With more than 50,000 new cases of breast cancer being diagnosed every year in the UK, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is the perfect time to make sure you are breast aware.

Every year around 250 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the Bournemouth area.

There are five simple ways that you can stay breast aware, as advised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE):

• Knowing what’s normal for you

• Looking at your breasts and feeling them

• Knowing what changes to look for

• Reporting any changes without delay

• Attending routine breast screening if you’re 50 or over

The Trust’s breast service includes a multi-disciplinary team which is internationally renowned for its excellent quality of care.

It is headed up by Consultant Surgeons who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and related conditions.

Breast Care Nurses provide specialist knowledge about breast cancer, treatments and side effects as well as ongoing emotional and psychological support for patient.

Choose NHS services wisely this winter

Each winter hospitals in Dorset see an increase in the number of people admitted with seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus.

Sometimes, the number of patients coming into hospital exceeds the number of beds available - this is known as winter pressures.

We try to make provisions for this increase in patients, such as identifying extra beds in the hospital during the winter months and working with our primary care trusts to find additional care places within the community.

Patient safety and controlling and preventing the spread of infection are our main priorities, however, visitors coming into hospital when they have not been feeling well can also lead to the spread of infection.

How you can help:

• DO NOT visit hospital if you have had any kind of sickness or diarrhoea within the past 48 hours - even if you think it may be food poisoning

• If you have been ill but have a hospital appointment please call us before coming in

• Always wash your hands where possible before entering a ward

• Always use the gel provided on entering and leaving hospital

Dr Mary Armitage, Medical Director

medical@rbch.nhs.uk