Breast screening assessment clinic

Read our guide below about our breast screening assessment clinic.

You can also download a PDF version of this patient information by following the link on the right.

About your appointment

You’ve been asked to come to the assessment clinic following your recent mammogram.

This is the second part of the screening process.

Most women who are called back have normal breasts.

Before your appointment

It’s important that you don’t use talcum powder on the day of your appointment. It can sometimes show up in the breast images

You can use antiperspirant or deodorant.

We suggest that you wear separates on the day of your appointment as it may be easier for you to undress.

What to do when you arrive

Report to reception at the Breast Unit.

You should expect to be in the unit for at least 2 hours. You’re welcome to bring a relative or friend with you.

What happens next?

A member of staff will collect you from the waiting room. The radiographers are all female and there are also female breast care nurses in clinic.

What tests might I need?

These include:

Breast examination

You’ll have a breast examination by a clinician specialising in breast conditions.

Mammography

You might need more mammograms taken of a specific area of your breast.

Ultrasound

This test uses sound waves to look at the breast tissue and involves moving a probe over the surface of your breast. It’s a painless procedure and doesn’t use x-rays.

Breast sampling (biopsy)

It may be necessary to take a sample of breast tissue for analysis in the laboratory. This involves taking some breast tissue using local anaesthetic to numb the area.

The clinician in clinic will usually do this on the day of your appointment. Sometimes you may need another appointment to have this test on a different day.

When will I get the results?

Most women won’t need any further appointments and can get their results before they leave the clinic.

If you’ve had breast sampling, the results should be ready in about a week. We’ll give you an appointment to get the results before you leave the assessment clinic.

Please remember most women who get called back to the assessment clinic have normal breasts.

If I have any questions before I come, who can I ask?

Contact the Breast Unit or the Breast Care Nurses. Our staff will be happy to answer your questions.

How can I help reduce healthcare associated infections?

Infection prevention and control is important to the wellbeing of our patients so we have procedures in place. Keeping your hands clean is an effective way of preventing the spread of infections.

You, and anyone visiting you, must use the hand sanitiser available at the entrance to every ward before coming in and after you leave. You may need to wash your hands at the sink using soap and water. Hand sanitisers are not suitable for dealing with patients who have symptoms of diarrhoea.

More help or advice

Contact our patient advice and liaison service (PALS) on 01296 316042 or bht.pals@nhs.net