Information for patients
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a common chronic condition that occurs in up to 10% of all women.
PCOS is typically characterised by irregular or absent menstrual cycles, and signs and symptoms of androgen excess such as hirsutism or acne.
Many women with PCOS also struggle with weight issues. If you think you have PCOS please attend your GP, who will decide with you whether specialist referral is necessary.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a group of diseases that affects the mammary gland tissue of the breast. The majority of people affected are women but breast tumours can also affect men so it is really important that everyone regularly performs a breast self-check to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps or bumps.
If you do notice something unusual about the feel or appearance of your breasts during your monthly self-check (best done in the days after your period) the best thing to do is to make an appointment with your GP straight away to get it checked out.
Public Patient Involvement (PPI)
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) defines public involvement in research as research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them.
By using the term ‘public’, we are including:
- Patients and potential patients
- Careers and people who use health and social care services
- People from organisations that represent people who use services.
Therefore, when the public gets involved in research, they work alongside researchers to help shape:
- What research gets done;
- How it is carried out; and
- How the results are shared and applied in practice.
Note: being involved is not the same as taking part in research. It is not about taking part in a trial or study to test a new treatment or care option; it is about being a member of the research team that works together to design and run the study.