We have the following facilities:
- Waiting Room
- 2 Consulting Rooms
- Breast Care Nurse Discussion Room
- Mammography Room
- Ultrasound Room
- Treatment Room
- Disabled Facility
- Courtyard Garden
Coffee and hot chocolate are available at a cost of £1 in the Helen Clark Suite.
Water is available free of charge in the Helen Clark and Beauchamp Suites.
Most appointments are based in the Helen Clark Suite, however some breast clinics are also held in the Beauchamp Suite. This should be made clear on your clinic appointment letter, if you are unsure please call the Breast Care Team on 01926 495321 ex.8412.
Having an awareness of how your breasts or chest feels and looks is important for all women and men throughout their life. Although the risk of breast cancer raises with age it is sensible to be aware of your own breast or chest and know what is normal for you.
There is no right or wrong way to examine yourself, however we often recommend that you feel around your breast and chest area including your armpits with a flat hand when you are in the bath or shower.
The following links give you more information on how to do this and what signs and symptoms you should look out for and what to report to your GP.
Breast Cancer Now- Know your Breasts: A guide to breast awareness and screening.
‘Knowing Your Lemons’ Foundation campaign.
Know your lemons also has an accessible, free-to-use app called ‘Lemons’. This app not only sets a reminder for you to check your breasts but also has videos and audio information on how to check your breast and what lumps mean. There is a questionnaire to complete if you have concerns and an area for you to monitor your findings and keep a diary to determine what is normal for you according to your menstrual cycle and hormone changes through the month.
Facebook: knowyourlemonsfoundation
Instagram: @knowyourlemons
Twitter: @knowyourlemons
Youtube: knowyourlemons
CoppaFeel! Breast Cancer awareness
You can also sign up for shower reminder posters, text or email reminders to check your breasts through CoppaFeel!.
CoppaFeel! is a friendly website that works with one mission: everyone to regularly check their boobs. Their website has a video demonstrating how to check your breasts, why you check and what to look for with ‘Hand meet Boob – Boob check basics’.
Facebook: CoppaFeel!
Instagram: @coppafeelpeople
Twitter: @coppafeelpeople
We offer prosthesis fitting clinics at Stratford Hospital. Clinics are regularly run by Amoena and Trulife and provide full and partial prosthesis, as well as bra fitting advice. Click the links below for more information.
SWFT also host a Nicola Jane bra and swimwear advice service. Click the link below for more information and to book an appointment.
Read our patient information leaflet about Breast Prosthesis and Bra Fitting appointments.
Breast Care Team Members
The management of any breast concern requires a team approach and we work very closely as a multidisciplinary team including:- Consultant Breast Surgeons, Consultant Radiologists, Consultant Oncologists, Consultant Breast Pathologists, Breast Care Nurses and Specialist Breast Radiographers in conjunction with Consultant Plastic Surgeons based at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) and Geneticists based at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. We have strong links with our colleagues in the Breast Screening Unit, also based at the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. We hold a weekly Multidisciplinary Breast Team Meeting (MDTM) on a Monday afternoon.
Consultant Breast Surgeons: Mr Simon Harries (Lead), Miss Lucie Jones, Miss Ruvinder Athwal and Mr Mashuk Khan supported by two Registrars
Consultant Radiologists: Dr Paul Williams, Dr. Sapna Abdul Rahim and Dr Alpna Jain.
Consultant Breast Pathologists: Dr Naresh Chachlani, Dr Farah Sandhu, Dr Sreenivas Muthyala and Dr Amgad Youssef.
Consultant Clinical Oncologists: Dr Nawaz Walji, Dr Denise Hrouda based at Warwick Hospital and Dr Zin Oo based at the Rigby Unit, Stratford Hospital.
