About the Guest:

Dr. Patsy Soon: Dr. Patsy Soon is a distinguished breast surgeon at Bankstown Hospital and the Clinical Director of BreastScreen South Western Sydney. With a specialization in breast cancer surgery, Dr. Soon has played a pivotal role in enhancing breast cancer awareness, detection, and treatment. Her extensive experience and leadership in multidisciplinary teams contribute significantly to her patients' care and cancer recovery outcomes. Dr. Soon has been actively practicing since 2008 and continues to advocate for best practices in breast cancer management.

Key Takeaways:

Early Detection: The importance of regular self-examinations and biennial mammograms for women over 40 cannot be overstated.

Genetic Factors: While only 5-10% of breast cancer cases are due to genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2, knowing your family history and genetic risk is crucial.

Treatment Advances: Modern breast cancer treatments have significantly improved survival rates, with personalized treatment plans that involve surgery, chemotherapy, or other therapies based on individual cases.

Psychological Support: Emotional and psychological support, including access to breast care nurses and clinical psychologists, is an integral part of the cancer care process.

Multidisciplinary Care: A collaborative approach by a team of specialists ensures tailored and effective treatment plans for breast cancer patients.

Notable Quotes:

Dr. Patsy Soon: "As we get older, with the cells growing each time, there can be more mutations within the DNA of the cells, and then that predisposes to cancer formation."

Dr. Patsy Soon: "The two main risk factors for breast cancer are increasing age and being female."

Dr. Patsy Soon: "Having chemotherapy before operation definitely has advantages because it will show us how that particular woman's cancer will respond to the chemotherapy."

Dr. Patsy Soon: "Overall, the five-year survival for breast cancer in women is 92%, and 86% up to ten years."

Resources:

BreastScreen Australia: Link to BreastScreen Australia

Cancer Council: Link to the Cancer Council

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