Breast Cancer
On this page:
- Main content
- Contact details
- Locations
- Treatments
- Staff members
- Patient information leaflets
- Clinicians
- Referral forms
Approximately 55,100 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year, usually in women who are over 50 years of age and who have reached the menopause. However, it is possible for women of any age to be affected by breast cancer and, in rare cases, the condition can also affect men.
What we offer at St George’s Hospital
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers a comprehensive diagnostic service. Advanced Nurse Practitioners have led on the development of Breast Diagnostic services and also that of virtual clinics. Advanced Nurse Practitioners are involved in every stage of the patient pathway. The Breast Unit at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is co-located with the South West London NHS Breast Screening Service.
To further aid diagnosis, the Radiology Department at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive imaging service (including MRI, CT and ultrasound technologies) whilst the Pathology service provides expert analysis of blood, cells and tissues.
St George’s Hospital is a large teaching hospital with the full range of skills and support services needed to be able to carry out complex cancer surgery. These include intensive care (ITU), anaesthetic and pain management services which are all available on site.
All GP referrals regarding suspected breast cancer are subject to the two-week rule referral criteria and are therefore considered as urgent. Appointments may be booked at short notice however you should be available to receive an appointment in the breast clinic at any time within a two-week period after your GP has referred you.
What is the breast clinic?
The breast clinic is an outpatient clinic where you can see a specialist. You may have all of your investigations at this first visit within the Rose Centre which helps to speed up the process of identifying problems. It can take up to four hours to complete so please allow plenty of time. Some of the results may be available on the same day; others will be available the following week.
Diagnosis
The diagnostic process is undertaken by a team of consultant breast surgeons, advanced nurse practitioners, a breast diagnostician and surgical trainees. In addition to the traditional full consultation with an experienced diagnostician, this one-stop model of care provides the following on-the-day services to patients where appropriate:
- FNA (fine needle biopsy)
- Image guided biopsy
- Clinical biopsy
- Imaging including an ultrasound scan and mammogram
Contact details
St George’s Hospital
The Rose Centre,
St George’s Hospital NHS Trust,
South West London Breast Screening Service
Perimeter Road,
London SW17 0QT
You can telephone us at:
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm
020 8725 4865 / 4868
Breast Cancer Team: 0208 725 1626 / 2955
Clinical Nurse Specialists: 0208 725 4745
Queen Mary’s Hospital Contact
You can telephone us at:
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm
020 8487 6290
Telephone support and advice: 020 8934 6363
Treatments
Breast cancers are usually treated with either surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or a combination of treatments). Sometimes the radiotherapy is combined with chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The type of surgery needed and the particular combination of surgery and therapy will depend on the type and complexity of cancer.
The breast cancer service available at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides the full range of oncoplastic surgical procedures for both benign and malignant breast disorders. This ranges from simple excisions right up to immediate and delayed breast reconstructions.
There is also a well-established dual dye and radioisotope Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy service facilitated by a large Nuclear Medicine Department.
Key staff
The breast cancer team is a truly multidisciplinary team and includes specialist surgeons, a medical and clinical oncologist, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and are supported by dedicated psychology and palliative care Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Leaflets
Referrals
Referrals can be made via the following method:
Email Suspected Cancer Referral via
ERS ONLY ON PAN LONDON FORMS
TWR Office contact details:
T: 020 8725 1111
Email: CancerReferralOffice@stgeorges.nhs.uk
