Reviewed on : 9 Sep 2025

Reviewed by : Kate Ray & Hazel Blanchard & Gateway Editor

Expires : 9 Aug 2025

BREAST 2WW

Refer as below:

• Suspicion of Breast Cancer
• Symptomatic but NOT suspicious
• Suspicion of Recurrence of Breast Cancer

Consider printing for your patient a Cancer Research UK Urgent Referral Leaflet – follow link

All 2WW referrals should be made through the NHS eReferral Service (previously known as Choose & Book).

Please make all referrals (urgent and non-urgent) within 1 day in accordance with the NICE Cancer Recognition & Referral Guidelines (NG12) – Breast

If in doubt about the referral please contact one of the breast specialists by phone or by e mail Advice & Guidance for further advice, although your non urgent referral letters will be vetted by a specialist and the appointment accelerated if necessary.

Breast Pain Pathway – see link right

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Breast Pain Pathway (September 2025) designed to support GPs in the effective management of patients presenting with breast pain, a common but often benign symptom

Why This Matters

• Breast pain alone is not typically associated with breast cancer
• Up to 20% of breast referrals are for pain only, often resulting in unnecessary imaging and anxiety
• This pathway aims to reduce inappropriate referrals, free up diagnostic capacity, and improve patient reassurance and satisfaction

Referral Criteria:

• • Refer non-urgently only if symptoms persist after following the simple mastalgia pathway for 3 months
  • Normal examination by referrer
  • Breast pain only
  • Use e-Referral Service (select “Urgent Suspected Cancer – Breast Pain”) however the pathway also remains accessible through the (Urgent Suspected Cancer – Breast Symptomatic) by selecting breast pain on the 2WW wait form