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Breast cancer - suspected - Management
General recommendations
- A patient who presents with symptoms suggestive of breast cancer should be referred to a team specialising in the management of breast cancer (D).
- In most cases, the definitive diagnosis will not be known at the time of referral, and many patients who are referred will be found not to have cancer. However, primary healthcare professionals should convey optimism about the effectiveness of treatment and survival because a patient being referred with a breast lump will be naturally concerned (C).
- People of all ages who suspect they have breast cancer may have particular information and support needs. The primary healthcare professional should discuss these needs with the patient and respond sensitively to them (D).
- Primary healthcare professionals should encourage all patients, including women over 50 years old, to be breast aware* in order to minimize delay in the presentation of symptoms (D).
*Breast awareness means the woman knows what her breasts look and feel like normally. Evidence suggests that there is no need to follow a specific or detailed routine such as breast self examination, but women should be aware of any changes in their breasts (see www.cancerscreening.org.uk for further information).
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