Breast cancer
Breast cancer patients at The Royal Marsden have access to a comprehensive range of services. These are provided by a multidisciplinary team made up of staff from a range of disciplines who together provide care for our patients. Many of our team members are national and international experts / specialists.
Find out more about:
Cancer risk assessment, counselling and genetic testing
- Comprehensive cancer genetics and family history services with well-developed links to other services, such as the Gynaecology Unit
- Breast cancer risk management and risk reduction
- Breast screening service (MRI, mammography)
- Risk reduction surgery, for example bilateral mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction
Rapid diagnosis and assessment
Clinics held daily at Sutton and three times a week at Chelsea provide a rapid diagnostic and assessment service which is usually able to offer same-day results. Our experienced specialist teams use triple assessment techniques to provide the best breast cancer diagnosis and assessment available.
Primary breast cancer treatment
We offer excellent breast cancer care for all patients diagnosed with breast cancer: women and men, younger women and pregnant women. We use our expertise to tailor care to the individual patient.
Breast surgery
Most breast surgery (70%) is offered as day surgery, meaning that patients are discharged from hospital on the same day as their operation. The surgery we offer includes:
- mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction
- breast-conserving surgery using oncoplastic surgical techniques (this combines the experience and expertise of breast surgeons and plastic surgeons)
- breast reconstruction
- complex cancer and revisional reconstructive surgery.
Chemotherapy
At The Royal Marsden, chemotherapy is sometimes used as the first treatment and sometimes after surgery. We are also experienced in treating breast cancer with chemotherapy during pregnancy.
We have dedicated units at Chelsea, Sutton and Kingston for patients receiving chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy
Our breast cancer radiotherapy services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled and innovative staff.
Clinical trials and research
We are the lead centre for many national and international chemotherapy and radiotherapy clinical trials. Find out more about clinical trials at The Royal Marsden.
Following primary breast cancer treatment
We have a system of open-access follow-up once primary treatment has been completed.
Secondary (metastatic) breast cancer care
We provide a highly specialised service in dedicated clinics for patients with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. Patients have access to a wide range of healthcare professionals who contribute to the medical, nursing and supportive management of care. This includes dedicated clinical nurse specialists for secondary breast cancer who provide information, advice and support within the hospital and liaise with local services.
Supportive care
Find out more about The Royal Marsden’s patient support services, the rehabilitation and complementary therapies on offer and our focus on integrated care.