Information for patients and families

OUR dedicated team provides diagnostic and therapeutic care and treatment to approximately 500,000 patients within the Bradford area.

It also acts as a tertiary referral centre for the neighbouring areas of Airedale, Dewsbury, Halifax and Huddersfield for patients requiring diagnostic breast screening and breast reconstruction.

A team of specialist staff provides support to patients diagnosed with breast problems before, during and after treatment. Patients without breast symptoms who have concerns about a family history of breast cancer can also be referred to the service for professional advice and support.

Close links exist with other specialist services, including Radiology, Pathology, Plastic Surgery, Oncology, Clinical Genetics and Palliative Care.

Outpatient services are provided in a dedicated diagnostic outpatient facility, the Dales Suite, located on level 2, area 8, of the Horton Wing at St Luke’s Hospital.

Patients requiring further assessment after attending for screening mammography are invited to appointments at our Pennine Suite, located directly opposite our Dales Suite.

If you have a new breast symptom you should contact your GP immediately who will arrange for you to be seen at one of the five weekly symptomatic breast clinics held at the Dales Unit (Area 8, Level 2) at St Luke’s Hospital. This appointment will provide you with the opportunity to meet a consultant breast surgeon who will assess and advise on your symptoms and any treatment if required.

If you have attended for a recent breast screening x-ray (mammogram), you may be invited for a further assessment appointment. An invitation letter will be sent to attend an appointment within the Pennine Breast Screening Unit at St Luke’s Hospital.

At this appointment you will meet with a consultant breast radiologist and breast care nurse specialist, who will advise you on the reason for your second appointment and any further x-rays, ultrasound scans and tests required.

Your visit to the breast clinic may take several hours to allow all necessary tests to be carried out. The order in which the tests are completed will vary between clinics. You may want to bring a friend or relative with you for company or support. However, they won’t usually be allowed in clinical areas.

A doctor or specialist nurse, experienced in diagnosing and treating breast problems, will usually see you first. You will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire about any family history of breast problems, any medication you’re taking –  including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the contraceptive pill – or any previous breast surgery (including breast implants).

This will be followed by a breast examination, where the doctor or nurse will check both breasts. The examination involves looking at and feeling both breasts when you are sitting and lying down. As part of the examination, it’s usual to examine the lymph nodes (glands) under your arm. You may need to have further tests. They will usually include one or more of the following:

• Mammogram (breast x-ray)
• Ultrasound scan

If an abnormality is felt in the breast or axilla (underarm) examination, or seen on the ultrasound or mammogram of the breast, your doctor may perform one or two further tests:

• A fine needle aspiration (FNA) which involves taking one or more samples of breast cells or cells from the gland under your arm, known as lymph nodes, using a fine needle and syringe
• A core biopsy which obtains a sample (sometimes several) of breast tissue from the area of concern. Tissue is taken rather than cells because it provides more detailed information

If you are unable to attend your planned appointment please contact:

• Breast reception – for all patients referred to The Dales Unit with a new breast symptom. Call 01274 365330/36574/365063/365844 to re-book your appointment

• Breast screening main reception – for all patients invited to a further appointment after your screening breast x-ray (mammogram). Call 01274 365525 to re-book your appointment

• Information for patients having breast surgery
• Information following treatment for patients with early breast cancer
• An introduction to the breast multidisciplinary team

• Top Bradford surgeon scoops RGS fellowship

Our talented and compassionate staff care for a diverse population, making Bradford a special place to work. Choosing the right people is key to our success. If you think you’ve got what it takes, please contact us by email at careers@bthft.nhs.uk to discover more about our latest opportunities.