Breast surgery

When something doesn’t look or feel right with your breasts, it can understandably be very worrying for you, and you’ll want reliable answers from a specialist who can put your mind at ease.

Dealing with all aspects of functional and reconstructive breast surgery, our specialists at The Princess Margaret provide rapid diagnosis and treatment for a range of breast conditions and symptoms to patients in Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot and the surrounding areas.

You may wish to directly see a breast specialist if you have noticed any of the following symptoms:

• Breast pain
• Lump on the breast
• Changes in the shape of your breast
• Nipple discharge
• Inversion of the nipple

Our consultants regularly see patients for a range of conditions and treatments, such as:

• Benign and malignant breast disease
• Breast conservation for cancer patients
• Mastectomy and breast reconstruction
• Correction of breast asymmetry
• Breast reduction
• Male breast cancer

Symptoms relating to the breasts can have a range of causes, and many benign (non-cancerous) issues can be dealt with without the need for invasive surgery. Breast cysts, for example, can be drained in a simple procedure which can be done during your initial consultation, usually requiring no further attention.

Some breast pain may be caused by hormonal changes, and medication can be prescribed and picked up from our on-site pharmacy to help alleviate unwanted symptoms.

A cancer diagnosis normally leads to surgery to remove the cancer, but surgery is also considered for benign lumps, which can be removed in one operation.

At Princess Margaret, we take a holistic approach to cancer care, with a well set-up Breast Unit available to provide you with expert, round-the-clock care, helping to ease any of your concerns during treatment.

Once a cancer diagnosis is made, the first priority is a multi-disciplinary team discussion to make a clear management protocol in order to deliver the best patient outcomes. We know that no two patients are alike, so we ensure our approach is tailored to your specific needs.

We have dedicated breast care nurses to help all our patients in preparation for surgery, during the operation itself, and in the aftermath while you recover. By monitoring your progress during treatment, they can ensure you always receive the most appropriate, evidence-based support.

Chemotherapy and Endocrine treatment are offered in our Breast Unit, with further treatments available at our partner sites.

At Princess Margaret, we have a well-established dedicated Chemotherapy unit with specialist chemotherapy nurses, ensuring excellence of care at all times.

Lymphoedema is a condition that can occur due to cancer treatment, involving swelling of the lymph nodes. We offer a Lymphoedema service to anyone who may be at risk or who has developed the condition, with advice on lifestyle alterations and ways to manage your symptoms. Alongside physiotherapy specialists and dieticians, your optimal health is prioritised with these holistic services available to all our cancer patients.

Your initial consultation at Princess Margaret will be focused on finding a rapid, accurate diagnosis, and working out an appropriate treatment plan to treat or manage your condition.

Your consultant will take a thorough medical history, asking about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, any relevant risk factors, as well as any other medical issues you may have had in the past. They will likely want to know:

• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Are you in pain? If so, can you describe the pain? Is it constant or intermittent?
• Has it got any worse recently?
• Have you had any previous breast problems?
• Have you received any treatment? Are you on any medication?
• Do you have a family history of breast cancer?

This will be followed by a clinical examination, typically paired with a mammogram to help with diagnosis. Occasionally you may also have an ultrasound scan of the breast, and depending on the availability of radiologists, this is aimed to be done within the initial consultation.

If a lesion or lump is felt or seen, a biopsy (small tissue sample) will be taken and sent away to the lab for analysis. The biopsy tends to be done under ultrasound guidance, and if a radiologist is available, this can all be done as a ‘one-stop shop’, saving you repeat journeys to Princess Margaret.

Fortunately, the majority of breast referrals to our specialists will be discharged on the same day, having found no abnormality. Your consultant can offer reassurance that the changes you’ve noticed are likely hormonal and therefore do not require further treatment.

If a cancer diagnosis is made, a multi-disciplinary team meeting is arranged to discuss the best treatment path and expected outcomes. Keeping you well-informed of all developments is a priority for our consultants, ensuring you feel confident about your options when choosing how to proceed.

If you opt for breast surgery, our specialist pre-operative breast nurses will help prepare you for surgery.

Aftercare forms a significant part of your journey with us, as your surgery ushers in the next stage of treatment. Exercise programs, physiotherapy, as well as help from dedicated dieticians are all on offer during your recovery, helping to rebuild strength and confidence in the post-operative period.

Choosing to have your Breast surgery at Princess Margaret comes with a host of benefits, such as:

Assessments ASAP – If you’ve been experiencing any breast concerns, you won’t want to wait to be seen. Our consultants can see you for an assessment without delay, getting you an accurate diagnosis rapidly with our full-scale radiology service, starting you on the necessary treatment before your symptoms progress any further.

Patient Satisfaction – 97.9% of patients in 2020 said they would happily recommend Princess Margaret Hospital to friends and family in an independent report, and we’re confident that you’ll agree. 98% also said that the quality of care here at Princess Margaret Hospital was either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.

Full Range of Diagnostic Scans – Princess Margaret offers a wide range of investigations for your concerns, with ultrasound, CT, MRI scans and full field digital Mammogram available, as well as stereotactic breast biopsy techniques for localisation of lesions. With a rapid turnaround for each of these, you won’t be kept waiting long for those all-important results.

Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. With multi-disciplinary team meetings at regular intervals to review your progress, you are ensured the best treatment at every stage of your patient journey.

A Multidisciplinary Approach – Our teams at Princess Margaret work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely with oncologists and a dedicated physiotherapy team, alongside specialist radiographers, anaesthetists, and breast care nurses, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way during your treatment.

Convenient appointments – With flexible appointments available at dedicated clinics from Monday to Friday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability. Urgent consultations are also available if you have discovered any new symptoms.

If you need breast surgery, why not book a consultation with one of our breast specialists today? Our consultants can outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any necessary diagnostic scans, treatment and surgery if required.

For peace of mind and expert care, book an appointment online without delay.