Breast Cancer

This condition is treated in the Breast surgery clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the Referral Standards and also include:

• Process of diagnosis of new cases and recurrence
• History and treatment of original cancer if recurrence
• Copies of investigations
• Clinical examination - good description of breast
• Presence or absence of lymphadenopathy
• Breastscreen Tasmania letters if cancer found on screening

Tests

• Mammogram +/- UItrasound
• FNA/Core biopsy - not available at Royal Hobart Hospital and should be referred privately but should not delay referral in obvious or highly suspicious cases
• FBE, ESR
• U&E eGFr
• LFTs

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Breast Surgery clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

If breast lump is highly suspicious for breast cancer, please make urgent referral for FNA/Core biopsy and also to clinic including the details as above and noting the referral for FNA/Core biopsy including the details of the service referred to.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Cancer Australia: Clinical Practice Guidelines Breast Cancer

Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 New breast cancer

🚩 Proven recurrence of breast cancer

The expectation of service is two weeks for patients with breast cancer to be seen.

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 6430 6599
Fax: 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 6441 5943 or 0409 924 496

South

Liverpool Clinics (Level 7)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9941