Breast Cancer Support Service

Your appointment is a 45-minute specialist consultation designed to address your specific concerns and goals.

Before your appointment, you may wish to gather any relevant medical records, pathology reports, imaging results, treatment summaries, or clinic letters. While this is not essential, it can help us provide more detailed and tailored advice.

During your consultation, your specialist will:

• discuss your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment history

• review any symptoms or side effects you’re experiencing

• assess the impact treatment is having on your wellbeing

• explain complex pathology, imaging, or genomic test results

• discuss menopause symptoms and treatment options

• review reconstructive surgery options where appropriate

• help you understand future treatment pathways

• answer any questions or concerns you may have

At the end of your appointment, you’ll receive a bespoke management plan outlining recommendations and next steps. Where appropriate, your specialist may recommend additional investigations, including blood tests, or refer you to other specialists within the Welbeck network for further support.

Breast cancer treatment can affect many aspects of health and wellbeing. Even after active treatment has finished, many women continue to experience symptoms or uncertainties that require specialist input.

This service can help with:

Managing menopause symptoms after breast cancer treatment

Chemotherapy, ovarian suppression treatment, and endocrine therapies can trigger menopause or worsen existing menopausal symptoms.

Managing menopause after breast cancer can be complex because some standard treatments may not be suitable. Our support team are specialists in managing menopause symptoms and side effects that come as a result of cancer and cancer treatment, and are qualified to discuss evidence-based options appropriate to your individual circumstances.

Symptoms they can help you with include:

• hot flushes

• night sweats

• disturbed sleep

• mood changes

• vaginal dryness

• reduced libido

• joint aches and pains

• fatigue

Understanding your diagnosis and results

Medical reports can often feel overwhelming. Many women seek additional support to better understand:

• pathology reports

• imaging findings

• tumour characteristics

• hormone receptor status

• HER2 status

• genomic tests such as Oncotype DX

• treatment recommendations

Our specialists can explain these findings in clear, straightforward language to help you feel more confident about your care.

Managing long-term treatment effects

Breast cancer treatment can sometimes cause ongoing physical and emotional effects, including:

• fatigue

• cognitive changes ('brain fog')

• weight changes

• bone health concerns

• sexual wellbeing concerns

• anxiety about recurrence

• difficulties returning to normal activities

Addressing these concerns early can improve quality of life and help you regain confidence in your health.

Making surgical decisions

Some women face difficult decisions regarding breast surgery, including reconstruction and risk-reducing procedures.

Our specialists can explain available options, discuss benefits and limitations, and help you make informed decisions that align with your priorities and goals.

Breast reconstruction can be a complex area of treatment, and women often have questions about timing, techniques, outcomes, and suitability.

We can provide guidance on:

• implant-based reconstruction

• tissue-based reconstruction

• delayed reconstruction

• revision surgery

• expected outcomes and recovery

This service is a specialist consultation and does not involve a medical procedure. There are therefore no direct physical risks associated with attending the appointment.

However, some women may find that discussing their diagnosis, treatment, or future concerns can feel emotional. Our specialists understand the challenges associated with breast cancer and provide compassionate, supportive care throughout the consultation.

Any recommendations made during your appointment will be fully discussed with you, including any potential benefits, limitations, or risks associated with future treatments or investigations.

No specific preparation is required before your appointment.

However, you may find it helpful to:

• bring copies of any clinic letters or treatment summaries

• bring pathology or imaging reports if available

• make a note of any symptoms you are experiencing

• prepare a list of questions you would like answered

• bring information about any medications you are currently taking

Many women find it useful to write down their concerns beforehand to make sure everything important is discussed during the consultation.

As this service involves a consultation only, there is no recovery period. You can return to your normal daily activities immediately after your appointment.

Following your consultation, you’ll receive a personalised management plan outlining any recommendations and next steps.

Depending on your circumstances, your specialist may recommend:

• blood tests

• additional imaging

• referral to another specialist

• follow-up consultations

• lifestyle interventions

• symptom management strategies

If ongoing support is needed, we can coordinate care across multiple specialties within Welbeck to help ensure you receive comprehensive, joined-up treatment.

A 45-minute consultation with a personalised management plan costs £100.

Please contact our team for appointment availability.

At Welbeck, our women’s health and breast care specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment, please get in touch with our team. We accept referrals from GPs and consultants, or you can self-refer.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer appointments as quickly as possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.