Breast Care Nurses: (Breast care nurses are experienced qualified nurses who have undertaken specialist training in the care of patients with breast cancer) Clinical Nurse Specialist Siân Corrie (lead), Clinical Nurse Specialist Paula Read, Secondary Breast Care Nurse Specialist Sarah McDonald, Clinical Nurse Specialist Laurie Smith, Breast Care Nurses Emma Main, Roxy Gallagher, Rebecca Burridge, Anna Farren, Lindsey Spicer
Breast Radiographers: Leigh-Anne Keyte (Lead), Sarah Bonsall, Kate Day and Kelly Deeley. We also work closely with the screening team, based at University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire
Additional staff: Breast Cancer Coordinator Kala Alvarez, Breast Care Administrator Trish Bates, Receptionists Ann Beadle and Alison Canning, Clinical Support Worker Margaret Maye, MDT Coordinator Laura White, and Breast Secretaries Ms. Charmaine Domingo and Mrs. Sarah Bates.
Patients can be referred to the breast clinic via several routes:
- GP referral with potential symptoms of breast cancer under “cancer suspected”` or “cancer not suspected” via the “Two Week Wait” or “Choose and Book”
- Non urgent GP referrals for family history advice or corrective surgery procedures
- Breast Screening
- Other hospital teams
What to expect at your appointment
Every attempt is made to keep all the clinics on time but sometimes the demands on the service make this difficult. Occasionally it is necessary to see some patients out of time order so that we can make the best use of our resources. Please bear with us as we will always do our best to see each patient as quickly and as effectively as possible.
Please allow two to three hours for your visit as a new patient. Although many patients are in the department for a much shorter period of time. You are welcome to bring a friend/partner with you, both to the initial visit and for any follow-up visits. Interpreter services are available on request.
On arrival, if you are a new patient, we will ask you to fill in an information leaflet (this can be completed at home if you wish). We use a “triple assessment” approach to assess any breast symptoms. The three elements are clinical, radiological and pathological assessment. Not all patients will require the full triple assessment with the majority needing only the clinical and radiological assessments.
Clinical Assessment
The doctor will take a full history of your breast problem plus background information such as any previous breast problems, family history, use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), previous mammograms etc. They will also ask about your general health and medication.
Radiological Assessment
In many, but not all, cases the doctor will recommend that you have breast imaging this could be:
- A mammogram - an x-ray technique used to examine the breast/s or chest
- Or an ultrasound scan - a painless test, that only takes a few minutes, where a special gel is placed on the breast and a small probe emitting sound waves, is passed over the area.
Generally mammograms are used for women over the age of 40 and ultrasound scans in women under 40, a woman over 40 may have both a mammogram and an ultrasound.
Pathological Assessment
Sometimes, a core biopsy is recommended to sample the breast tissue if an area of concern if found. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area and make the procedure as comfortable as possible. The core biopsy can be taken using ultrasound, x-ray guidance or occasionally by the breast doctor in the clinic. Specimens are then sent to the pathology laboratory to be examined, this process can take two to three weeks to obtain results.
The breast can be bruised, swollen and tender following a core biopsy but generally it settles within seven days. You may be offered an appointment to come back to the breast clinic to discuss the results of your investigations. Otherwise, you will be contacted by letter or telephone with your investigation results, a letter will also be sent to your GP.
Whenever possible, all investigations are undertaken at one appointment, however, there are times when this is not possible. If that is the case an appointment will be made for you to return to the Breast Care Unit, as soon as possible, to complete your investigations.
There are range of benign breast conditions that can occur at different stages of your life. These can vary between men and women but can present in a similar way to a breast cancer. If you notice a change in your breast or chest that is new for you then it is advisable to seek advice from your GP who will assess you and refer you to the breast clinic if you meet the referral guidelines.
Further information on a range of benign conditions.
The following is a list of common benign conditions, please visit the Breast Cancer Now website.
Breast Pain - See this leaflet for further information and details on this.
Fibroadenoma – See this leaflet for further information and details on this.
Breast cysts – See this leaflet for further information and details on this.
