Breast sarcomas are rare tumours and include cancers such as phyllodes cancers (benign, borderline and malignant), angiosarcoma (primary and radiation induced) and other soft tissue sarcomas. You can also get skin tumours in the breast such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). Surgery for breast sarcoma is carried out by highly experienced surgeons who have a special interest in the management of breast sarcoma with support from the plastic surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital. The London Sarcoma Service has two dedicated breast sarcoma oncologists at the centre of the care pathway for breast sarcoma.
Surgeons
I am a Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon. My area of expertise is the assessment and management of all conditions relating to the breast. This includes both benign and malignant disease including both breast carcinoma and sarcoma. My particular interests are: detection of early breast cancers, oncoplastic breast conservation, neo-adjuvant strategies, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, symmetrisation, family history, risk reduction and breast screening.
Oncologists
I completed my clinical training at St Bartholomew’s and University College London Hospitals. I completed a PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital which looked at the genes that predispose patients to prostate cancer.
I now specialise in the treatment of soft tissue and bone sarcomas using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I work in the one of the largest sarcoma centres in Europe and I am one of the leading experts in the UK in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcoma (all body sites except brain) using technical photon and proton radiotherapy. I have pioneered a new innovative practice changing radiotherapy technique in the treatment of soft tissue and bone sarcomas for patients who cannot have surgery. This technique uses the latest technology which allows the delivery of high doses of radiotherapy that can offer long term control for large soft tissue and bone tumours which were previously untreatable with minimal side effects. This technique can be used in sarcomas all over the body but in particular for inoperable intra-abdominal and pelvic sarcomas. This technique is currently under development for a national clinal trial in the UK and internationally (HD Sarc) and is currently only available at UCLH. I also offer re-irradiation for sarcomas that have had radiotherapy previously or have been caused by previous radiotherapy.
I also have a special interest in breast sarcoma including phyllodes tumours and angiosarcoma of the breast. I was one of the main authors in the UK national phyllodes guidelines and lead nationally for improvement outcomes of breast sarcomas.
I am a strong advocate in the holistic care of cancer management with focus on diet, exercise and emotional wellbeing. A diagnosis of cancer can often bring a shock to patients’ lives and therefore a reflection and adjustment on individual lifestyle factors in our busy and stressful lives is critical in comprehensive cancer management. Many diseases in our population are due to the contribution of environment, lifestyle and food choices.
I trained as a Clinical Oncologist in South Africa and was awarded a CESR in Clinical Oncology by the Royal College of Radiologist. I have worked with the London Sarcoma Service at University College Hospital since 2009 and now specialise exclusively in the treatment of sarcomas.
I developed an interest in sarcoma during my training and now specialise in the management of bone and soft tissue sarcomas as well as fibromatosis. I have a special interest in developing the use of advanced radiotherapy techniques for the treatment of sarcomas and to that end I am involved in research funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust and Cancer Research UK. I have an interest in education and I am involved in teaching both medical students and specialty trainees.