Breast Cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support

Breast cancer can be invasive or non-invasive (in-situ). When people talk about breast cancer, they usually mean invasive breast cancer. This is when cancer cells have spread outside the milk ducts or lobules where they started into surrounding breast tissue.

A lump in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Most breast lumps are not cancer but it is always important to get checked by your doctor. Women who have symptoms usually begin by seeing their GP. They will examine you and refer you to a breast clinic. You should get an appointment within 2 weeks.

Some women are referred through the NHS breast screening programme. Breast screening is a way of finding breast cancer at an early stage, when it is too small to be felt or seen.

Common tests to diagnose breast cancer include mammography, ultrasound scans & biopsy.

The first treatment for breast cancer is often surgery to remove it. Some women may have treatment, such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, before surgery. This is called neo-adjuvant treatment. Radiotherapy may also be offered after surgery, to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

For extensive information, please visit the Macmillan Website here.

Useful resources

Prostate Cancer UK have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out...
Bowel Cancer UK Community — a place for anyone affected by bowel cancer to talk about...
Thrive is a community and safe space for younger women to connect with and support each...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
LearnZone provides free and easy access to a wide variety of learning resources , online...
The Cancer Focus NI Well Aware service is aimed at the over 60s and is offered in a range...
Macmillan nurses are specialist cancer nurses with experience and qualifications in...
A healthy diet and regular physical activity may help you manage the effects of prostate...
After surgery and treatment for breast cancer, some women feel less confident about their...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
There are a number of health campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness of...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
Going through cancer can be an isolating experience at any time, and especially when...
Fatigue support is a telephone programme which includes 4 appointments with a Specialist...
We rely on our incredible volunteers to help us spread the word about prostate cancer,...
Call us for free, unbiased, confidential support and information. There's no such thing...
‘Engage’ training is a comprehensive one day programme which seeks to address the current...
Cancer Focus NI’s Art therapy service is for anyone affected by cancer. Art therapy helps...
Bupa is working in partnership with Macmillan to offer up to 6 free one-to-one...
When an adult in the family is diagnosed with cancer it affects the entire family. It can...
The Sexual support service is a chance for you, or your partner, to talk to one of our...
We’re a community of people in the UK receiving immunotherapy treatment for bowel cancer...
Cancer Focus NI, Keeping Well vans are mobile drop-in units which bring health checks,...
Our nurses are here to help. They can provide you with information, and signpost you to...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The Macmillan Online Community is a free online place for people who are living with or...
There are so many ways to get involved, from cheering on a marathon runner to...
We’re a supportive and safe place for people with stage 4 bowel cancer living in the UK,...
Each month we run an online support group for men on active surveillance - a form of...
Zest for Life is a free 6-week programme led by a Cancer Focus NI facilitator. The course...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
Someone is diagnosed every 15 minutes. What do you know about bowel cancer? Book a free...
We're always looking for enthusiastic people to help with our work. We have a range of...
Whether you need help defining sparse brows and lashes, caring for nails that are...
We have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out talks to groups both...
There are hundreds of prostate cancer support groups in the UK. We have details of many...
Cancer Focus NI is the only local cancer charity to provide a free cancer information and...
Cancer Focus NI can provide a wide range of presentations to meet the needs of your...
Treatment for cancer may mean you have to make many visits to hospital to see your...
Macmillan Grants are a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living...
As part of this community, you can talk about whatever you want, from diagnosis to...
Living with prostate cancer can be hard to deal with emotionally, as well as physically...
We know that money is a big and often difficult thing to talk about when you’re living...
The Quick Fit programme offers positive steps to improve your health through diet and...
Affected by breast cancer? Join this group to share experiences and ask questions to...
Writing is well-known to have therapeutic benefits – it gives you a voice and a way of...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The important thing to remember when you’re affected by prostate disease is that you’re...
Welcome to the Caregiver Help & Support group. We're a supportive and safe place for...

Articles & Videos

Helplines & Web Chats

Marie Curie - Helpline
Cancer Research UK - Helpline
Bowel Cancer UK - Forum
Bowel Cancer UK - Ask a Nurse
Macmillan Helpline
Cancer Focus - Nurse Line
Macmillan - Forum
Prostate Cancer UK - Forum
Macmillan - Ask an expert
Prostate Cancer UK - Specialist Nurse
Macmillan - Bereavement Forum