In this episode, Dr Hong Tseung (GP Clinical Lead at the Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance) and Miss Sonia Bathla (Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at the Burney Breast Unit, St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) discuss the assessment of breast pain and when it may indicate breast cancer. They also explore other common causes of breast pain, including breast infection, and consider when referral to breast services is appropriate. The episode also covers the assessment and management of gynaecomastia and suspected male breast cancer. Practical resources are included to support clinical practice and deepen listeners’ understanding.
Here are the links to the resources mentioned in the episode:
Breast Pain:
1. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance: Information for Primary Care on Referral of Breast Symptoms
https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/application/files/2517/8230/0417/Female_Breast_Symptomatic_cancer_not_suspected_Referral_Form_vF2.0.pdf
2. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance: Referral Form for Adult Female Patients Requiring Symptomatic Breast Clinic.
https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/application/files/7817/8230/0216/USC_Female_Breast_Referral_Form_vF2.0.pdf
3. Breast Pain – Cyclical, NICE CKS (April 2026).
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/breast-pain-cyclical/
4. Scenario: Management “how should I manage cyclical breast pain?”, NICE CKS.
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/breast-pain-cyclical/management/management/
5. GatewayC: Cancer Keys: Is breast pain a symptom of breast cancer?
https://www.gatewayc.org.uk/cancer-keys/is-breast-pain-a-symptom-of-breast-cancer/
6. Mastitis and breast abscess: NICE CKS, 2025
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/mastitis-breast-abscess/
7. Rajiv V Dave et al, British Journal of General Practice 2022: No association between breast pain and breast cancer: a prospective cohort study of 10,830 symptomatic women presenting to a breast cancer diagnostic clinic.
BJGP 2022, 72(717) e234-243, https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0475
Gynaecomastia:
1. Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance: Gynaecomastia
https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/application/files/3517/8230/0834/Gynaecomastia.pdf
2. BMJ Best Practice: Gynaecomastia April 2025
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/869
3. Association of Breast Surgeons Guidance on Investigation & Management of Gynaecomastia in Primary & Secondary Care, version 3, 2021
https://associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/media/b2ljdqhr/abs-summary-statement-gynaecomastia-v3.pdf
4. CMCA Urgent Suspected Cancer and Symptomatic Referral form for Adult Male Patients with Suspected Breast Cancer Referral form.
https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/application/files/7817/8230/0216/USC_Female_Breast_Referral_Form_vF2.0.pdf
5. Red Whale Article: Gynaecomastia (needs a login account)
https://www.redwhale.co.uk/content/gynaecomastia