New breast pain clinic launches in Burnley

The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria has launched a new breast pain clinic to support people in East Lancashire.

The new specialist service which opened this week will provide a full family history assessment, breast examination, and specialist advice to patients suffering from breast pain.  

Mr Inder Kumar, consultant breast surgeon at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Any changes in the breast, including pain, can be really worrying, but breast pain alone is rarely a symptom of cancer. Most women will experience breast pain at some stage in their life, and there are different ways in which women describe the sensations in their breasts including pain, discomfort, a bruised sensation, tingling/itching behind the nipple, and tenderness.

“Periods, pregnancy and breastfeeding are all common reasons for breast pain, and it usually disappears on its own.

“By setting up a breast pain clinic in Burnley we will be able to put our patients at ease and offer them help and advice whilst checking family history and conducting breast examinations.

“In this specialist environment, we will deliver the right service to patients.”

Previously, people suffering from breast pain would be placed on the two-week wait cancer pathway, but the new service aims to improve patient experience.

There are many reasons women may experience breast pain and these can include:

• Hormone related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or breastfeeding
• A problem with underlying organs – bone and/or muscle related
• Nerve related such as back pain

Suzanne Gawne, deputy medical director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are changing how we care for patients experiencing breast pain as it is a frequent reason for GPs to refer patients to hospital and a referral can often cause unnecessary anxiety and procedures for patients. There are no mammograms or scans in the breast pain clinic. Instead, it focuses on finding the cause of the pain and identifying ways to help manage it.”

The new breast pain clinic will be based at St Peter’s Centre, 42 Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL.

If you are experiencing breast pain, please speak to your GP and if eligible for NHS breast screening, please continue to book and attend your mammogram appointments.

More information is available on the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance website.