Breast Medicine

Role of Specialist Breast Physician

Breast Physicians are skilled in clinical breast examination, mammographic interpretation, the performance and interpretation of breast ultrasound, and the performance and interpretation of fine needle and core breast biopsies. Most importantly, a breast physician correlates all these test results and can explain the outcome to the patient and her referring practitioner.

Breast physicians can provide information to the patient concerning their investigations and provide a plan of management for their breast problem. They can organise appropriate referral to other members of the multidisciplinary team and are skilled in counselling.

A specialist breast physician is particularly interested in the diagnosis and management of benign breast disease, and in the care of women with a personal or family history or other high risk factors for the development of breast cancer.

Most women presenting to a breast physician will have a favourable outcome at the end of their assessment. Most women will have normal breasts and their symptoms will be due to benign breast disease, hormonal changes, muscular skeletal effects or a combination of these.

Breast physicians see women with a variety of breast concerns: lumps, minor hormonal changes, breast pain, skin changes, lactation problems, family history of breast cancer, anxiety due to a friend having breast cancer or as part of their general health check.

Yes, we see men as well.

Some women will have had tests performed elsewhere and require a second opinion on these results or simply an explanation of their breast problem. Breast physicians are happy to discuss any breast problem, however minor you may think your concern is.