Quality standard

This quality standard covers the care of people with breast cancer after they have been referred to a specialist team. It includes the management of early (ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive), locally advanced and advanced breast cancer; recurrent breast cancer; and familial breast cancer. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

It does not cover identification of breast cancer. Recognition and investigation of suspected cancer in primary care and referral to specialist services are covered in NICE’s quality standard on suspected cancer.

In June 2016, this quality standard was updated in response to an annual review, which identified changes in the areas for improvement for this topic. For more information see update information.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. We check our quality standards every August to make sure they are up to date.