For Patients and Visitors
What is the Northern Health Breast Group?
The Northern Health Breast Group is made up of doctors and nurses who look after patients who have breast cancer. The group is made up of breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, radio-oncologists, breast care nurses, survivorship support and other staff like psychologist, physiotherapy, social worker, oncology ward nurses and interpreters. This service is mainly provided through the Northern Hospital although some services are also at Broadmeadows Hospital and at Craigieburn Health Service.
The surgeons in the NH Breast Group are also part of General Surgery Unit 2 where they look after patients with benign breast conditions such as mastalgia, mastitis, cysts, fibroademoma, fibrocystic breast change etc
What can I expect from the service?
Patients diagnosed with cancer can expect to receive:
- First appointment within days of GP referral for patients diagnosed with cancer and within a week for patients with highly suspicious lesions
- Same day investigations arranged on the day of first referral
- Clinic visits with their surgeon, medical oncologists, radio-oncologist, oncology nurse practitioner, breast care nurse and survivorship support nurse
- Same day appointments to their entire treating team
- Multi-disciplinary care from diagnosis through their treatment program and on through to survivorship
- In-patient and out-patient surgical, medical oncology and radiotherapy services
- Support service from the breast care nurse (8405 8805)
- Immediate access to reconstructive surgery at the time of their primary surgery or at a later date, as well as, access to revision plastic surgery at any time during their care
- Access to genetic counselling support
- Access to psychology support
- Access to allied care support including social work, physiotherapy
- Access to Survivorship support through on-site providers and through external partnerships
- Regular letters to your GP
- Survivorship Care Plan developed with patient input
- Dedicated Interpreter Service
How to refer to the service
A referral from your GP is required. Please visit your GP clinic
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
First appointment: patients are asked to bring:
- X-Rays
- Any relevant pathology reports
- Medicare card
- An accurate list of medications
- Thee name and clinic address of your GP etc.
Contact us
Phone: 8405 8335
Email: SpecialistClinics@nh.org.au
For Health Professionals
Service Overview
The Northern Health Breast Group is a multi-disciplinary group that provides care to patients diagnosed with breast cancer through all stages of their care up to an including palliation. The group is made up of breast surgeons, onco-plastic surgeons, plastic-reconstructive surgeons, medical oncologists, radio-oncologists, oncology practice nurse, breast care nurse, survivorship support personnel, psychologist, physiotherapy, social worker who work together with a dedicated oncology ward, interpreters, pathology and radiology staff to provide a seamless, often same day service, to patients referred for investigations of breast conditions that are diagnosed as breast cancer. This service is mainly provided through the Northern Hospital although some services are also at Broadmeadows Hospital and at Craigieburn Health Service. Patients are managed according to the Optimal Care Pathways for Cancer (www.cancer.org.au/ocp) and have access to immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, as well as, Shared Care and Survivorship Support Pathways. The group actively participates in surgical and oncology research to ensure that patients receive the best possible care whether it is in the inpatient, outpatient or community setting.
Research and Teaching
The Northern Health Breast Service is actively involved in Research and teaching at all levels.
- All Northern Health Breast Service clinicians are involved with the teaching curriculum of the University of Melbourne and Latrobe University at both a pre-clinical and clinical levels. They conduct lectures, tutorials and provide ward and clinic based teaching to medical, nursing and Allied Health students and post-graduate students.
- The NH Breast Surgeons are involved in the Victorian Breast Screen program
Inclusion criteria:
- Malignant or suspicious breast symptoms and/or breast changes on examination
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Breast lumps, thickening, change in skin appearance etc
- Breast and /or axillary pain (mastalgia)
- Nipple changes such as discharge, skin changes, lumps etc
- Axillary lumps, skin changes, pain etc
- Ultrasound or mammogram changes that are suspicious/concerning or are recommended to have specialist breast surgeon input or require further investigation
- Ultrasound or mammogram changes that are reported as malignant on ultrasound and/or mammogram
- Breastscreen patients who are diagnosed with pre-cancer or cancer lesions
- High risk breast cancer family history
- Patients with a past history of breast cancer who require re-assessment or on going management
Exclusion criteria:
- Benign breast diseases
How to Refer:
Urgent referrals can be discussed with the Surgical 2 Fellow or Registrar by calling Northern Health switchboard Tel: 8405 8000. i.e.
- cancer positive on examination and/or radiology and/or biopsy and/or breast screen
- suspicious but unproven cancer
Acutely unwell patients should be directed to the nearest Emergency Department.
GP Referrals: Use Healthlink to send referrals, results and reports. For more information click here
Other Health Service Referrals: (hospitals, allied health, specialists etc): Fax your referral to 8405 8616
Referral must include:
- Mammogram and/or ultrasound reports if these have been done
- Patient is asked to bring their films or disc to the appointment
- Relevant past history including breast issues and surgery
- Relevant family history
- Current medications list
Head of Unit:
Mr Michael Isaac
