For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
Surgical Unit 2 looks after patients who have breast problems but also looks after patients with general surgery problems. Some of our surgeons also look after endocrine problems (thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disease). The breast surgeons look after female and male patients who have breast problems. The problems can be benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) problems of the breast. Problems in the pregnant breast are also managed. Teenagers are also cared for by the breast surgeons. Benign/non-cancerous problems are managed by the breast surgeons. Malignant/cancerous problems are managed by the breast surgeons who are part of the Breast Group.
What can I expect from the service?
Patients referred to Surgical Unit 2/Breast can expect to receive:
- First appointment with a surgeon within days of GP referral for patients diagnosed with cancer and within a week for patients with highly suspicious lesions.
Appointments for patients with benign breast problems will be triaged by a consultant and booked in a timely fashion. - Same day investigations for suspicious cancer lesions arranged on the day of first referral
- Clinic visits with their breast surgeon for benign and malignant lesions
- Clinic visits for cancer patients with medical oncologists, radio-oncologist, oncology nurse practitioner, breast care nurse and survivorship support nurse
- For cancer patients, same day appointments to their entire treating team
- Multi-disciplinary care from diagnosis through their treatment program
- Access to genetic counselling support
- In-patient and out-patient surgical care
- Access to allied care support including social work, physiotherapy
- Regular letters to your GP
- Dedicated Interpreter Service.
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
First appointment: patients are asked to bring their X-Rays, any relevant pathology reports, Medicare card, an accurate list of medications and the name and clinic address of your GP etc.
Ongoing appointments: no requirements.
How to refer to the service
A referral is required, please visit your GP clinic.
Contact us:
Phone: 8405 8335
Contact us via the link Enquiries – Specialist Clinics
For urgent treatment please go to the Emergency Department.
If you have a medical emergency please call 000.
For Health Professionals
Service Overview
Surgical Unit 2 is a unit made up of general surgeons who have also specialised in the care of breast problems. Some of our surgeons are also endocrine surgeons (see details below).
Breast Surgery: The unit manages female and male benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) breast problems including onco-plastic reconstructions and in conjunction with the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Unit, prosthetic and autologous reconstructions and revision surgery. The unit also manages breast problems in the pregnant breast, as well as, breast problems in female and male teenagers. The Breast unit works in a multi-disciplinary setting as unit surgeons are members of the Breast Service (see Northern Health Breast Service).
General Surgery: The unit manages patients with general surgery issues including such conditions as all types of hernia; gall bladder pathology, skin appendage pathology including skin lesions, lipomata, sebaceous cysts, perianal skin conditions, haemorrhoids etc (see General Surgery Service).
Inclusion criteria:
- Breast for female and male teenagers and adult females and males
- Benign conditions of the breast such as cysts, fibroadenomas, fibrocystic breast change etc
- 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
- Breast and/or nipple infections in the non-pregnant patient and in the pregnant patient
- Breast asymmetry/developmental abnormalities in adults and in teenagers
- Large breasts for body habitus resulting in symptoms ie neck/shoulder pain, infection 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.
Inclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria:
- Breast Surgery – no exclusion criteria
- General Surgery – see General Surgery Service
The Team:
Surgeons:
The team consists of a group of general surgeons with extensive general surgery, breast surgery and endocrine surgery experience. Our oncoplastic-trained surgeons offer a range of procedures to breast cancer patients which is on par with the best surgical units in the world. This includes therapeutic mammaplasties, local perforator flaps and prosthetic reconstructions. The surgeons also work with Breast Screen through the recall assessment clinic in Fitzroy and support northern patients who require further management when diagnosed with cancer. The surgical unit 2 surgeons are also part of the Northern Health Breast Group and are actively involved with Multi-Disciplinary Meetings.
- Mr Michael Issac, Head of Unit – Breast, Endocrine & General Surgeon. Endoscopist
- Ms Wanda Stelmach – Breast surgeon
- Mr. Devan Gya – General Surgeon. Endoscopist
- Ms. Grace Chew – Breast, Endocrine & General Surgeon
- Mr. KJ Tan – Breast & General Surgeon. Endoscopist
- Mr Fidel Touma – General Surgeon. Gastrointestinal, Bariatrics. Endoscopist
- Mr Wei Ming Ooi – Breast, Endocrine (including adrenal) & General Surgeon. Endoscopist
- Saam Tourani – Breast, Endocrine (including adrenal) & General Surgeon. Endoscopist
Trainees and Medical Officers:
- Surgical Unit 2 Fellow
- One Accredited Registrar
- Two Interns
- Breast Care Nurse Cheryl Murray
- MDM & Survivorship Clerical Support.
Outpatient Referral Guidelines
The Department of Health and Human Services has developed Statewide referral criteria to assist GPs and clinicians referring patients to Specialist Clinics. These referral criteria have been developed to improve access to Specialist Clinics in public hospitals by improving the quality and appropriateness of referrals.
- Advice on inherited breast cancer (high-risk patients)
- Assessment for breast reconstruction surgery
- Breast lumps and other conditions
- Breast reduction surgery
- Suspected or confirmed breast cancer
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:
- patient details including address, date of birth, Medicare number and (current) contact phone numbers
- the reason for referral
- relevant clinical history for the patient
- relevant investigation results, including any pathology, current medications and any allergies
- current management of condition by LMO
- patients should bring their radiology films to appointments
- your provider number.
Contact Us:
The Surgical Unit 2 registrar may be contacted via Northern Health Switch for advice, (03) 8405 8000.
Head of Unit:
Mr Michael Isaac
- Locations offering this service
- Northern Hospital Epping
- Broadmeadows Hospital