A breast cancer diagnosis can have a significant impact on you, your family or close friends. Treatment will be tailored to your particular breast cancer characteristics and may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. There are a number of other treatments that may be relevant for certain individuals such as immunotherapy or targeted treatments. The order in which you have these treatments may vary and there may be no need for certain treatments. Please talk to your Breast Care Nurse who can explain this in more detail.
Your Breast Care team will talk to you about the most suitable treatment for you depending on your particular cancer characteristics and your overall health and social situation.
Information and support will be given to you at each stage to help you make informed decisions about your treatment options.
On completion of your treatment for breast cancer you will have open access to the Breast Care team for 5 years as part of the Patient Centred Follow Up Pathway (PCFU). The open access pathway means that you will be self-managing with open access to the Breast Care Nurse team if you have any concerns.
You will have annual surveillance mammogram for 5 years, as appropriate, and will have an invitation to attend for a nurse led end of treatment discussion about 3 months after your treatment has finished.
Our team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and Breast Care Nurses (BCNs) are available to support you and your family through your diagnosis and treatment. We provide clinical guidance and evidence-based information to help with your decision-making related to treatments and wellbeing. We are able to offer emotional support and provide signposting to additional services offered locally and nationally.
We aim to provide holistic care based upon discussions with you and your family about your individual needs. These can also be assessed with the help of the Holistic Needs Assessment form - please see below. We would encourage you to make contact with the team to discuss any needs or concerns you may have.
Within the team we have Breast Care Nurses who specialise in surgery, chemotherapy and secondary breast cancer.
The Breast Care Nursing team also provide support and advice during the five year follow up period. Please see more information under Patient Centred Follow up Pathway.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is “research active”.
We actively screen patients for suitable research trials throughout their breast cancer pathway. If you would like to discuss this further you can talk to your medical team or email: cancerresearch
Breast Clinical Photography - Helen Clarke Suite
View a patient information leaflet on Clinical Photography. Clinical photography is a specialist type of photograph used by clinical staff in assessing treatment progress.
For further general information:
For further support;
- Penny Brohn UK - cancer wellbeing for everyone
- Maggie’s –everyone’s home of cancer care
- Fruitfly Collective- toolkits to help support children affected by a parent being diagnosed with cancer
Breast Care Nurses:
We are accessible by telephone Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm and there is a message facility.
Breast Care Nurses telephone number – 01926 495321 extension 4503 and email warwick.
- Helen Clark Suite Reception - 01926 495321 extension 8412
- Breast Care Secretaries - 01926 495321 extension 4325
- Breast Care Two Week Wait Team - 01926 495321 extension 8201
Please click here for the latest events.
Secondary Breast Cancer
Breast cancer starts as a lump in the breast – this is known as “primary” breast cancer.
“Secondary” breast cancer is the term used to describe breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast or axilla (armpit) to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain. If the breast cancer cells spread to the bones for example, it is known as “secondary or metastatic breast cancer of the bones”.
Secondary breast cancer is also known as “metastatic breast cancer”, “stage 4 breast cancer”, or “advanced breast cancer”.
Secondary breast cancer is often diagnosed years after a primary breast cancer, however, for some patients, secondary breast cancer is their first diagnosis of breast cancer.
In the UK, there are around 35,000 people living with secondary breast cancer and although secondary breast cancer cannot be cured, the aim of treatment is to control further spread of the disease and for many, this can be done for a number of years.
In 2018, we joined together with the two leading breast cancer charities at the time and our patients to identify what they felt mattered most to them. The outcomes helped us identify some important patient-led improvement goals that we then implemented into our daily practice ensuring that our patients at Warwick Hospital, received the highest standard of care and support.
All patients with secondary breast cancer (SBC), will be cared for by a Consultant Oncologist and will have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
The care and treatment for secondary breast cancer (SBC) is delivered across 2 hospital sites: The Aylesford Unit, Warwick Hospital and The Rigby Unit, Stratford Hospital.
