A breast triple assessment is the gold standard of testing for accurately detecting and diagnosing breast cancer and breast tissue abnormalities.
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Traditionally, tests for breast cancer are carried out at separate appointments after the results from each one are delivered. This means it can take a few weeks to rule out or provide a diagnosis of cancer.
Our unique breast triple assessment service accurately detects and diagnoses breast cancer and breast tissue abnormalities. The main benefit of this service is that all necessary tests are carried out at the same appointment, so your results are available much more quickly.
Offered to women who are presenting with breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump in the breast, our breast triple assessment involves 3 types of tests to screen for and diagnose breast cancer:
Initial assessment – one of our specialist consultant breast surgeons will take your medical history and perform a physical examination to check your breast tissue.
Imaging – this includes mammography and/or ultrasound.
Biopsy – a fine needle aspiration or core biopsy is done to collect and test breast cells and/or tissue for abnormal cells.
While each of these tests can be useful individually, they provide much more accurate and reliable results when done in combination.
We recommend you visit us for an assessment as soon as possible if you have any concerns about your breast health or are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
a lump or thickening in your breast
a lump or swelling in your armpit
changes in the size, shape, or feel of one or both breasts
a change in the position of the nipple, such as turning inwards
discharge from one or both nipples, which may be bloodstained
skin changes in your breast, such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
problems with breastfeeding
A breast triple assessment is straightforward, but we understand that this can be a daunting experience. Our experienced consultant radiologists and surgeons guide you through every stage, answering any questions you have and helping you to feel as comfortable as possible throughout the process.
To help you feel prepared, here’s what to expect from each stage:
At your initial assessment, your consultant breast specialist will ask you a few questions about any symptoms you have and will take your medical and family history.
They’ll then do a physical examination of your breasts to look and feel for any abnormalities or lumps. This involves going over your whole breast area, including the nipples, and also over your neck, collarbones, and under your armpits.
After your initial assessment, and depending on your age, you’ll have a mammogram and/or ultrasound scan.
During a mammogram, the breasts are compressed one at a time in a mammogram machine. This holds the breast tissue still while X-rays are taken. This may be uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a few minutes.
Our experienced consultant radiologist will then assess the images. Mammograms can help detect abnormalities before they’re felt and can also show tiny clusters of calcium called microcalcifications. Lumps or specks that show up on mammograms may be cancerous tumours, but they can also be other non-cancerous conditions, such as cysts, a collection of fatty cells, or fibrous tissue.
If an abnormality is seen on your mammogram, or if you have dense breasts, your radiologist may also need to perform an ultrasound scan. This can also help them identify if an abnormality or breast lump is solid or a fluid-filled cyst.
If an abnormality has been identified, a biopsy will need to be performed to collect a sample of fluid, cells or tissue, which will be tested for cancer cells.
There are 3 types of needle test that may be used: fine needle aspiration, core biopsy, and vacuum-assisted biopsy. These are all performed under a local anaesthetic and are guided with ultrasound or mammography.
Fine needle aspiration involves inserting a thin needle through the skin, which is guided with ultrasound to collect a sample of cells or fluid. It’s particularly helpful in distinguishing fluid-filled cysts from solid masses.
A core biopsy takes a sample of tissue from the breast. A very small cut is made, and a needle is inserted and guided with ultrasound. A small sample of breast tissue is collected, and the needle is removed.
A small incision is made in the skin, and with the help of mammography, a needle with vacuum suction collects multiple tissue samples of breast tissue to be sent to the laboratory for testing. This type of biopsy is used to target calcifications that cannot be seen on ultrasound.
With this rapid diagnostic service, you’ll receive the results of your imaging in the same visit. If a biopsy is performed, your results will be available within 72 hours and delivered to you by your consultant at a follow-up appointment, where they will also explain any next steps.
If cancer is found, they may arrange for you to have further tests such as an MRI, PET and/or CT scan, blood tests, and a bone scan.
Any treatment needed will be based on the results of all of these tests combined, and will be explained to you in depth by your consultant.
While we endeavour for your screening to be as smooth and straightforward as possible, in some cases, there may not be time to perform all of the necessary tests at one appointment.
This is particularly true if a vacuum biopsy is required, as this may need to be booked on another day due to availability.
Wherever possible, it’s important for us to be able to access previous breast imaging, as this allows your radiologist to compare images and identify any changes or if a suspicious area is long-standing. If there are no images available for comparison, this may mean that an area is biopsied unnecessarily.
If you’ve had any breast imaging elsewhere, it’s very important to inform us before you come for your appointment, as this allows us to successfully retrieve them to be used for comparison.
There’s no specific preparation needed to have a breast triple assessment. However, you may wish to wear clothing that’s easy to remove. If you’d like someone to come with you for support, you’re very welcome to bring a family member or friend to your appointment.
There’s no recovery time or aftercare needed after your consultation or after having a mammogram or ultrasound. If a biopsy is required, this can cause some pain, and there will be some aftercare to consider – your consultant will talk you through what's needed.
Our prices are as follows:
Consultation with a breast surgeon: From £200 to £300
Mammogram: £315
Bilateral breast ultrasound: £368
Mammogram and ultrasound package on the same day: £525
Needle biopsy tests: From £1300
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
We understand that needing to have a breast triple assessment can feel scary. That’s why we’ve taken great care to ensure you feel at ease every step of the way. At Welbeck, our consultant radiologists, mammographers and breast surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
This service is available to women and men of all ages, and we accept both self-referrals and referrals from clinicians for this service.
Booking an appointment at Welbeck is simple – visit our booking portal to arrange a private breast ultrasound scan today. Alternatively, you can call us on 020 8015 2355, or email our team at bookings.womenshealth@onewelbeck.com. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
The physical examination and imaging tests are not uncomfortable or painful. If a biopsy is required, a local anaesthetic will be administered to numb the area. This injection can be uncomfortable, but it allows the biopsy to be performed without causing you pain. You’ll feel some pain and discomfort once the anaesthetic has worn off, and we recommend taking paracetamol to help manage this.
A biopsy is a relatively quick procedure, usually taking no more than 20 minutes. The sample will be sent to our labs, and your consultant will share your results with you, which they will receive within 2 to 3 days.
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FAQs
Self-Pay Available
This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.
Consultation Required
For this treatment you will need to have a 1-to-1 consultation at OneWelbeck first. To book in with our team of expert clinicians or to find out more about the process contact the relevant centre team.
Self Referral
No doctor referral needed in order to book this service, although health insurers may require a referral in order for your treatment to be covered.
Fixed Price Package
For peace of mind, this service or treatment is available for an all-inclusive fixed price package.
We have brought together a group of leading gynaecologists and breast specialists to form our Women’s Health team. With over 200 years of combined experience, these expert clinicians are the best in their field and are all focused on delivering the very best patient care.