Information & Resources
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 reportYour 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 GuidePregnancy & 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View the informationNICE draft guidance on use of Intrabeam system of intraoperative radiotherapy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 aidOncoplastic 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 infoCharities offering support for breast cancer patients
A number of charities provide support for breast cancer patients, their families, friends and carers.
Breast Cancer Now is steered by world-class research and powered by life-changing support. They are here for anyone affected by breast cancer, the whole way through, providing support for today and hope for the future.
Their website includes, amongst other things, patient information and their helpline is staffed by breast care nurses
Visit their website or call us on 0808 800 6000.
Cancer Research UK is a research focused charity, which undertakes pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Over the past 40 years survival has doubled thanks to the progress research has made.
Their website has information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and clinical trials as well as resources and support.
Flat Friends UK is a registered charity dedicated to supporting women who have had mastectomy surgery without breast reconstruction, including those who may face such decisions now or in the future, due to either a breast cancer diagnosis or preventative surgery. We see living breast free as a positive choice. We have a website, public Facebook page and a closed chat group for women to connect and discuss the issues that affect them
Contact us via email on support@flatfriends.org.uk
Independent Cancer Patients' Voice (ICPV) is a patient advocate group independent of established UK cancer charities and aware of the value of medical research to both public health and to the national economy.
Our aim is to improve existing treatments for every cancer patient and develop new treatments by bringing the patients’ voice into clinical research.
We do this by:
- Educating, supporting and mentoring patients so that they can have an equal voice with clinicians and researchers and
- Bringing the patients’ voice to clinicians and researchers – i.e. by being patient advocates in clinical research so that this research takes into account the patients’ (and carers, relatives etc) viewpoint to improve outcomes (cancer mortality, morbidity, quality of life) for all people affected by cancer (patients, relatives, carers).
To get in touch, please visit the ICPV website
When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. At Macmillan, we know how a cancer diagnosis can affect everything and we’re here to support you through it. From help with money worries and advice about work, to someone who’ll listen if you just want to talk, we’ll be there. We’ll help you make the choices you need to take back control, so you can start to feel like yourself again. No one should face cancer alone.
For support, information or if you just want to chat, call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm)
