Talk to our breast care nurses if you have a query about breast cancer or breast health, want to talk things through or find more support.
In this section
The Breast Cancer Now helpline
Call us free on 0808 800 6000
Our opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday — 9am to 4pm
- Saturday — 9am to 1pm
Our opening hours over the Christmas period are:
- Tuesday 24 Dec — 9am to 4pm
- Wednesday 25 Dec — Closed (bank holiday)
- Thursday 26 Dec — Closed (bank holiday)
- Friday 27 Dec — 9am to 4pm
- Saturday 28 Dec — Closed
- Monday 30 Dec — 9am to 4pm
- Tuesday 31 Dec — 9am to 4pm
- Wednesday 1 Jan — Closed (bank holiday)
- Thursday 2 Jan — 9am to 4pm
Calls are free from all UK landlines and mobiles. To make sure everyone can contact us we have access to a telephone interpreting service, in over 240 languages, and the Relay UK - prefix is 18001
If the helpline is closed, you can leave us a message with your name and number. We’ll call you back as soon as we’re next open.
If you have a question but prefer to receive the information in writing, you can email our nurses instead.
We provide tailored information and specialist support to anyone affected by breast cancer or with queries about breast health. Callers include people who want to know more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer; people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, their families and friends; and healthcare professionals.
By offering accurate information and the chance to talk openly in a safe and confidential space, we hope that our callers feel more informed, more confident about making decisions and more supported with what they are going through.
What if I can’t get through?
Usually you’ll get through straight away, but at busy times, you may have to wait for a short while. If you’d prefer not to wait, there’s an option to leave a voicemail and we’ll phone back as soon as possible.
Out of hours you can also leave a voicemail and we’ll phone you when we’re next open, usually first thing in the morning.
Who will answer my call?
Our team consists of experienced breast care nurses and trained staff who have a personal experience of breast cancer.
We keep up to date with developments in the diagnosis, treatment and support of breast cancer and breast health concerns and between us we have a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with people affected by breast cancer. Whatever your concern, you can be assured that we will respond in a friendly, understanding and professional way.
What kind of calls do you get?
Some people want general information, others have specific clinical queries, and some people just want to talk.
Calls might be from:
- someone concerned about a breast change
- people waiting for test results
- women facing treatment choices, such as whether to have chemotherapy
- people wanting to talk through the details of their pathology report
- people recently diagnosed with secondary breast cancer
- friends, relatives, partners and children of people with breast cancer
- healthcare professionals
Some people call us once, others more regularly over a period of time.
I don’t know what I would have done without being able to call the helpline at each stage. It helps so much to talk to people who understand, because you can feel so alone.
Helpline caller