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This week we launched our report Delivering real choice: the future of breast reconstruction in England.
For those who choose it, breast reconstruction is a vital part of recovery from breast cancer or from risk-reducing surgery. So people must be able to access the right type of reconstruction, at the right time for them. However, too often, this access and choice is being denied.
To understand more about people’s experience of breast reconstruction we have been undertaking research to better understand the current picture.
We’ve:
We identified the barriers and challenges facing breast reconstruction services and patients include:
A lack of information and support in making a decision about reconstruction. Only 53% of women surveyed that had or were waiting for breast reconstruction ‘definitely’ felt they were offered the full range of reconstruction options and 19% felt they were unable to access support as part of decision making.
We are calling on NHS England to work in partnership with us, the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) and the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) to develop a practical plan for breast reconstruction services that addresses the backlog, removes barriers and ensures timely and fair access to reconstruction for all women who want it.
Our report makes a number of recommendations to help achieve this. These include eliminating long waits by ensuring breast reconstruction is incorporated within the Referral to Treatment target, increasing capacity to deliver free flap reconstruction and ensuring service structures enable access to it. Alongside this, we’re calling for all local restrictions on access to breast reconstruction to be removed.
We want to amplify the voices of those affected and start a conversation on the importance of being able to access the right type of reconstruction, at the right time. So, if you are considering, waiting for, or have had breast reconstruction and feel comfortable sharing your experiences, please join the conversation on:
Or you can tell us your story to help us raise awareness in the future
If you have a query about breast reconstruction, you want to talk things through or find more support, our breast care nurses are here for you. Just call our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.
Our nurses are hosting a Facebook Live session on breast reconstruction on our Breast Cancer Now Facebook page at 7pm on Thursday 20 October. After the event you can watch the session here.
As our petition to guarantee women’s access to breast screening reaches over 50,000 signatures, we break down the government’s initial response and explore the issues it still needs to address.
In this blog, we talk about our recent screening reception in Parliament and the next steps in our No Time to Waste campaign
Read about our plan to ensure that all eligible women have equal access to breast screening, to provide the best opportunity to detect breast cancer as early as possible.