Breast Lump

The Scottish Cancer Referral Guidelines have been updated and went live on Wednesday, 6th August 2025. We are working hard to update all relevant information on the RefHelp website. If you would like to see the guidelines please click here Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer 2025 – gov.scot

Breast Cancer accounts for 30% of cancers in woman and around 4,500 people are diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Scotland each year; approximately 25 of these are men.

USOC Referral should be made for:

Any new discrete lump in patients 30 years and over
New asymmetrical nodularity that persists at review after two to three weeks (in patients over 35 years)
Unilateral isolated axillary lymph node in women persisting at review after two to three weeks
Recurrent lump at the site of a previously aspirated cyst

(Details of other indications for Breast USOC referral can be found under pages for Nipple symptoms, Skin changes and Breast Abscess).

J.B & M.B, L.P 07-11-23

Who to refer:

Urgent Suspicion of Cancer Referral:

Any new discrete lump in patients aged 30 years or older
New asymmetrical nodularity that persists at review after two to three weeks (in patients over 35 years)
Unilateral isolated axillary lymph node in women persisting at review after two to three weeks
Recurrent lump at site of a previously aspirated cyst

Routine Referral:

Any new discrete lump in patients under 30 years with no other suspicious features
New asymmetrical nodularity that persists at review after menstruation (in patients under 35years)

Who not to refer:

Women with longstanding tender lumpy breast and no focal lesion
Tender developing breasts in adolescents
Men with breast tissue swelling rather than lump (see Breast disease in Men tab for more information).