Both units have welcoming and modern facilities aimed at delivering high quality, patient focused care in a warm and friendly environment.
Consultant Oncologists – a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating and managing your cancer treatment and care.
- Dr Nawaz Walji – covers Warwick Hospital
- Dr Denise Hrouda – covers Warwick Hospital
- Dr Clive Irwin – covers Stratford Hospital
All consultants cross cover each other when required.
Clinical Nurse Specialists – a nurse with specialist knowledge and skills in supporting patients diagnosed with and being treated for secondary breast cancer.
- Siân Corrie – Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist – covers Warwick Hospital
- Helen Millage – Nurse Specialist Breast Care – covers Stratford Hospital
The CNS Team are here to offer advise, support and information to both yourself, your family and/or your carer(s) and can provide you with information about your cancer and treatments, help with managing any side affects you may experience, make referrals to financial services, District Nurse or Community Specialist Palliative Care Teams if required or referrals for emotional psychological support.
Your continued health and wellbeing is very important to your team and one of the ways the CNS team support you in achieving this, is to intermittently offer you the chance to complete a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) – this will help your CNS identify any questions or concerns you may have regarding practical, family, emotional, spiritual or physical needs. Your responses help ensure the CNS provides you with personal and individualised care.
The CNS will always try to see you at your oncology outpatient appointment so they can offer you additional support and advise if needed, however, this is not always possible, so please do not hesitate to contact us afterwards if you have any questions.
The CNS Team cross cover each other with the additional support of the Breast Care Nurse Team if required.
Should you wish to contact the CNS Team outside of your scheduled oncology appointments, please contact us on:
Clinical Nurse Specialists:
Monday to Friday 08:30 to 4pm
Tel: 01926 495321 ext: 4503
The aim of treatment for secondary breast cancer is to:
- Control and/or slow down the rate the cancer can spread
- Relieve symptoms
- Give you the best quality of life possible by helping you to maintain your health and wellbeing
There are different treatment options available for secondary breast cancer such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies.
The treatment we recommend to you will be based on different factors such as any new information we may have about your cancer, any previous treatment you have received, the location of the secondary breast cancer site and your general health, together with any medical conditions or current medication you may be taking.
Your oncologist will involve you in all the decisions to be made about your treatment and your nurse specialist will support you in your understanding of the treatment aims, possible side effects and your treatment pathway.
Your response to treatment will be regularly reviewed and we use a variety of methods to assess your response, such as bone scans and CT scans.
If at any time during your treatment and follow-up you become concerned about new and persistent changes, please do not hesitate to contact the clinical nurse specialists who can arrange for you to have an earlier follow-up appointment.
Your CNS Team and The Macmillan Information Centre at your hospital have access to numerous publications and patient information on treatment, so please ask if you require any further information or you can access this information directly
Stopping treatment
For some patients, there comes a time when a shared decision is made to stop treatment.
This may be because you no longer wish to continue with treatment due to side effects reducing your quality of life, it may be due to the cancer spreading significantly that means treatment will no longer be effective, or possibly because you become too unwell on treatment and the side effects of your treatment would put you at an increased risk of becoming very unwell.
Whatever the reason is to stop treatment, your oncologist and nurse specialist will fully support you and ensure you have adequate support at home to help with any practical issues or to manage any ongoing side effects or symptoms you may have.
All patients are given an open appointment to allow them to see their oncologist again if they have any concerns or symptoms that are not managed in the community.
During difficult times, it is normal for some people to feel overwhelmed or experience a number of different feelings, for example, anger, frustration, uncertainty or loneliness and for some, support groups can help you realise you are not alone. Talking about how you feel can help you manage your feelings.
Depending on the group you choose, support groups can help you express feelings that you may find difficult in sharing with friends or family members or the groups may help you get to know someone who has experienced something similar to you – this can help you feel you are not alone and help you to understand your situation a little better.
Support groups may provide you with the knowledge and skills to help towards overcoming some of the challenges you may face.
