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Breast cancer is not one of the cancers treated at the Trust.
In Greater Manchester, breast cancer units are at the following hospitals:

Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale
Fairfield General Hospital, Bury
Hope Hospital, Salford
North Manchester General Hospital
Royal Bolton Hospital
Royal Oldham Hospital
Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport
Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne
Withington Hospital, South Manchester


More information about breast cancer services can be found by clicking here.

What if I think I might have breast cancer/what should I look out for? back to top
If you are worried that you are at high risk of breast cancer because of your family history you can find out more by clicking here.
If you are worried that you might have breast cancer, you should go and see your family doctor (GP) as soon as possible. Your GP will then decide whether you should be sent to see a doctor who specialises in breast cancer.

The Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer is a guide for doctors, to help ensure that the patient is seen quickly if the doctor thinks he or she may have cancer. Information about the guidelines can be seen by clicking here
You will also find information about what to look out for, and tests that may be carried out if your doctor thinks you might have breast cancer.

Treatment back to top
The treatment for cancer is decided on an individual basis, so the treatment may not be the same for everyone.

The treatment given will depend on:

• The type of cancer and where it is
• If it has spread
• The general health of the person with cancer
• The wishes of the person with cancer
  

The doctor will discuss treatment options with the person with cancer and help them decide which is the best one for them. The opportunity to take part in a clinical trial, where a new treatment is tested, may also be offered. For more general information about treatments for cancer click here.

A lot of people with cancer worry that if they go to the Christie Hospital for treatment it means their cancer must be worse. This is not true. Many of the teams at hospitals in Greater Manchester work closely with the doctors from the Christie Hospital. This means that some people go to the Christie Hospital for treatment not because their cancer is worse but because that is where the doctors are based. All patients needing radiotherapy also go to the Christie Hospital. This is because that is where the radiotherapy machines are.

Useful links back to top
Information about breast awareness produced by the Breast Cancer Campaign:
http://hosted.aware.easynet.co.uk/info/bse.htm

For information about breast screening produced by the NHS screening programme:
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/index.html

Information about all aspects of breast cancer produced by Cancerhelp:
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=343

Information about all aspects of breast cancer produced by Cancerbackup:
www.cancerbackup.org.uk/info/breast.htm

Information about all aspects of breast cancer produced by Breast Cancer Care:
www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breastcancer

Information about breast reconstruction produced by Cancerbackup
www.cancerbackup.org.uk/info/breast-reconstruction.htm

Information about breast reconstruction produced by CancerHelp
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3346

Guidelines on identifying and caring for women at risk of developing breast cancer due to a family history.
www.nice.org.uk


Information about hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer produced by the Royal Marsden Hospital: Click here

Information about male breast cancer: www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=5075

Support back to top
Any woman who is being investigated or diagnosed with a breast cancer may experience fear and anxiety about the whole process, treatment and prognosis. It is therefore very important to have a contact person for support.

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse who is part of the Breast Cancer Team at each Breast Unit provides women and their family/friends with support as well as information and advice about their diagnosis and treatment.

Support Contacts
There are many different types of self-help and support groups. They may be set up by people who wanted help to cope with their illness or treatment, or by professionals. The activities they offer may vary. For example, some hold informal get togethers or structured meetings with activities and speakers. Some groups may produce a newsletter, offer telephone or internet support, befriending and home or hospital visiting.

The authors of this site do not endorse any particular groups, and anyone looking for a support group is advised to find out more about the group, including who runs it, what it offers and what its aims are.

Breast Cancer Care
Kiln House
210 New Kings Rd
London SW6 4NZ
Helpline 0808 800 6000
Textphone 0808 800 6001
www.breastcancercare.org.uk
Freephone helpline offers support and information about breast cancer in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Support and information about diagnosing, treating and living with breast cancer, including male breast cancer, and travel insurance for breast cancer patients.
As part of Breast Cancer Care, the Lavender Trust provides information and support for younger women affected by breast cancer.

Cancer Aid and Listening Line

Helpline providing a condential service for people with cancer, their families and friends, run by trained volunteers with personal experience of cancer.  Offers a listening ear and emotional support.

Helpline: 0845 123 23 29

Website:www.canceraid.co.uk

Cancerbackup
3 Bath Place
Rivington Street
London
EC2A 3JR
www.cancerbackup.org.uk
Freephone helpline 0808 800 1234

Support and information for people affected by cancer, including over 50 booklets and 134 factsheets on cancer, treatment and living with cancer
Helpline staffed by nurse specialists.

Macmillan Cancer Support
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7EQ
Macmillan CancerLine freephone helpline 0808 808 2020
Textphone: 0808 808 0121
www.macmillan.org.uk
Support and information for people affected by cancer, including information on cancer support and care charities in the UK, and leaflets/booklets about different cancers and living with cancer. Also information about Macmillan services, from nursing to grants.
Link to Language Line to help callers in up to 150 languages.

NHS Direct
Telephone service: 0845 46 47
Textphone 0845 606 46 47
NHS Direct Online www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
24 hour confidential nurse advice and health information telephone service with access to interpreters.
Online information

Amarant Trust (advice line for women going through the menopause)
01293 413000 (Monday to Friday 11a.m. to 6 p.m.)
www.amarantmenopausetrust.org

If you would like more information or have any questions about cancer, please e-mail your question here