lady-mcadden-breast-cancer-logo

Breast Pain

Most women will suffer from Breast Pain in their lifetime and there is limited help. Breast Pain on its own is not normally associated with Breast Cancer.  #breastpain

Things you might want to consider

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png The Pill – taking the combined contraceptive pill slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. This pill contains both oestrogen and progestogen. Within a few years of stopping taking it, this risk disappears.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Regularly drinking alcohol is associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Limiting the amount you drink can reduce your risk.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Being overweight/obese can increase your risk, especially after the menopause.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Lack of physical activity affects your risk as it reduces the production of certain hormones and growth.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Smoking is now being more linked to breast cancer (evidence is growing) and it is considered the younger the woman is when she starts smoking, the higher the risk.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Pregnancy & breast feeding are proven to have a complex effect on breast cancer risk and overall breast feeding and pregnancy slightly reduces the risk of breast cancer.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png HRT is known to increase your risk. The risk is significantly increased when using a combination medication. This is due to the oestrogen and progestogen being used. The single hormone type (oestrogen only) is known to increase risks but only after long term use, although it can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Both should be carefully discussed with your GP when carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Breast pain affects 70% of women in their lifetime and on its own, is not usually a sign of breast cancer.

Breast pain is so common that it’s the main reason women are referred to the breast clinic. Due to the high number of referrals, the hospital can’t always meet the target of a 14-day referral pathway and one-stop breast clinic. Lady McAdden has been working with the CCG for Mid and South Essex, along with the Mid Essex Hospitals to look at ways to support patients struggling with breast pain.

Firstly, we want to help women understand that if breast pain is their only symptom, it is incredibly unlikely to be breast cancer. Hospital audits, and the national focus to provide a separate solution to patients with breast pain, support this approach. In fact, in a 2019 audit of all patients referred to Southend and Broomfield hospitals with breast pain as their only symptom, zero were found to have breast cancer.

Secondly, we want to give women with breast pain as their only symptom the chance to explore why they may be experiencing it. The Lady McAdden nurses routinely encounter concerns around breast pain in our Breast Awareness appointments. They can dedicate time to discuss with patients why they might be experiencing breast pain and what they can do to alleviate it. They can also offer advice about over-the-counter medications, lifestyle changes and what to discuss with a GP if this advice isn’t effective.

Appointments in the hospital breast clinic are focused on diagnosing breast cancer and other symptoms and there simply isn’t time to discuss solutions for breast pain at length. Lady McAdden nurses can offer appointments to discuss not only breast pain but other symptoms and changes you should be aware of and how to check for these. They will also advise how and when you may need to be referred for further investigation.

There is a misconception that if you have breast pain, you will be offered a mammogram or ultrasound. These scans are reserved for people who have symptoms of breast cancer, not breast pain alone. This can lead to some patients leaving the breast clinic disappointed or without the answers that they were expecting. It’s important to remember that NHS protocols (NICE Guidelines) have been put in place to prevent over diagnosis and inappropriate imaging and Lady McAdden nurses can assist patients in understanding this.

So, what does this mean?

The Lady McAdden nurses have, with training from the MSE Hospitals, developed a full understanding of how the current breast and breast pain clinics work and where the GP referral sits. From this they have developed self-referral Breast Pain with Breast Awareness sessions for patients who show breast pain symptoms ONLY.

This means that women with breast pain who have been unable to find a solution, either via their GP or breast clinic referral, can explore how they might alleviate the pain themselves. They may have unanswered questions or need support in discussing the pain with their GP, especially if the suggested solutions haven’t helped. The Lady McAdden Nurses may also signpost patients to other organisations for further support, if appropriate.

The new clinics for Breast Pain with Breast Awareness are available on a one-to-one basis with the Lady McAdden nurse either on premises or via video link. To book, simply visit our website and click Book Appointment. There is NO CHARGE for these appointments, but we receive no funding from the NHS or Government and our charity relies on donations. To give you an idea, each video appointment costs the charity £17 and each premises appointment costs the charity £28 , so please help us by donating if you are able to.

