Breast Unit

Our Breast Unit provides a comprehensive range of services for people with breast symptoms or concerns. Care is delivered by a team of specialists including surgeons, radiologists, radiographers, advanced practitioners, breast care nurses and support staff.

You can be referred to us by:

Your GP
A consultant in another Trust department
The Breast Screening Programme following screening assessment

We aim to see all new patients within 14 days for their first appointment.

Your first appointment

At your assessment, we will talk through your medical history and you may have one or more of the following:

A biopsy, where a small sample of cells is taken for testing
A breast examination
A mammogram (breast X‑ray) or ultrasound

Some results may be available on the same day. Biopsy results take longer, but as soon as they are ready, we will invite you back to discuss them.

If cancer is diagnosed, you will be cared for by our multidisciplinary team (MDT), a group of breast specialists who work together to plan the best treatment for you. You will also be introduced to your Breast Care Nurse, who will support you throughout your treatment.

Treatment options

Treatment plans are personalised and may include:

Biological therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery

You may receive one treatment or a combination. If chemotherapy or radiotherapy is recommended, you will meet with an oncologist from The Christie Hospital at the Churchill Unit, Royal Bolton Hospital.

Breast surgery

Surgery is carried out at Royal Bolton Hospital by six specialist breast surgeons. All suitable surgical options will be discussed with you, and your surgeon and Breast Care Nurse will help you make an informed decision.

Procedures offered include:

Axillary node clearance
Duct excision
Excision biopsy
Mastectomy
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Therapeutic mammoplasty
Wide local excision

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction can help rebuild the shape of the breast after mastectomy and may be carried out:

at the same time as your cancer surgery, or
months or even years later, there is no time limit

Options include:

Combined implant and tissue reconstruction
Implant-based reconstruction
Reconstruction using your own tissue
Skin‑sparing mastectomy techniques

Surgery on the other breast may also be offered to help achieve balance.

Adjuvant (additional) treatments

These are treatments given after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning.

They may include:

Chemotherapy
Endocrine (hormone) therapy
Radiotherapy
Trastuzumab

Some recommendations may depend on surgery results.

Family history clinic

Our family history clinic is led by an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and supports people concerned about their breast cancer risk due to family history.

The clinic includes: