Breast Care
Contact number: 01257 245588
The Central Lancashire Breast Unit opened at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital in July 2012 to provide a one-stop service for breast care patients in Central Lancashire. The ‘one-stop’ approach means that patients are offered a full diagnostic assessment during one appointment in the unit, with results available either the same day or at most one week later if a further biopsy is needed.
The majority of patients are referred to us by their GP. All symptomatic patients are seen in the unit within two weeks of the GP referral, with urgent referrals seen earlier.
We will contact you with details of your appointment by letter or telephone and given details of the date, place and time.
The Central Lancashire Breast unit is located on Level 3 of the Chorley and South Ribble.
The unit is open Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm. You can contact us on 01257 245588.
Coming to the Breast Unit?
Watch our video to find out more about what happens.
- Your appointment
Please bear in mind that due to the range of diagnostic tests we offer, your appointment may take up to three hours. Therefore it’s advisable to make appropriate arrangements regarding work, childcare or other commitments to allow for this. Refreshments are available from the café within the main entrance of the hospital but you may wish to bring some light refreshments with you and something to read.
To help you prepare for your appointment, we suggest that you don’t wear any deodorant except the clear 'roll-on' variety and that you wear a separate top with trousers or a skirt.
Arriving for your appointment
On arrival at the unit please book in at reception where you will be greeted by one of our experienced reception staff and your personal details will be checked.
We recognise that this may be a stressful time for you and you are welcome to bring a partner, friend or relative with you to the appointment.
Once you have checked in at reception you will be seen by a member of the Specialist Breast Care Team. The team includes surgeons, radiologists, radiographers, sonographers, breast care nurses and other clinic staff.
Test results
Your test results may be available at the end of your appointment. However, if a biopsy has been taken another appointment will be made, within one working week, to discuss the results and any next steps required.
- Breast Care Nurses
Breast Care Nurses
The Central Lancashire Breast Care Unit has a nurse consultant, breast care specialist nurses and clinic nurses. They are fully trained senior nurses who have expert knowledge and experience of breast disease and all its treatments including benign breast problems. The nurse consultant and senior breast care nurse hold various clinics for patients, including under 35’s clinic, nurse-led results, follow-up and family history clinics. They work closely with other health professionals around the trust and liaise with GP’s and community nurses to ensure the continuity of care in hospital and at home.
The Clinical Nurse Specialists (BCNS) help by:- Spending time with you, and your partner, to offer emotional support and advice.
- Helping you to choose and understand the treatments you are being offered.
- Being a point of contact if you are worried about any aspect of your care or diagnosis for as long as you need it.
- Seeing you before and after surgery on the ward.
- Checking if you have any problems with your wound after surgery.
- Aspirating any fluid that may accumulate after surgery.
- Providing information on after care such as breast prosthesis and lymphoedema.
- Being available to discuss any problems or concerns post surgery.
If you have any queries, no matter how small, you can contact us from Monday-Friday between 8am-4pm on 01257 245690. If no one is able to answer your call, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Sara Scott – Nurse ConsultantAfter a career in business and finance at British Aerospace, Sara completed a nursing diploma and a BA (Hons) degree in business and management in 1996. Initially working on a general surgical ward with a major breast workload, she developed an interest in surgical oncology. After completing the necessary courses she secured a full-time post as a breast care nurse in 2000. Following this she completed a Masters in practitioner research around breast reconstruction in 2003. Currently she is consultant nurse and leads the team. The service provides nurse-led follow-up clinics, family history services, community clinics and assessments for new patients under 35.
Lucy Worthington - Matron
Lucy is Matron of the breast unit. She qualified as an RGN at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 1990. After securing a Staff Nurse post within the Surgical Directorate at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, advanced from Ward Sister to Ward Manager. Lucy became a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Breast Care and joined the team at Chorley in 2008 supporting patients from diagnosis, through all aspects of treatment, providing practical and psychological care. Her experience within the area of breast care spans 33 years.
Lucy has a Diploma in Health Education and Palliative Care and a Master’s degree in Nursing Studies. She presented the outcomes of her dissertation at a National Educational Forum. Lucy has a special interest in wound management and a qualification in Tissue Viability and currently leads Nurse Led Seroma Drainage on the Unit. Lucy has also completed a Family History course at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester.
Her role involves both managerial responsibility as part of her Matron role and participation in Nurse Led Clinics as part of her Clinical Nurse Specialist role.
Karen Anton – Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist
Karen qualified in 2004 and her first position was as staff nurse on a surgical ward at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, which involved caring for patients before and after surgery. She developed an interest in breast care and gained several years’ experience before becoming breast Clinic Sister in May 2011. Karen is now a Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist which involves supporting patients from diagnosis, through all aspects of treatment and participating in nurse led clinics. She deputises when Matron is not available.
Shabnam Patel – Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist
Shabnam commenced nurse training on leaving college and her academic studies were carried out at University of Central Lancashire. She undertook practical studies between Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District Hospital and thereafter qualified as a registered nurse in 2016.
Her first role was on the surgical ward (sellers ward) at Chorley hospital. She nursed patients undergoing surgical procedures for numerous specialities but predominantly breast. After 3 years on the surgical ward she gained a particular interest in breast care and became a staff nurse on the Central Lancashire Breast care Unit which quickly lead on to gaining a post as clinic sister.
Following this 18 months ago she developed skills and expertise knowledge and with this became a Breast Specialist Nurse. Her role involves looking after her own case load patients and providing support and advice where needed.
Kath McKenna – Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist
Kath has over 35 years of healthcare experience. With a particular interest in oncology Kath went on to achieve her Diploma in Adult Nursing quickly followed by a Degree in Professional Practice. Kath's experience is predominantly around oncology which includes chemotherapy nursing at Lancashire Teaching Hospital and at Bolton during COVID.
Kath has experience as a Cancer specialist Nurse in Breast and Urology. While at Bolton Kath was involved in service development and had a research paper published in a peer reviewed journal.
Kath joined the team at Chorley as a Breast CNS in August 2022.
Lisa Artis – Metastatic Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist
Lisa qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1997 and has experience working in hospital ward and community settings.
She joined the Central Lancashire Breast Unit in 2014 as Clinic Sister and progressed to Breast Care Nurse in 2020. She has relevant experience of looking after patients from initial diagnosis throughout all aspects of their cancer pathway.
Due to her specialist interest in secondary breast cancer, Lisa now has the position of Metastatic Breast Care Nurse. This is a new post providing support and relevant information to breast patients with secondary breast cancer.
She has relevant qualifications including a First degree in Nursing , Masters Level qualification in Breast care and qualifications in wound care and palliative care.
Emma Woodhall – Nurse Consultant
- Consultants
Consultants
Click on a consultant to see more information.
- Clinic Staff
Clinic Staff
The Central Lancashire Breast Unit provides a compliment of high quality clinical and support staff who all work with the specialist team to provide the breast care service
Samantha Lawler – Clinic Sister
Shirley Porter - Staff Nurse
Paula Humphreys - Health Care Assistant - Awaiting Photo
Elizabeth Charlton - Health Care Assistant - Awaiting Photo
Patricia Madison - Health Care Assistant
Breast Secretaires -
Vivienne Kay – Medical Secretary to Mr Murthy and Mr Boland Contact: 01257 245243
Sarah Rigby – Medical Secretary to Mr Saidan, Miss Hafiz and Mr Mady Contact:01257 245516
Rebecca Cookson – Support Secretary Contact: 01257 245659
Sonographers –
Kate Greenwood – Consultant Sonographer
Lauren Senior – Principal Sonographer - Awaiing Photo
Lauren Jones – Sonographer
Anna Navarro – Sonographer
Katie Reeves – Sonographer - Awaiting photo
Clare Freeman – Sonographer - Awaiting photo
Sharron Thomas– Sonographer - Awaiting photo
Yvonne Barnard – Sonographer - Awiaitng photo
Catherine Johns – Sonographer - Awiaiting photo
Imaging Assistants -
Tracy Sage
Shirley Simon
Carol Marsh
Laura Hargreaves
Jessica Pilkington
Victoria Silcock
Jackie Ahern
Helen Brown
- Radiology Team
Radiology Team
The radiology team comprises of three consultant radiologists, mammographers, sonographers and radiology support workers. They all work closely with their multi-disciplinary colleagues within the unit to provide a streamlined service.
The consultant radiologists are based within the unit, which allows them to interpret the mammograms as they are taken in order to provide an accurate diagnosis of breast disease. The radiologists also perform image guided biopsies using ultrasound in order to detect any breast abnormalities.
Dr Mike Dobson, Consultant RadiologistGraduated from Liverpool Medical School 1984. He trained as a radiologist at Manchester, taking a consultant post with an interest in cancer imaging at Royal Preston hospital in 1997. He set up the Breast MRI service in Central Lancashire, and expanded his interest and training in breast imaging 2011/12 to facilitate the radiology provision within the Central Lancashire Breast Unit. Specialist interests include all modes of breast imaging and cross-sectional body imaging for oncological diseases.
Dr Selene Liew, Consultant Radiologist
Dr Selene Liew, MBBS MRCP FRCR, graduated from University of Melbourne and trained in West Midlands and North West Deanery hospitals in Internal Medicine and Radiology. Dr Liew is a consultant radiologist with an interest in cross sectional imaging and subspecialty interest in oncology and breast radiology.
Dr Manish Gupta – Consultant Radiologist
Diagnostic Radiographers -
Caroline Gawne
Andrea Warner
Sumon Choudrey
Lyndsey Dixon
Laura Peacock
- Diagnostic testing
We provide rapid access to detailed diagnostic testing. Depending on your symptoms and age, this will involve a clinical examination by a breast surgeon or specialist breast care nurse, a mammogram and an ultrasound scan. Some patients are offered further assessment if required, usually a needle biopsy.
Mammogram
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray examination of the breast. Fine detail is very important in picking up subtle breast abnormalities. To assure the best quality image, the breast is held very still by the use of a degree of compression between two plates. Some patients find this a little uncomfortable, but the procedure is fairly quick. The digital mammography equipment is operated by a radiographer and then a consultant radiologist interprets the results.Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan uses a high frequency sound wave, inaudible to people, which is produced by a hand held probe, the size of a microphone, to create a different breast image. This is often used in addition to a physical examination by a surgeon or breast care nurse, which alongside the mammogram, completes the ‘triple assessment’ of a patient with breast symptoms. The examination is performed by a sonographer or consultant radiologist while you are lying down. Some jelly is applied to the skin and a probe is passed over the breast to produce a picture on the screen.
Ultrasound guided biopsy
After your initial assessment, you may require a needle biopsy. This involves taking a needle sample of a breast lump under local anaesthetic and is performed usually under the guidance of the ultrasound scanner or mammogram machine. This procedure can be performed by a surgeon or radiologist and can take between 10–30 minutes. It is a minor procedure but it may cause some bruising or a dull ache for 24-48 hours.
- Breast care patient's story
Jane Smith*, 52, from Chorley was one of the first patients to be seen at the Central Lancashire Breast Unit when it opened in July 2012.
She said: “I was referred to the Unit by my GP because I’d started experiencing some painful sensations around one of my breasts, and it had become a bit lumpy and not as firm as the other one.
“I was initially a bit reluctant to go and see my GP because my symptoms were quite vague and I felt a bit of a fraud when I arrived for my appointment at the Breast Unit because they had almost disappeared. I was sure the pains were a sign of some kind of hormonal imbalance, or the onset of the menopause.
“When I arrived at the Breast Unit I had a mammogram, which involved undressing to the waist and standing in front of the mammography machine. My breast was placed between two plates and then compressed, it was firm but gentle.
“The results of the mammogram were not conclusive, so I had a further examination by one of the consultants and then an ultrasound scan which involved undressing to the waist again and this time lying on a couch. Lubricating gel was spread over my breast and the clinician used a hand-held probe to get an image of my breast tissue.
“During the ultrasound examination, the radiologist found something irregular which needed further investigation. I stayed in the same room, and the consultant radiologist gave me a local anaesthetic and a needle biopsy, which was a little uncomfortable but it was over quite quickly. Even without the results of the biopsy they were able to tell me that day that there was a small tumour on my breast and that I would need further treatment.
“It was an emotional roller coaster of a day, but the support I felt from the team was amazing, and that was so important in helping me deal with what was ahead.
“Shortly after my initial diagnosis at the Breast Unit I had surgery and then radiotherapy. I was able to contact the staff at the Unit at any time and it was so reassuring to know that they were there, and that they knew me and I knew them. I didn’t just feel like a number in a faceless organisation. All my appointments at the Unit were organised by telephone, everything was so personal and that was also really reassuring.
“I now have follow-up appointments at the Breast Unit every few months and I’ll be on hormone treatment for the next few years. I feel lucky that I was able to have all my tests on the same day at the Unit. I know that in other places all of these tests have to be carried out at separate appointments over a number of weeks which must be a really anxious time for anyone going through this who has to wait for weeks to get their final diagnosis. Getting my results and information about the next steps with my treatment on the same day meant that I knew exactly what was ahead and I was able to start treatment really quickly, rather than losing weeks waiting for test results to be available.”
*A pseudonym has been used at the patient’s request.
- Relevant Leaflets/Documents/Links
Useful Links
Breast Screening Programme
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/
Breast Cancer Care
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/
Patient Information Website on Breast Information
Support Groups
Pink Sapphires
For young and working women
Meet every 2nd Wednesday 6.30 -8.30 pm at Vine House, Cromwell Road, Preston
For further information please contact Vine House on 01772 - 793344
Chorley, Preston and Ribble Breast Cancer Support Group
Meet on the first Monday of each month (except bank holidays – when meet the week after) from 2 – 4pm at St Ambrose Church Hall, Moss Lane, Leyland, PR25 4XA
For further information please contact Monica Bentley on 01257 792501
