Breast Radiation Injury Rehabiliation Service

The breast radiation injury rehabilitation service was launched following a pilot in July 2012. It is a highly specialised national service for men and women who are experiencing pain from injury following radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Radiation induced injury is a rare condition affecting the arm on the same side as the treated breast. It cannot be reversed but when left untreated people can develop secondary complications that can result in significant deterioration in their health, these can include:

• Severe pain
• Paralysis of arm or hand which limits the function of the limb
• Swelling of the arm on the side of the treated breast (Lymphoedema)
• Breathing problems due to lung damage or recurring chest infections
• Osteoporosis (Brittle bones)
• Psychological concerns

These symptoms can develop many years after the radiotherapy treatment and is often referred to as ‘late effects’.

Why Choose Us?

Our aim is to provide an assessment for people with radiation induced axillary tunnel damage following treatment for breast cancer. With our team of internationally renowned clinicians our goal is to deliver improvement in pain and in quality of life for individuals with complex and long term conditions.

What we offer

Upon receipt of referral, all individuals are assessed by a telephone triage call from our specialist nurse. After assessment individuals are invited to attend a two day clinic at one of our three specialist centres – Bath, Manchester or London.
The two day clinic consists of:
Day one. Individual appointments with:

• Pain Physician and Consultant Nurse in pain
• Oncology
• Respiratory Physician
• Psychology
• Rheumatology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist
• Social Worker

Day two

• Rehabilitation therapy group day is an opportunity for rehabilitation in a group session and an opportunity to have informal questions and answer sessions with our Oncologist.

Where appropriate individuals can be admitted to the RNHRD for an intensive inpatient programme of rehabilitation or may be referred to local service for assessment or treatments
Telephone advice and follow up is available to those who attend the service.

How to access our service

This service is free of charge for all individuals registered with a GP in England who meet the diagnostic criteria above. We will also accept individual referrals for other UK and non UK individuals for which an individual price for the service can be provided.

All referrals should be sent to:

Professor Candy McCabe
Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
Upper Borough Walls
Bath
BA1 1RL

candymccabe@rnhrd.nhs,uk

For existing referral queries please contact Janice Goodway on 01225 473462 or Rnh-tr.BRIRS@nhs.net