Breast lump
A new lump — whether painful, tender, or painless — warrants assessment. Most are benign (fibroadenomas, cysts), but the only way to be sure is examination plus imaging.
Any new lump, especially if it's persistent, growing, or different from existing breast tissue.
Read moreSkin or nipple change
Skin dimpling, puckering, redness, or nipple inversion — particularly when new or asymmetric. Inflammatory presentations need rapid assessment to rule out inflammatory breast cancer.
Any new skin or nipple change, especially asymmetric or persistent.
Read moreNipple discharge
Bloody, clear-watery, or persistent single-duct discharge needs assessment. Milky bilateral discharge usually does not.
Discharge that's bloody, persistent, or from a single duct.
Read moreBreast pain
Cyclical pain that comes and goes with the period rarely indicates anything serious. Persistent, focal, or non-cyclical pain warrants assessment.
Non-cyclical, persistent, or focal pain.
Read moreNICE NG12 · GP referral
When your GP should refer urgently
- Age 30 or over with an unexplained breast lump (with or without pain).
- Age 50 or over with a change in one nipple only — discharge, retraction, or other concern.
- Any age with skin changes that suggest breast cancer, or age 30 or over with an unexplained lump in the armpit — your GP should consider an urgent suspected cancer referral.
- Under 30 with a lump — usually a non-urgent referral, but assessment is still important; seek urgent review if you or your family are very worried.
This is separate from booking a private one-stop appointment — if you think you meet these criteria, contact your GP as well. For GPs explains the NHS urgent suspected cancer pathway and Faster Diagnosis Standard (diagnosis or rule-out within 28 days). In an emergency, call 999.
Younger patients
Most adolescent breast presentations are benign
Breast problems in patients under 25 are uncommon but real, and most general breast services aren't set up to assess them. Dr Tsang-Wright is one of a small number of private breast surgeons in the UK who routinely sees adolescent patients with breast lumps, nipple changes, or family-history concerns.
Adolescent breast careWhat happens after the assessment
A letter to your GP is sent after every appointment with your permission.