Breast cancer survivors take part in Yorkshire aftercare trial

Patients at lower risk are usually offered five years of follow-up appointments in hospital but for many they are unnecessary.

Instead newly-diagnosed patients who did not require chemotherapy were offered the chance following surgery to attend educational sessions, an annual breast scan and given rapid access to a clinical appointment if they had any concerns.

Doctors say the trial run at the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS trust has been so successful it has been adopted for all low-risk patients.

Cancer specialist Jo Dent said: “This approach makes sure that breast cancer survivors get the care, support and information they need to lead active, healthy lives, without unnecessary visits to hospital.”

Patient Irene Firth, of Stainland, Halifax, took part in the programme following surgery for breast cancer in September 2008.

She said: “I made a good recovery following surgery and I don’t believe that I would have benefited from attending a hospital appointment just to tell the doctor that I was feeling well.

“But it was reassuring to know, that at any time, I could pick up the phone and speak to a clinical nurse specialist.”

Dr Dent and clinical nurse specialist Veronica Allinson led the project in collaboration with the charity Breast Cancer Care, the Yorkshire Cancer Network and Huddersfield University.