Breast surgery
Our breast surgeons offer highly skilled and caring management for all breast conditions, including benign (non-cancerous) problems and breast cancers.
Breast pain
Breast pain affects many women. It is most often related to typical breast development and changes. Breast pain can feel sharp, dull, burning or like a fullness. It may or may not follow the menstrual cycle. Treatment usually involves use of a supportive bra, pain relief medications, and lifestyle changes such as reducing caffeine intake.
Macromastia
People with macromastia have breasts that are disproportionately large for their body size. This can cause physical problems such as neck, shoulder and upper back pain. Macromastia can also affect body image, self-esteem and quality of life.
Macromastia management involves routine breast screening. You might also be advised to have breast reduction surgery if the condition is affecting your physical function or mental wellbeing.
This involves removing some breast tissue under a general anaesthetic to achieve a more suitable breast size, with a focus on good cosmetic and functional outcomes.
Benign breast conditions
Common benign breast conditions include:
- Fibroadenomas – these breast lumps are assessed with an ultrasound and sometimes a biopsy. We may recommend surgical removal if a fibroadenoma is painful or has features that look concerning.
- Phyllodes tumours – we often recommend surgery (most often lumpectomy) to manage these rare tumours. This is because they can grow, and it can be hard to confirm their type from just a biopsy.
- Mastitis – this condition involves breast inflammation and/or infection. It is most common in women who are breastfeeding. Treatment usually involves antibiotic medications. You might need different treatments for less common types of mastitis. After a mastitis episode, breast imaging is advised to rule out any underlying problems.
- Cysts – pockets of fluid can collect in one or multiple places in the breast. Most are benign and do not pose an increased risk of breast cancer. We might suggest draining (aspirating) a cyst if it is causing discomfort or if we need to confirm which type it is.
Dense breasts
Dense breasts contain more breast gland cells than usual and can be harder to assess on a mammogram. Dense areas look “white” on images, and a small breast cancer can look the same. You might be advised to have an ultrasound or MRI to assess your breasts more accurately.
People with dense breasts also have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer, so your specialist might advise annual breast screening.
Nipple discharge
Nipple discharge is common and can be associated with various breast conditions. Normal nipple discharge is usually yellow, milky, or green and does not happen spontaneously (i.e., without squeezing the nipple).
Abnormal nipple discharge is usually spontaneous, unrelated to pregnancy or breastfeeding, and caused by something benign. Rarely, it may indicate a malignant condition.
Your specialist will recommend appropriate tests and treatment. Some women need surgery to remove one or all of the ducts behind the nipple.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer involves an abnormal growth of breast cells. There are many types, including ductal carcinoma in situ (an early stage, non-invasive type of breast cancer), and more invasive cancers that can spread to other parts of the body. Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy. It will depend on your overall health and the cancer type, size, location and stage.
A breast cancer diagnosis is understandably stressful. However, the Australian 5-year survival rate of over 90% continues to improve with earlier diagnosis and better treatments.
