Breast screening and assessment clinic
Who will I see in clinic?
During your visit to the breast screening assessment clinic, you may see many members of staff of different genders. Please let us know if you would like a chaperone (another member of staff in the room with you). Any of the staff will be available to talk to you, and answer any questions you may have.
These are the members of staff who make up the team that will manage your assessment:
- Receptionist
- Radiographer – a person who is trained to take X-ray pictures of parts of the body
- Advanced Practitioner – a radiographer who is trained to interpret the mammograms and perform ultrasound
- Consultant radiologist or radiographer - a person specialising in the interpretation of X-rays and other scanning techniques for the diagnosis of disorders
- Breast surgeon – a doctor specialising in abnormalities of the breast
- There will also be one of the specialist breast care nurses available, if required.
What do the specialist breast care nurses do?
The breast care nurses are available at the Breast Screening Clinic upon request, for you to discuss any issues, worries or concerns you may have within the assessment process.
They are also here to help, support and give advice to patients and their families who suspect they may have breast cancer.
How can I contact the specialist breast care nurses?
The breast care nurses are based at Rotherham Hospital.
They can be contacted by calling 01709 425428, 01709 427242 or 01709 425627. The best time to contact them is between 8.30am and 9.30am, Monday to Friday.
Please leave a short message if no one is in the office, and someone will call you back as soon as possible.
What will happen on my second visit?
Sometimes the first mammogram may not provide enough information for the radiologist. When this happens, further examinations are needed to make the result clear. We would like to reassure you that most women who are invited back are not found to have any serious problems.
On your second visit, any further examinations will be explained to you. These may include:
- a routine breast examination
- further breast X-rays
- ultrasound - this uses sound waves instead of X-rays to produce a picture
- biopsy, if we need to look at some tissue under the microscope. A biopsy is only done after we have fully explained the procedure to you.
How long will the appointment take?
Your second appointment will take longer than your first visit. It is difficult to say exactly how long this appointment may take, but allow up to 4 hours.
When will I get the results?
It may be possible to give you your results during this visit.
Often problems such as cysts are found, which may be treated at the Breast Screening Unit. If this is the case, you will be told before you leave when you will be invited for screening again. If it is not possible to give you the results on the day, you will be invited back the following week.
Every effort is made to give you the results as quickly as possible. Please bear in mind, the best time to ask questions is while you are attending the Chatham Suite, while your details and medical notes are available.
You may want to write down questions you have to ask at your next visit.
How to contact us
Breast Screening Unit, located in the Chatham Suite
C level, junction 2
Telephone: 01709 424807
Monday 8am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:30am to 3:30pm
Wednesday 8am to 5pm
Thursday 8am to 4:30pm
Friday 8am to 2pm