In this episode of the Clinical Update podcast, guests from Future Dreams and Breast Cancer Now talk to MIMS Learning deputy editor Rhiannon Ashman. In the first section of this podcast, you'll learn about the varied presentations of breast cancer and how to sensitively approach consultations with breast cancer survivors. In the second section, the podcast focuses on signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer, with insights into patient experience.

Part 1: 1.13 – 25.09: lead clinical nurse specialist Jackie Wright, and Amanda – who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 42 – consider how to encourage people to open up conversations with family about medical history, and discuss access to genetic testing.

They also offer tips on self-checking, and how to support patients. Speaking about the health anxiety many patients with a history of cancer feel, and the importance of compassion from primary care, Amanda says, ‘I just feel that that understanding is priceless’. 

Part 2: 25.09 – 56.59: Catherine Priestley, senior clinical nurse specialist for secondary breast cancer, and Laura Price, author of the novel Single Bald Female, who is living with secondary breast cancer, discuss signs and symptoms of secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. They remind GPs that ‘low risk is not no risk’, and that secondary breast cancer can occur decades after the original diagnosis. 

Laura draws on her experiences to provide some useful insights into how GPs can gather information on, and prioritise, often vague collections of symptoms, and on taking seriously patients’ concerns without being swayed if a patient ‘self-diagnoses something that's actually much less serious than the thing that it could be’.  

Educational objectives

After listening to this podcast, healthcare professionals should be better able to: 

• Understand signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how to effectively educate patients on self-checking
• Discuss who is at risk of secondary breast cancer, and the most common locations of metastasis
• Identify signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer 
• Understand proactive steps primary care can take to support patients with a history of cancer 
• Appreciate patient anxiety in healthcare settings following a diagnosis of cancer
• Advise patients on breast cancer risk factors

Please note: this podcast is presented by medical editors and discusses educational content written or presented by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on the MIMS Learning website and at live events.

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