Breast cancer specialist centres NSW
Criteria for a specialist breast cancer centre
- Annual average resection volume (based on a two-year average):
- ≥ 36 for metropolitan hospitals
- ≥ 24 for regional hospitals
- Access to specialist multidisciplinary cancer care team as listed on canrefer
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy ≥ 65% (rounded up to nearest whole number). Note this is based on a 2-year average.
- Hypofractionation rate is ≥ 50%. Note this is based on a four-year average.
- Mastectomy rate is ≤ 50% (rounded up to nearest whole number). Note this is based on a 2-year aver
- Cardoso F, McCartney A, Ponti A, Marotti L, Vrieling C, Eniu A, et al. European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists/Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance quality indicators for metastatic breast cancer care. European Journal of Cancer. 2023;187:105-13.
- Heuser C, Schellenberger B, Ernstmann N, Diekmann A, Krüger E, Schreiber L, et al. Shared-Decision-Making Experiences in Breast Cancer Care with and without Patient Participation in Multidisciplinary Tumor Conferences: A Mixed-Methods-Study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2023:397-409.
- Orlowski C, Lai J, Vereker M, Antill Y, Richardson G, White M, et al. Impact of multidisciplinary team meetings on the management of patients with breast cancer in a large private healthcare facility. Asia‐Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023.
- Okawa S, Tabuchi T, Morishima T, Nakata K, Koyama S, Odani S, et al. Minimum surgical volume to ensure 5‐year survival probability for six cancer sites in Japan. Cancer Medicine. 2023;12(2):1293-304.
- Jassem J. Tobacco smoking after diagnosis of cancer: clinical aspects. Translational lung cancer research. 2019;8(Suppl 1):S50.
- Warren GW, Alberg AJ, Cummings KM, Dresler C. Smoking cessation after a cancer diagnosis is associated with improved survival. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2020;15(5):705-8.
Availability of a multidisciplinary cancer care team
People diagnosed with breast cancer may have one or more types of treatments, including laser therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.[1]
The involvement of a multidisciplinary cancer care team is required[2-3]. This team brings together health care professionals from different specialties to discuss a patient’s cancer diagnosis and staging, and their treatment options. It also enhances communication and care co-ordination between the specialists involved in a patient’s care.
International studies show that patients overseen by a multidisciplinary cancer care team experience better outcome after cancer treatment[2-4].
Actions for Health Professionals
Patient referral
Patients with a suspected or confirmed breast cancer should be referred to a specialist who is a member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team, and practices at one of the specialist centres listed below.
Involvement of an appropriate a multidisciplinary team (MDT) early in the cancer journey is recommended to ensure optimal assessment, care, and outcomes.
The Canrefer website allows you to find cancer specialists who are MDT members, and has information about cancer services, optimal care pathways, and patient resources.
Smoking cessation support
Evidence suggests that tobacco cessation following cancer diagnosis improves survival. It also reduces treatment-related complications[5-6]. Health professionals should discuss tobacco use with all patients and provide appropriate cessation support.
List of public specialist centres for breast cancer surgery
List of private specialist centres for breast cancer surgery
| Local health district | Hospital | Multidisciplinary care team |
|---|---|---|
Hunter New England | Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Hospital | |
| Newcastle Private Hospital | Hunter New England Breast Cancer MDT | |
| Murrumbidgee | Albury Wodonga Private Hospital | Border/East Hume Cancer Network Breast Cancer MDT |
| Calvary Private Hospital Hospital, Wagga Wagga | Riverina Cancer Care Centre Breast Cancer MDT | |
| Mid North Coast | Baringa Private Hospital | Coffs Coast Breast Cancer MDT |
| Nepean Blue Mountains | Nepean Private Hospital | Nepean Cancer Care Centre Breast Cancer MDT |
| Northern NSW | St Vincent's Private Hospital Hospital, Lismore | Lismore Breast Cancer MDT |
| Northern Sydney | Macquarie University | Macquarie University Hospital Cancer Program Breast Cancer MDT |
| Mater North Sydney | Mater Hospital North Sydney Breast Cancer MDT | |
| North Shore Private Hospital | North Shore Private Hospital Breast Cancer MDT | |
| Sydney Adventist Private Hospital | Sydney Adventist Hospital Breast Cancer MDT | |
| South Eastern Sydney | Prince of Wales Private Hospital | Prince of Wales Breast Cancer MDT |
| St George Private Hospital | St George Cancer Care Centre Breast Cancer MDT | |
| Sydney | Chris O'Brien Lifehouse | Royal Prince Alfred and Lifehouse Breast Cancer MDT |
| Strathfield Private Hospital | The Strathfield/Concord Breast Cancer MDT | |
| St Vincent Health Network | St Vincent's Private Hospital | The Kinghorn Cancer Centre Breast Cancer MDT |
| South Western Sydney | Hospital for Specialist Surgery | Lakeview Private Hospital Breast Cancer MDT |
| Westmead Private Hospital | Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Blacktown MDT |
Codes
- Surgical caseload data sourced from Admitted Patient, Emergency Department Attendance, and Deaths Register (APEDDR) via Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence (SAPHaRI), Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health.
- In-scope diagnoses: C50
- In-scope procedures: 31500-00,31515-00,31524-00,31524-01,31518-00,31518-01,30342-00, 30342-01,30346-00,30346-01,30350-00,30350-01,30347-00,30348-00,30338-00,30338-1, 30353-00,30353-01,30359-00,30359-01,30359-04,30359-05,30351-00,30338-02,30338-03, 30353-02,30353-03,30359-02,30359-03,30359-06,30359-07,30351-01,30356-00,30356-1, 30354-00,30356-02,30356-03,30354-01
References
- Cardoso F, McCartney A, Ponti A, Marotti L, Vrieling C, Eniu A, et al. European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists/Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance quality indicators for metastatic breast cancer care. European Journal of Cancer. 2023;187:105-13.
- Heuser C, Schellenberger B, Ernstmann N, Diekmann A, Krüger E, Schreiber L, et al. Shared-Decision-Making Experiences in Breast Cancer Care with and without Patient Participation in Multidisciplinary Tumor Conferences: A Mixed-Methods-Study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2023:397-409.
- Orlowski C, Lai J, Vereker M, Antill Y, Richardson G, White M, et al. Impact of multidisciplinary team meetings on the management of patients with breast cancer in a large private healthcare facility. Asia‐Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023.
- Okawa S, Tabuchi T, Morishima T, Nakata K, Koyama S, Odani S, et al. Minimum surgical volume to ensure 5‐year survival probability for six cancer sites in Japan. Cancer Medicine. 2023;12(2):1293-304.
- Jassem J. Tobacco smoking after diagnosis of cancer: clinical aspects. Translational lung cancer research. 2019;8(Suppl 1):S50.
- Warren GW, Alberg AJ, Cummings KM, Dresler C. Smoking cessation after a cancer diagnosis is associated with improved survival. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2020;15(5):705-8.
