The Nightingale Centre & Genesis Prevention Centre

The Nightingale centre and Genesis Prevention Centre is Europe's first purpose-built breast cancer prevention centre.

Click here to view a map of our location.

The centre is headed by three internationally renowned professors, who are leading authorities in their fields. Each professor has a special area of responsibility:

• Professor Tony Howell, the UK’s first Professor of Cancer Prevention.
• Professor Gareth Evans, Professor of Clinical Genetics.
• Professor Nigel Bundred, Professor of Surgery.

Their work includes:

• Research into diet and lifestyle as triggers of the disease.
• Research into dietary prevention.
• Research into the faulty genes that can cause cancer.
• Risk assessment for women worried about developing breast cancer.
• A Family History Clinic ensuring that families obtain the best support, care and advice possible.
• Methods of early detection.
• Research into cancer-prevention drugs.
• Research into pre-cancer changes.
• Research into related diseases, such as ovarian cancer.
• Training breast care specialists for the future.

The Building

Opened in July 2007, the building is situated on the University Hospital of South Manchester complex in Wythenshawe. It provides a base for one of the most ambitious breast cancer research programmes in Europe.

The centre offers a state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment services to women and men with breast cancer and co-ordinates the NHS breast-screening programme for the Greater Manchester area.

There are specially designed consultation, examination, counselling, mammography, radiology and ultrasound rooms. There are also laboratories dedicated to pathology, prosthesis, lymphodema and bone densitometry.

As well as this, it provides training facilities aimed at addressing the shortage of breast cancer specialists.

The centre is light and airy, offering a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere for patients. It incorporates a glazed atrium entrance and waiting area with a beautiful stained glass window created by artist, Martin Donlin. This tranquil ambience features both inside and out, with planted areas of landscaping, two internal courtyards and a tranquillity garden for patients.

The building and its interior were designed after consultation with breast cancer patients and staff.

Room plaques are displayed around the building to thank those who sponsored rooms for £25,000 + and The Wall of Dedication in the atrium lists all supporters who donated £1000+ towards the building for The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Appeal.

Interesting Facts

• When a woman in the Greater Manchester Area reaches screening age (50 but soon to be lowered to 47) she will receive a letter within 3 years inviting her to a mammogram on one of the 6 mobile screening vans.

• Approximately 50,000 patients are screened each year from the Greater Manchester area.

• Following the mammogram, if further investigations are required, the patient will be invited to the Nightingale Centre to see a consultant. This does not automatically mean that the patient has breast cancer; in fact the vast majority of cases prove not to be cancer.

• 15,000 Appointments are at the Centre each year.

• A team of dedicated breast care nurses based at The Nightingale and Genesis Prevention Centre are available to patients diagnosed with breast cancer, offering advice and support.

• There are presently 10,000 families in the family history clinic. It is the aim that for families affected by breast cancer the risk level is assessed of all individuals involved.