If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, then we will take time to discuss your treatment options with you. We stress that these decisions are not rushed at a time of great concern. Making the right choice for you is very important.

Surgery will be an integral part of your care, but other treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone tablets may be needed too.

In our centre, about 75% of women end up having the cancer removed safely by lumpectomy alone. Only about 25% of women require a mastectomy. If you need a mastectomy, then breast reconstruction will always be discussed with you and offered to you, if appropriate,  by our surgeons. In Cheltenham, about 40% of our women choose to have a reconstruction after mastectomy.

In some cases, lumpectomy surgery can be performed in conjunction with re-shaping of the affected breast to provide a better cosmetic result and reduce the problems associated with radiotherapy given to women with large breasts. This procedure is called a 'therapeutic mammoplasty'. Matching surgery to the other normal breast can also be performed, usually at the same time.

Your surgeons will also discuss surgery to the lymph glands in your armpit (axilla) to check for spread of the cancer to the glands. Recently there have been many articles about a new technique called 'sentinel node biopsy', which is a much less invasive operation. Our surgeons have used this technique since 1998 and offer it routinely to patients with breast cancer.

All patients with significant problems are discussed in our weekly multi-disciplinary meetings, so that each person has the benefit of collective expertise from several consultants and specialists.