 

 

The Witham Hub

Unit 17, The Grove Shopping Centre, Witham, Essex CM8 2YT

Collected 622 Bras

Raised £457

Morrisons Witham

Braintree Rd, Witham CM8 2GD

Collected 939 Bras

Raised £788

Morley Nurseries

Southend Rd, Great Wakering, Essex SS3 0PU

Collected 280 Bras

Raised £224

My Fairytale Wardrobe

Bell St, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 7JS

Collected 275 Bras

Raised £238

Hollywood Babes - Thorpe Bay

Hollywood Babes , 186 The Broadwat, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3ES

Collected 174 Bras

Raised £121

Coco Boo

49 Rectory Grove Leigh on Sea SS9 2HA

Collected 595 Bras

Raised £491

The Bra Consultancy

16 Edward’s Walk, Maldon CM9 5PS

Collected 395 Bras

Raised £315

Morrisons Maldon

Limebrook Way, Maldon CM9 6GG

Collected 669 Bras

Raised £602

Harwich Library

Upper Kingsway, Dovercourt, Harwich CO12 3JT

Collected 382

Raised £291

Frinton Library

59 Old Rd, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9DA

Bras Collected 415

Amount raised £320

Brentwood Library

New Rd, Brentwood CM14 4BP

Ingatestone Library

High Street, Ingatestone CM4 9EU

Nationwide Leigh on Sea

73 The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1PW

Funky Barnets

714 Southchurch Road , Southend-on-Sea SS1 2PS

Total collected 464

Raising £370

Tracies Nails & Beauty

108 Rectory Road, Pitsea SS13 2AH

Tesco Pitsea

Off High Road, Pitsea SS13 3JU

My Secret Wardrobe

Wickford, Essex info@mysecretwardrobe.uk

Basildon Library

Basildon Centre, The St. Martins Square, Basildon SS14 1EE

Vange Library

Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET

Fryerns Library

Whitmore Way, Basildon SS14 2NN

Morrisons 284 Hadleigh

175 London Rd, Hadleigh, Benfleet SS7 2RB

Collected 2157 Bras

Raised £1662

Morrisons Canvey Island

Northwick Rd, Canvey Island SS8 0SW

Collected 1675 Bras

Raised £1323

Rochford Nail Bar

8 West St, Rochford SS4 1AJ

Collected £468 Bras

Raised £370

The HAPPY Hub

Eastgate Shopping Centre Basildon SS14 1AE

Collected 602 Bras

Raised £509

Orsett Surgery

63 Rowley Rd, Orsett, Grays RM16 3ET

Collected 865 Bras

Raised £621

Mane Attraction

Hylands Parade, Wood St, Chelmsford CM2 8BW

Collected 153 Bras

Raised £140

Boo Boutique

11 Heralds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5TQ

Collected 300 Bras

Raised £232

Longfield and Tollesbury Surgeries

Princes Rd, Maldon CM9 5DF

Collected 869 Bras

Raised £473

Morrisons Grays

1 London Rd, Grays RM17 5XZ

Collected 491 Bras

Raised £316

Clacton Library

 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1SF

Total collected 298

Total raised £193

Rochford Library

 8 Roche Close, Rochford SS4 1PX

Shenfield Library

 Adult Community College, Hutton, Brentwood CM13 1BD

Collected 239 bras

Raising £169

Chipping Ongar Library

 The Pleasance, High St, Chipping Ongar, Ongar CM5 9AB

The Ironworks - Southend

90 High St, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1JN 

Waitrose and Partners Leigh on Sea

1231/1241 London Road, Leigh on Sea SS9 3JQ 

Total collected 91

Total raised £75 

Vange Library

Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET 

Total collected 56

Total raised £50

Pitsea Library

Maydells, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3DU

Total collected 91

Total raised £75 

Christ Church - Stock

Christ Church, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9BN

Westerings Primary Academy PTA

Contact The PTA, Sunny Road, Hockley, SS5 4NZ

Total collected 360

Total raised £296

Get In Touch

2 + 8 =

This website has been funded by
The Pink Ribbon Foundation 

pink ribbon foundation logo

And also by the 
The National Lottery

Big_Lottery_Fund_logo

Copyright ©

Lady McAdden Breast Cancer Trust
Registered Charity in England (1062236)
Registered company in England (03334552)

203 Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 4JH

pink ribbon foundation logo

This website has been funded by The Pink Ribbon Foundation

national lottery logo

This website has been funded by The National Lottery

Copyright © 2022 Registered Charity in England (1062236).
Registered company in England (03334552).
Proudly delivered by
Digital Technology Labs