- Reference Number: HEY-438/2022
- Departments: Breast Services
- Last Updated: 1 May 2022
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced for patients who have been diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer to give you general information about the Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust who are based at the Breast Care Unit in Castle Hill Hospital.
They work closely within local and national guidelines to provide ongoing practical, emotional and psychological support for you and those you care about.
If after reading this leaflet you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team who has been caring for you or your Macmillan Breast Care Nurse.
What is secondary breast cancer?
Secondary breast cancer is sometimes referred to as metastatic breast cancer and is when breast cancer cells from the primary (original) breast cancer have spread to another area in the body through the lymphatic or blood system. The most common areas that are affected are the bones, liver and lungs.
Who will help me?
A specialist Breast Multidisciplinary Team led by a Consultant Oncologist will decide the most appropriate treatment for you. This will be specifically tailored to your needs, and you will be able to discuss your treatment options and what they might mean.
The treatments may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bisphosphates and targeted therapies like Herceptin. Surgery is not generally an option however it may be discussed in some cases. Sometimes a clinical trial may be appropriate for you and if you are a suitable candidate for the trial this will be explained in detail to see if you wish to consent to participate.
The aim of treatment for Secondary or Metastatic Breast Cancer is to control and slow down the spread of the disease, to relieve symptoms and to give you the best quality of life, all of which will be closely monitored.
In addition to the hospital medical team the Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team will support you and your close ones depending on your needs. They will be able to liaise with other professionals to ensure you have appropriate help and support.
What is the role of the Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team?
The Hull University Teaching Hospital Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team consists of Specialist Nurses and Cancer Care Co-ordinators.
The team will look after you throughout your treatment pathway and will liaise closely with the multi-disciplinary team involved with your care. You will be allocated a key worker from the nursing team.
The Macmillan care coordinators’ have had additional training to help and support patients and their significant others who are being investigated and diagnosed with secondary/ metastatic breast cancer, undergoing treatment and those who are being followed up. They work very closely with the nursing team to help them to care and support you.
The service also aims to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to manage your health through advice and information giving to support you. We will also inform you about additional services you can also access.
How can we help you?
In order to help you fully understand your diagnosis, treatment plan and follow up so that you receive an appropriate level of support, we have an open access telephone triage number where contact with a member of the Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team can be arranged for you. This contact is usually by telephone or alternatively we can arrange to see you at your medical appointment.
The Macmillan Breast Care Nurse (Key Worker) you met today was:
………………………………………………………………………………………
We work as a team and are all available to support you throughout your treatment and follow up.
When you attend for an appointment with your Specialist doctor, there is usually a Breast Care Nurse available. If you wish to see one, please let us know or ask a member of staff in the clinic. You can also contact her at any point, even if you are no longer receiving treatment, should you wish to discuss anything that you feel is important to you.
How can I contact the team?
The Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team work Monday to Friday and messages can be left on the answer phone and will be dealt with between the hours of:
Monday to Thursday 09:00-17:00pm and Friday 09:00-12:00pm.
The team will endeavour to return your call within 48 hours (unless messages are left outside of these hours, over the weekend or on Bank Holidays when calls will be returned on the following working day).
The Breast Cancer Care Co-ordinators will be your first point of contact on (01482) 622013.
They will triage the messages to ensure you are able to get the right information, advice, care and support you need to help you with your concerns, queries or questions from the right team member or service.
Please note that this is not an Emergency number
Useful contact telephone numbers:
Local Telephone Numbers
Castle Hill Hospital (switchboard) – (01482) 875875
Outpatients Reception – (01482) 461144
Oncology Day Treatment Unit – (01482) 461118 or 461117
Radiotherapy Nurses – (01482) 461134
Lymphoedema Team – (01482) 461084
Emergencies
The Queen’s Centre Triage and Acute Assessment Services – (01482) 468888
Your Own Contact Numbers
GP ………………………………………….
Community Macmillan Nurse ………………………………………….
The Macmillan Breast Care Nursing Team Triage Number (01482) 622013
Cancer Psychological Service
Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Entrance 1
Castle Hill Hospital
Cottingham
HU16 5JQ
Contact (01482) 461060 / 461061 on Mondays to Fridays, 08.00am – 16.00pm (Closed on Bank Holidays) https://www.hey.nhs.uk/psychology/cancer/
Breast Cancer Now
General Enquiries and Supporter Care: 0333 20 70 300
Support Services: 0345 077 1893
Support Services: services@breastcancernow.org
Ibex House
42-47 Minories
London
EC3N 1DY
Macmillan Cancer Support
Helpline – 0808 808 00 00
www.macmillan.org.uk
89 Albert Embankment
Lambeth
London
SE1 7UQ
About Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support works with a wide range of agencies and health professionals to provide better services for patients with cancer from the point of diagnosis. Macmillan Cancer Support works in partnership with the National Health Service to improve the provision of main stream healthcare for people with cancer and their families. Macmillan Cancer Support funds nurses, doctors and buildings for cancer care and also provides patient grants to people who have cancer or who are experiencing the effects of cancer and are in financial need.
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
