Talk to our breast care nurses if you have a query about breast cancer or breast health, want to talk things through or find more support.
In this section
By offering accurate information and the chance to talk openly in a safe and confidential space, we hope that our callers feel more informed, more confident about making decisions and more supported with what they are going through.
The Breast Cancer Now helpline
Call us free on 0808 800 6000
Our typical opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday — 9am to 4pm
- Saturday — 9am to 1pm
Our opening hours around the upcoming bank holidays are:
- 22 to 23 December - open usual hours
- 24 December (Christmas Eve) - open until 1pm
- 25 to 28 December (Christmas and Boxing Day) - closed
- 29 to 30 December - open usual hours
- 31 December (New Year's Eve) - open until 1pm
- 1 to 4 January (New Year's Day) - closed
- 5 January - open usual hours
Calls are free from all UK landlines and mobiles.
If the helpline is closed, you can leave us a message with your name and number. We’ll call you back when we’re next open.
We cannot call overseas.
If you have a question but prefer to receive the information in writing, you can email our nurses instead.
We may monitor or record calls for training or quality purposes.
What if I can’t get through?
Usually you’ll get through straight away, but at busy times, you may have to wait for a short while. If you’d prefer not to wait, there’s an option to leave a voicemail and we’ll phone back as soon as possible.
Out of hours you can also leave a voicemail and we’ll phone you back when we’re next open.
Who will answer my call?
We have a team of experienced breast care nurses and trained staff who have a personal experience of breast cancer.
We keep up to date with developments in the diagnosis, treatment and support of breast cancer and breast health concerns and between us we have a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with people affected by breast cancer. Whatever your concern, you can be assured that we will respond in a friendly, understanding and professional way.
What if I would like to speak to someone in my language?
We have access to a telephone interpreting service, in over 240 languages. Call the helpline number and say the language you would like. It won’t take us long to have an interpreter on the call.
What if I have speech or hearing difficulties?
Relay UK helps deaf, speech-impaired, and hearing people talk to each other over the phone using the relay service. Dial 18001 followed by the helpline number to use this service.
What kind of calls do you get?
Callers include:
- people who want to know more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer
- people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer
- family and friends of people with a diagnosis
Healthcare professionals are also welcome to call.
You may want general information, have specific clinical queries, or you may just want to talk.
I don’t know what I would have done without being able to call the helpline at each stage. It helps so much to talk to people who understand, because you can feel so alone.
Helpline caller