Quality standard

List of quality statements

List of quality statements

Statement 1 People with suspected breast cancer referred to specialist services are offered the triple diagnostic assessment in a single hospital visit. [new 2016]

Statement 2 People with biopsy-proven invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are not offered a preoperative MRI scan unless there are specific clinical indications for its use. [new 2016]

Statement 3 People with oestrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) and lymph node-negative early breast cancer who are at intermediate risk of distant recurrence are offered gene expression profiling. [new 2016]

Statement 4 People with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer and those with recurrent breast cancer (if clinically appropriate) have the oestrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of the tumour assessed. [2011, updated 2016]

Statement 5 People with breast cancer who develop metastatic disease have their treatment and care managed by a multidisciplinary team. [2011, updated 2016]

Statement 6 People with locally advanced, metastatic or distant recurrent breast cancer are assigned a key worker. [2011, updated 2016]

In 2016 this quality standard was updated, and statements prioritised in 2011 were updated (2011, updated 2016) or replaced (new 2016). For more information, see update information.

Statements from the 2011 quality standard for breast cancer that are still supported by the evidence may still be useful at a local level:

  • People presenting with symptoms that suggest breast cancer are referred to a unit that performs diagnostic procedures in accordance with NHS Breast Screening Programme guidance.

  • People with early invasive breast cancer are offered a pre-treatment ultrasound evaluation of the axilla and, if abnormal lymph nodes are identified, ultrasound-guided needle biopsy (fine needle aspiration or core). Those with no evidence of lymph node involvement on needle biopsy are offered sentinel lymph node biopsy when axillary surgery is performed.

  • People with early breast cancer undergoing breast conserving surgery, which may include the use of oncoplastic techniques, have an operation that both minimises local recurrence and achieves a good aesthetic outcome.

  • People with early breast cancer who are to undergo mastectomy have the options of immediate and planned delayed breast reconstruction discussed with them.

  • People with early invasive breast cancer, irrespective of age, are offered surgery, radiotherapy and appropriate systemic therapy, unless significant comorbidity precludes it.

  • People with early invasive breast cancer do not undergo staging investigations for distant metastatic disease in the absence of symptoms.

  • People with early invasive breast cancer are involved in decisions about adjuvant therapy after surgery, which are based on an assessment of the prognostic and predictive factors, and the potential benefits and side effects.

  • People having treatment for early breast cancer are offered personalised information and support, including a written follow-up care plan and details of how to contact a named healthcare professional.

  • Women treated for early breast cancer have annual mammography for 5 years after treatment. After 5 years, women who are 50 or older receive breast screening according to the NHS Breast Screening Programme timescales, whereas women younger than 50 continue to have annual mammography until they enter the routine NHS Breast Screening Programme.

  • People who have a single or small number of potentially resectable brain metastases, a good performance status and who have no (or minimal) other sites of metastatic disease are referred to a neuroscience brain and other rare CNS tumours multidisciplinary team.

The 2011 quality standard for breast cancer is available as a pdf.