About us

The living with and beyond breast cancer self-management programme has been specially designed to support patients who have come to the end of treatment. 

It is a type of follow up where routine, clinical examination appointments are replaced with a system where patients can contact the LWBC team directly when they have a concern. This can enable quick access to the breast care team and the hospital when required.

Routine follow-up imaging is arranged by open access and the results are sent to you by a letter along with future scan appointments.

Contacts 

Email: geh.breastcarelwbc@nhs.net

Telephone:    Rebecca Bourne, Clinical nurse specialist  – 07341055424

Marie Hambridge, LWBC Co-ordinator – 07879685900

It is important to stay breast and body aware. Breast awareness involves:

  • being aware of changes in the breast
  • getting know what is normal for you
  • feeling the breast with the flat of your hands
  • taking time to look at the breast in different positions.

Talk to our team about any new changes that don’t have an obvious cause and that don’t go away.

Changes to report:

  • Any new lumps in the breast area or under the arm on either side or on the neck or collar bone.
  • Bleeding from the nipple
  • A change in shape or outline of the breast
  • Swelling of the arm or breast also described as Lymphoedema
  • Puckering of the skin
  • Inverted nipple

 

Signs and symptoms

  • Breathlessness, not associated with a cold or chest infection
  • A new pain that is persistent anywhere in the body that lasts for more than two weeks
  • Any other new symptom that lasts for more than two weeks
  • Sudden pins and needles and/or a loss of sensation or weakness in your arms or legs
  • Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
  • A constant feeling of being sick (nausea
  • Discomfort or swelling under your ribs or across your tummy area (abdomen)
  • A persistent dry cough
  • Severe headaches – usually worse in the morning
  • Altered vision or speech
  • Any yellowing of the white of tor eyes or skin (Jaundice)
  • Dizziness and balance issue

 

Further information about this is in our Open Access follow-up treatment for breast cancer' booklet.

Follow up may include:

  • Mammogram
  • Bone density surveillance (Dexa)

Mammograms

Depending on you’re surgery you will likely require a mammogram every year for 5 years following you’re diagnosis.

You should receive a result for a routine follow up mammogram within a month of it being performed. If you have not received this please call the LWBC Co-ordinator on 07879685900.

We will not routinely see you in clinic as you will be under the Open Access follow-up. This means you remain under the care of the LWBC breast care team for 5 years after your diagnosis and can contact the LWBC team directly. This can enable quick access to the Breast Care team.

After 5 years

If you are younger than 50 when diagnosed, you will be given a yearly mammogram until the age of 50 is reached.

If you are over the age of 50, you will be inviting to have three-yearly mammograms up to the age of 73 as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme.

If you are over the age of 73, you are still eligible to be screened by request. Please contact your GP.

Bone Density Surveillance (DEXA Scan)

You will be required to have a DEXA Scan if you are on a specific type of Endocrine treatment a Bone density scan may be required throughout the 5 year surveillance period..

During your five-year follow-up

Many patients find that speaking to their breast care nurse can be an easy way to discuss any concern that they may have. If you have any new symptoms you are worried about the breast care nurse can organise an appointment should you need to see a breast specialist.

You can contact the Breast LWBC nurse specialist on 07341055424.

After your five-year follow-up

In the UK the survival of people with breast cancer has improved greatly over the past decade and many will have no further problems after they finish their treatment.

If you have had no further problems during you’re five-year follow-up you will be discharged from the Breast care team, and you GP will be made aware at the time of discharge.

After you have been discharged from follow-up, your GP will be you’re main contact to get concerns checked quickly.

If you have any concerns, see you’re GP. Make sure they know about you’re cancer diagnosis, particularly if you were diagnose sometime before, or if you have a new GP.

 

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