Patients


Information and Resources

In this section you can find information and resources about surgery as a treatment for breast cancer, reconstructive surgery and cosmetic breast surgery. Please click on the relevant link below to access patient information, resources and links to patient support organisations.

The Association of Breast Surgery is not able to offer advice or comment on the treatment of specific patients. If you have questions or concerns about your treatment we recommend that you speak to your consultant/breast care team or seek a second opinion. The ABS does not accredit surgeons and membership of the Association of Breast Surgery is not mandatory to practice breast surgery in the UK. If you would like to find out if your surgeon is registered with the GMC please visit the website here.

 

 

 
Breast Surgery & Breast Cancer
Delivering real choice: the future of breast reconstruction in England

“Breast reconstruction, for those who choose it, is a core component of a patient’s recovery, either from breast cancer or from risk-reducing surgery.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive Breast Cancer Now

Breast Cancer Now’s report "Delivering real choice: The future of breast reconstruction in England" contains recommendations to facilitate access to breast reconstruction

View the report
Your guide to breast reconstruction

This ABS/BAPRAS guide is for women seeking more information about breast reconstruction either at the time of cancer treatment (immediate reconstruction) or once this has been completed (delayed reconstruction). It aims to give an overview of the options available and provides pointers to more detailed information on the internet and from other sources.

We realise that this may be a difficult time for you but hope this guide will help you to make some of the decisions that you are facing. It should also be helpful when you are talking to your GP, breast care nurse or family about the choices you wish to make.

View the Guide
Pregnancy & Breast Cancer

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produced this information about pregnancy and breast cancer for patients in 2014. They will be reviewing this guidance and an updated version will be available in due course.

View the information
NICE draft guidance on use of Intrabeam system of intraoperative radiotherapy

NICE have produced a decision aid on Intrabeam radiotherapy for treating early breast cancer. This provides information to help people with breast cancer, people close to them and their health care professionals discuss the options.

View the aid
Oncoplastic breast reconstruction: information for patients

This information for patients has been produced with Breast Cancer Care to complement the Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction: Guidelines for Best Practice. They aim to ensure that all breast cancer patients are well informed about oncoplastic breast reconstruction and set out what all breast cancer patients can expect from their breast reconstruction team

 

View the Patient Information
Charities offering support for breast cancer patients

A number of charities provide support for breast cancer patients, their families, friends and carers.

 

Find out more
Cosmetic Surgery
Are you considering cosmetic breast surgery?

If you are considering cosmetic breast surgery, there are a number of things you will need to consider, including:

  • What is involved in the procedure?
  • Who should perform the procedure?
  • What follow-up will you have?
  • What are the potential risks of surgery?
  • What will be the costs involved?

Below you can find information, from a number of sources and organisations, that can help you make important decisions regarding your surgery.  

Going abroad for cosmetic breast surgery

The ABS has produced information for patients considering going abroad for cosmetic breast surgery. Cosmetic tourism is on the rise and it is important for patients to consider the full picture when making decisions about cosmetic breast surgery.

 

Find Out More
Breast Augmentation Guide

This booklet is for those looking for more information about breast augmentation (breast enlargement). It aims to give an overview of options available, what is involved and the expected outcomes. It will also go through the possible problems associated with breast augmentation and breast implants. There are also links to other resources.

 

View Guide
Patient information: your guide to breast reduction

The ABS has produced information for people considering breast reduction

Breast reduction surgery aims to reduce the size and improve the shape of the breasts to make them more proportional. The nipple will also be re-positioned. This surgery can also be used to correct breasts that are of unequal size.

 

View the Patient Information
NHS Choices

To help you to make an informed decision about undergoing cosmetic breast surgery, NHS Choices have published an NHS guide to cosmetic procedures on their website.

See the NHS Choices Website
General Medical Council

The General Medical Council (GMC) has also produced guidance on professional standards for doctors carrying out cosmetic procedures. Their guide for patients is available on their website.

View the GMC Guide
Royal College of Surgeons of England

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has a cosmetic surgery certification system for professionals. They provide a comprehensive information hub for patients considering cosmetic surgery on their website

The RCS also provide a pre-surgery information checklist to ensure that you have received all of the necessary information about the procedure for you to make an informed decision.

View the RCS Information
MHRA statement on the symptoms sometimes referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII)

On the 17th January 2020 the MHRA published a statement on symptoms sometimes referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII). This clarifies their current position on this issue and outlines their ongoing work in this area.

Anyone experiencing symptoms they believe to be associated with their breast implants should speak to their surgeon and report to the MHRA via their Yellow Card Scheme

MHRA Yellow Card Scheme
QPROMS

Surgeons must collect patient related Outcome Measures (PROMs) for all of their patients, to audit the quality of the service they provide, and assess patient satisfaction following surgery. This helps surgeons to assess their work, and to identify any improvements required. You may therefore be asked to complete a PROMS questionnaire before and after your surgery. Further information about PROMS is available here.

View the QPROMS