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This Breast Cancer Awareness Month Mater shares with you, our GP partners, the latest breast cancer information to assist you in providing the best care for your patients.

Tuesday 11 October 2022

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month Mater is sharing with you, our GP partners, the latest breast cancer information to assist you in providing the best care for your patients.

What to do when a patient presents with a lump... A triple test!

Examinations/investigations should include a triple test of three diagnostic components:

  • Medical history and clinical breast examination
  • Imaging – mammography and/or ultrasound
  • Non-excision biopsy – FNA cytology and/or a core biopsy

A positive result on any component of the triple test warrants referral for specialist surgical assessment and/or further investigation irrespective of any other normal test results.

Clinical breast examination - a guide for GPs

All patients who present with a lump should undergo a clinical breast examination prior to referral.

Learn about the latest recommendations on how to perform a clinical breast examination developed by The Australian Government's Cancer Australia and endorsed by the RACGP.

Is your patient’s breast cancer hereditary?

The Manchester Scoring System calculates the probability of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in families suspected of having hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

New breast cancer patients with a Manchester Score >14 are eligible for germline mutation testing. Learn how to calculate the Manchester Score.

Mater Pathology now offer local BRCA testing with patients receiving results in 10-20 days. 

Do you have a high risk patient?

Mater breast surgeons will formulate a plan which could be as simple as requesting annual MRIs, to discussing risk reduction surgery by way of prophylactic mastectomies and immediate reconstruction.

Mater supports breast cancer patients across Brisbane

Mater Private Hospital Brisbane
Is uniquely positioned as the only organisation in Queensland that offers both insured and uninsured patients prostate cancer management on the same campus.

Mater Private Hospital Redland
Provides patients surgical and medical oncology services for prostate patients, and partners with Icon Cancer Centre Redland to provide radiation therapy.

Mater Private Hospital Springfield
Provides patients surgical and medical oncology services for prostate patients, and partners with Icon Cancer Centre Springfield to provide radiation therapy.

Multidisciplinary team

Mater has a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of around 20 specialists who discuss each and every breast cancer case to establish the most appropriate course of treatment. Through this collaborative approach patients can be certain they are receiving the best recommendations from a wide variety of specialist doctors, all with the patient’s best interests in mind.

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Mater Private Breast Cancer Centre tour

Join Aislin Kriukelis from Channel 9 on a special tour of Mater Private Breast Cancer Centre at South Brisbane and learn about the extensive range of breast cancer care provided to patients.

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Lymphoedema support

Mater is proud to offer a lymphoedema screening service for all breast cancer patients prior to surgery, free of charge. The screening will determine a patient’s likelihood of having lymphoedema post-surgery.

Patients are also offered a follow up appointment with an occupational therapist at Mater Health and Wellness where early detection and ongoing assessment of lymphoedema using SOZO and LymphScanner can be undertaken.

Exercise during breast cancer treatment

According to the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), exercise should be prescribed to all cancer patients as a standard part of their cancer care to help manage the effects of cancer and its treatment e.g. fatigue, neuropathy, lymphoedema, osteoporosis and nausea.

Mater has partnered with Active Rehabilitation's specialised women's health physiotherapists to offer complimentary exercise classes for all breast cancer patients that focus on a range of strength and conditioning exercises aimed at improving outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Women over 40 urged to book a breast screen

There has been a 6% drop in the number of Queensland women screened for breast cancer in the first three months of the year. Experts are concerned many queenslanders are going undiagnosed and urge women over 40 years of age to book a breast screen this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Queensland's leading breast surgeons - make a referral

Mater's team of leading breast surgeons are highly experienced in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and offer care at Mater private hospitals in Brisbane, Redland and Springfield.

To refer an insured patient complete a referral form or contact our breast surgeons directly. 

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