screening. As October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month highlights this important healthcare issue, we put your questions to Mr Amit Agrawal, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital.
When is best to check?
Breast cancer can occur at any age. About one in eight women are diagnosed during their lifetime, so self-examination routines are a vital part of being breast aware and understanding what feels right or usual for you. As women get older their risk of developing breast cancer increases and while most women diagnosed are over the age of 50, younger women can also get breast cancer. If breast cancer is detected at an early stage there is often a good chance of recovery, which is why breast care and screening are so vital.
What if I find a lump?
Remember that your breasts may look and feel differently during your cycle - finding a lump is not necessarily a sign that you have breast cancer, it could be caused by benign (non-cancerous) changes, cysts (fluid-filled glands) or other conditions, but you should have it checked just to be sure. There are other signs to look out for and if you notice a lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge or changes in your breast appearance then talk to your GP who can refer you to our specialist breast clinic for screening.
What is breast screening?
Breast screening is provided by a mammogram diagnostic test used to look for any problems within the breast and surrounding tissues. The mammogram X-rays only take a few minutes but can detect breast cancer or other issues at the earliest possible stage, which significantly helps improve successful treatment outcomes. Importantly, they can rule out most worrying causes.
I haven’t been checked and I’m worried
Try not to worry, there are a couple of options for routes to diagnosis. One is the NHS Breast Screening Programme, which is free for all women aged between 50 and 70 and offers a mammogram screening every three years, another is with a clinic that can provide fast track analysis through private healthcare. Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital offers regular clinics with dedicated breast specialists, so you don’t have to wait if you want breast screening peace of mind.
What if I’m not in a screening category?
If you don’t have symptoms, a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and are not in the NHS screening age range, you can still have rapid access to our team of breast care experts who will provide scans, treatments, professional advice and mammograms for those over 40 years old, or MRI scans for those under 40 years of age in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines at Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital.
Mr Amit Agrawal holds his clinic every Monday at Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital, 4 Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AF. For more information, call 01223 370922 or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/cambridge.
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