Your health care team

Your general practitioner (GP) will arrange the first tests to assess your symptoms. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you’ll usually be referred to a specialist breast service for further tests.

If breast cancer is diagnosed, you will usually first see a breast surgeon who will consider treatment options. Often these will be discussed with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting.

The different roles

During and after treatment, you will see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care. They may include:

• GP – assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care
• Breast physician – diagnoses breast cancer and coordinates treatment for breast cancer in some clinics
• Breast surgeon – specialises in surgery and performs biopsies; some breast surgeons also perform breast reconstruction and plastic surgery procedures
• Oncoplastic breast surgeon – specialises in using plastic surgery techniques to reconstruct breast tissue after surgery
• Reconstructive (plastic) surgeon – performs breast reconstruction for women who have had a mastectomy
• Anaesthetist – administers anaesthetic before surgery and monitors you during the operation
• Pathologist – examines cells and tissue samples that are removed from the breast to work out the type and extent of the cancer
• Breast care nurses – provides information, support and referral to women affected by breast cancer during and after treatment
• Nurse – administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout treatment
• Radiographer – performs x-rays, mammograms and other scans
• Sonographer – performs ultrasounds 
• Radiologist – analyses x-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds and other scans
• Radiation oncologist – treats cancer by prescribing and coordinating a course of radiation therapy
• Radiation therapist – plans and delivers radiation therapy
• Medical oncologist – treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy
• Lymphoedema practitioner – educates people about lymphoedema prevention and management, and provides treatment if lymphoedema occurs; often a physiotherapist
• Dietitian – recommends an eating plan to follow during treatment and recovery
• Exercise physiologist – prescribes exercise to help people with medical conditions improve their overall health, fitness, strength and energy levels
• Physiotherapist, occupational therapist – assist with physical and practical problems, including restoring movement and mobility after treatment, and recommending aids and equipment
• Social worker – links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical or financial issues
• Genetic counsellor – provides advice for people with a strong family history of breast cancer or with a genetic condition linked to breast cancer
• Psychiatrist, counsellor, psychologist – help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment