Update information

April 2025: We have reviewed the evidence and made new and updated recommendations on neoadjuvant treatment and gonadal function suppression. These recommendations are marked [2025], [2009, amended 2025] or [2018, amended 2025].

We also added links to relevant technology appraisal guidance throughout the guideline, and the guideline has been reordered to reflect the sequence of treatment by cancer type. Some recommendations for research that are no longer relevant have also been stood down.

February 2025: We have reviewed the evidence and have updated and made new recommendations on early identification and risk reduction of lymphoedema and management of lymphoedema. These recommendations are marked [2025], [2009, amended 2025] or [2018, amended 2025].

January 2024: We have reviewed the evidence and have updated and made new recommendations on further surgery after breast-conserving surgery. These recommendations are marked [2024] or [2009, amended 2024].

June 2023: We have reviewed the evidence and made new recommendations and recommendations for research on dose fractionation for external beam radiotherapy. These recommendations are marked [2023].

We have also made some changes without an evidence review:

  • We have updated some wording to bring the language and style up to date, without changing the meaning.

  • We have updated some recommendations to bring them in line with current terminology and practice.

  • We have combined, clarified or reworded some recommendations to make them clearer and to improve ease of reading.

These recommendations are marked [2018, amended 2023].

Recommendations marked [2009], [2017], [2018] and [2009, amended 2018] last had an evidence review in 2009, 2017 and 2018, respectively. In some cases, minor changes have been made to the wording to bring the language and style up to date, without changing the meaning.

April 2023: We have reviewed the evidence and made new recommendations and recommendations for research on arm and shoulder mobility. These recommendations are marked [2023].

July 2018: We have reviewed the evidence and made new recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of people with early and locally advanced breast cancer. These recommendations are marked [2018].

We have also made some changes without an evidence review. These recommendations are marked [2009, amended 2018].

Recommendations marked [2009] last had an evidence review in 2009. In some cases, minor changes have been made to the wording to bring the language and style up to date, without changing the meaning.

Minor changes since publication

March 2024: Evidence review N was amended to add a missing study. The rationales for DCIS in section 1.3 were updated but there were no changes to the recommendations.

May 2022: We added a link to NICE's guideline on medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms in the section on menopausal symptoms.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-6930-2