Breast Cancer

The South Eastern Breast Care Service provides specialist care for patients with breast cancer and non-cancerous conditions through a consultant led service.

Services provided are:

• Symptomatic Breast Clinics
• Specialist Breast Surgery
• Integrated Breast Reconstruction Service with Regional Plastic Surgery Unit
• Lymphoedema Service
• Breast Prostheses Service
• Family History

To allow us to provide a high standard of personalised care, a core team of health care professionals are involved in the care of patients with breast problems, these includes:

• Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Consultant Surgeons
• Consultant Radiologists
• Consultant Pathologists
• Consultant Oncologists
• Associate Specialist in Breast
• Breast Care Nurse Specialists
• Radiographers/Advanced Practitioners

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• Symptomatic Breast Services

  There are symptomatic clinics held in the Breast and Endocrine Centre at the Ulster Hospital, led by Specialist Breast Surgeons with Consultant Radiologists, pathologist and Breast Care Nurse Specialists.

  If you have a concern or symptom regarding your breasts, please contact your GP as soon as possible.  They may refer you to a Symptomatic Breast Clinic.

  Referral guidelines are available on the NICE website.

  The symptomatic breast clinic is a one stop triple assessment clinic – this means a clinical examination, X-rays/ultrasound and possible biopsies.  Not all patients need all 3 forms of investigation.  This appointment may take up to 4 hours depending on what investigations are required.

  For more information about attending this clinic and what might happen on the day, please see our leaflet here.

• Specialist Breast Care Nurses

  Specialist Breast Care Nurses can provide information, psychological support and practical help for all patients who have or who fear they may have breast cancer.  They are based in the Breast and Endocrine Centre and can be contacted on Tel: (028) 9055 0499

  Medical Records process referrals and make appointments.

  Appointments office direct line is Tel: (028) 9056 4887

• Breast Awareness

  It is important to see your GP if you notice any changes to your breasts that are not normal for you.  For more information please click here.

• The Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme

  The breast screening service for SEHSCT is delivered in partnership with BHSCT.

  The Breast Screening Programme covers the whole of Northern Ireland. It involves staff from GP surgeries, Health Centres and the Breast Screening Units.

  How will I get an invite?

  The Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme is a rolling one which calls women from GP practices in turn every 3 years from the age of 50-70. Not every woman will receive an invite as soon as she is 50, but each woman should receive her first invite before the age of 53. If you are registered with a GP and the practice has your correct details, then you will automatically receive an invitation. You don’t need to contact anyone but it is important your GP has your correct details. If you are over the age of 70 you can contact the screening office for an appointment.

  The Screening Centre for Belfast and South Eastern Trusts is located at:

  Eastern Area Breast Screening Unit
  12-22 Linenhall Street
  Belfast
  BT2 8BS

  Tel: (028) 9033 3700

  For further information about Breast Screening, please click here.

  The Breast Screening programme has produced a video to show what happens when women attend their appointment for a mammogram. To watch click here.

• Useful links

  Breast Screening

  Breast Cancer Now