Breast Cancer Referral

Question 1

When should an urgent referral be made?

Answer 1

• Any breast lump with features suggestive of cancer (hard, tethered etc)
• Any breast lump in a post-menopausal woman, regardless of features suggestive of cancer
• Any breast lump in a women more than 30 years old without features suggestive of cancer but which persists after her next period
• If there is past history of breast cancer any breast lump should warrant urgent referral
• Spontaneous unilateral bloody nipple discharge
• Unilateral eczematous skin or nipple change that does not respond to topical treatment, or with nipple distortion of recent onset

Question 2

When shoudl a non-urgent referral be made?

Answer 2

• Women < 30 years old who present with a breast lump with no features suggestive of cancer
• No relevant family history
• No change in the size of the lump