Below are just some examples of the support that is available to you.
If you would like to discuss support groups, have a particular question or would just like to have a chat with your CNS, please contact your CNS Team on:
Tel: 01926 495321 ext: 4503 - Monday to Friday 08:30 to 4pm
Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford-upon-Avon) – provides support and palliative care for patients and their families living with a life limiting illness. Both day care and in-patient care is available as well as family support, counselling, information service and bereavement care.
Tel: 01789 266852
Myton Hospice (Warwick, Rugby, Coventry) – focus is on enhancing life when cure is no longer an option, believing that everyone matters for every single moment of their life through programmes such as Living Well, Fatigue and Breathlessness Management, complementary therapies, counselling and spiritual care.
Tel: 01926 492518
Shipston Home Nursing – South Warwickshire (Shipston and Wellsbourne) Hospice at home care that provides nursing and emotional support for terminally ill patients and their families.
Tel: 01608 664850
Email: admin
Macmillan Information Centres - The Macmillan Information & Support Specialists based within our hospitals can give you advice and information on financial benefits, treatment side effects, psychological support and much more.
Tel: Aylesford Unit, Warwick Hospital on 01926 495321 ext: 8214
Breast Cancer Now - Living with Secondary Breast Cancer – support aimed at helping you identify your needs and concerns, advice on planning ahead as well as introducing you to someone in a similar situation with their buddy system known as “Someone like me”
Tel: 0808 800 6000
Email: info
Macmillan Cancer Support – offer emotional, physical and financial support as well as information on cancer, the treatments and their side effects.
Tel: 0808 808 0000
Breast Cancer Haven – help provide personalised support to help you put your life back together through one to one time and supportive therapy tailored to your individual needs. Services offered include counselling, advise on healthy eating and exercise and support with the physical side-effects of breast cancer
Tel: 0300 012 0112
Email: support
Age UK – advice on getting help and support at home
Tel: 01788 552546
Silver Surfers – online forum for the over 50’s offering advice on a variety of topics such as health, well-being, lifestyle, holidays and finance.
Fruit Fly Collective – Cancer cloud kits – this is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who have produced communication tools to help families and children understand what cancer is and help provide the basis to explore understandings and feelings relating to themselves and the adult who has cancer.
Email: caroline
The Osborne Trust – provide practical and emotional support to children and young people aged 16 years and younger, whose parent has cancer.
Tel: 07712 089 273
Email: the-osborne-trust
Rip-Rap – this is a voluntary on-line forum set up by a specialist cancer nurse aimed at teenagers who have a parent with cancer. Teenagers can learn more about cancer and its treatments, read about the experiences of others or share their own experiences.
Financial advice/support
Your CNS can refer you directly to the local Macmillan/Citizens Advice Bureau for a benefits assessment in order to check your eligibility and for further support in completing your application, so please contact your CNS directly.
You can also get advice from:
Blue Badge Scheme – you can speak directly to your CNS who can refer you or you can apply directly.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (Warwick & Stratford Hospital) is research active.
Clinical research helps to improve the care and treatments available for NHS patients.
If you are interested in taking part in clinical research, in the first instance, please speak directly to your Consultant Oncologist who will be able to tell you whether they know of any clinical research you may be eligible to take part in.
You can also contact the Research Nurses at Warwick Hospital to find out more:
Email: Research.
Recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment.
Often when aspects of our lives start to change, particularly if it is something out of our control, it is normal to feel vulnerable.
Being able to make informed decisions and put into place the things that are important to us can allow us to regain some control.
Having a ReSPECT document in place, allows you, in conjunction with your medical team, to decide on the type of care and treatment you may or may not wish to receive in an emergency situation if you were unable to make that decision yourself.
If you would like to have written information or discuss this further, please speak to the CNS Team or your oncology consultant.
Please find information booklets on Secondary Breast Cancer below:
Secondary Breast Cancer Information Pack