Auckland Breast Centre

Referral Guidelines

The symptoms that need urgent referral for possible cancer of the breast are:

A fixed, hard lump in the breast at any age.
Women aged 30 or over who have a lump that is still there after their next period.
A women with a lump that appears after menopause.
Women under 30 with a lump that is getting bigger, is fixed and hard or who have other particular reasons for concern, such as a strong family history of breast cancer.
Anyone who has had breast cancer before and has another lump or other suspicious symptoms.
A rash on one nipple or in the surrounding area (this is very rare), that has not responded to treatment.
Nipples that have turned in (inverted) recently.
Blood stained or clear serous discharge from the nipple for no apparent reason.
Men, aged 50 or over with a firm lump under one nipple, with or without changes in nipple shape or to the surrounding skin.

The symptoms that need referral, but not urgently, are:

A distinct lump in women under 30.
Breast pain (with no lump) that does not go away with reassurance, wearing a well supporting bra, or painkillers prescribed by your GP.