Diagnosis and treatment of cancer requires a team of experts called a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). The team is made up of people with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to ensure high quality diagnosis, treatment and care of all patients referred to the service with new breast symptoms.

The NHS Cancer Plan confirmed that ‘the care of all patients with cancer should be formally reviewed by a specialist team’. It went on to note that this would help ensure that ‘all patients have the benefit of the range of expert advice needed for high quality care.’

The Breast MDT in Bradford is made up of a number of professionals. You may meet some members of the team during your period of treatment.

The Bradford Breast Team meets on a Wednesday morning at 08:00 am in the Pennine Screening Unit Meeting Room. Your case will be discussed to ensure that all appropriate treatment options available to you are considered.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust recognises that each individual patient will have their own thoughts, views and preferences about treatment and acknowledges the need to share and discuss all treatment recommendations in full.

An MDT makes recommendations rather than decisions about the safest treatment options available. They will consider carefully all the information about your breast symptoms, diagnostic tests and surgical treatment. 

The team utilises the expertise of all the professionals present and National Treatment Guidelines surrounding best practice to agree on the best treatment plan for you. 

Following this meeting you will be offered an appointment to meet the team who will share these recommendations with you.

We will provide verbal and written information and time and contact with a breast care nurse specialist to help you as you consider your treatment choices. 

The Breast Surgeon

This is a specialist who can assess breast problems and diagnose primary and recurrent breast cancer.

The surgeon has specialist skills to perform operations needed to remove cancer and to perform breast reconstruction procedures. Your breast surgeon will also discuss the results of surgery and any further treatment required.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals has three breast surgeons:

• Mr Richard Linforth, Consultant Oncoplastic 
  Breast Surgeon Telephone: 01274 365844.
• Mr Mohamed Salhab, Clinical Lead, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon.
  Telephone: 01274 365734.
• Miss Catherine Tait, Associate Specialist Breast Surgeon and Breast MDT Lead. 
  Telephone: 01274 365734
• Miss Fiona Langlands, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon.
  Telephone: 01274 365844
• Rebecca Burbidge, Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner

The Breast Care Nurse Specialist 

This is a nurse who is an expert in the care and support of people with breast problems. The Breast Care Nurse will provide information to help you to understand your treatment choices and will support you during your future treatment. 

She can advise on local support groups and services providing practical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and social support during your treatment.

She can talk to other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team on your behalf if you wish, and will guide you through your continuing follow-up care.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals has six Breast Care Nurses. 

The team has a single point of contact where messages can be left and one of the team will return your call daily. Where possible messages will be answered by the breast care co-ordinator Mrs Sandra Stewart.

Please ring 01274 365190 and (clearly) leave your name, date of birth and contact telephone number. 

The following direct numbers are also available but if you receive no reply please use the above answering service as the nurse concerned may be involved in clinical activity.

• Mrs Mandy Blackburn
• Mrs Kathryn Kitchen 
• Mrs Sakina Iqbal 
• Mrs Charlotte Johnson-Smith 
• Miss Rebecca Turner 
• Mrs Priscilla Dortey-Bawah 

Breast Care Nurses Office: 01274 365865 / 365431

Breast Screening Department: 01274 365526

Messages cannot be left on this extension but signposting is available to the wider screening team if required through a recorded message on this extension

The Radiologist

This is a doctor who is specially trained to interpret X-rays, mammograms and special scans from which a diagnosis is made, and who is an expert in carrying out diagnostic tests. 

Bradford Teaching Hospitals has five consultant radiologists 

• Dr Gemma Smith – Director of Breast  Screening Services
• Dr Paul Burrows – Consultant Radiologist
• Dr Dalibor Grucic – Consultant Radiologist
• Dr Shazia Khan – Consultant Radiologist

The screening service also benefits from the  skills and expertise of one additional consultant radiologist who provides screening radiology services in Bradford and symptomatic breast radiology services in Huddersfield.

• Dr Simon Dennis – Consultant Breast Radiologist. 

The Pathologist

This is a doctor who is an expert in looking at cancer cells under a microscope and advising on  their appearance to guide decisions on treatment. Bradford Teaching Hospitals Breast Team has two consultant pathologists.

• Dr Pauline Carder – Breast Pathology Lead and Consultant Breast Pathologist. (Medical Director)
  who is supported by additional consultant pathology colleagues.

The Oncologist

This is a doctor who is an expert on non-surgical treatments of breast cancer.

A clinical oncologist specialises particularly in radiotherapy but may also have experience in chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Bradford Teaching Hospitals benefits from the cross working relationships with Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the named clinical oncologist for the team is:

• Dr Emma Thomas – Consultant Clinical Oncologist.
  Telephone: 0113 2067822

A medical oncologist specialises in chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Bradford Teaching Hospitals has one consultant medical oncologist who is supported by other medical oncology colleagues:

• Dr Shazza Rehman – Consultant Medical Oncologist.
  Telephone: 01274 364095

Research Nurse

This nurse identifies patients who are eligible to take part in research studies. The research nurse provides patients and their families with information about research studies, co-ordinates treatment and supports patients whilst they are taking part.

Bradford Breast Team has a research nursing team.
Telephone: 01274 383435

At some point during your treatment, you may wish to visit The Cancer Support Yorkshire Centre or Maggies Yorkshire. Both of these units offer personal, individual support and therapies to help you manage the effects of your cancer treatment.

The contact details for each of these centres are listed for your information and our support team will be happy to help you.

Cancer Support Yorkshire
Daisy House Farm
44 Smith Lane,
Bradford BD9 6DA 
Telephone: 01274 77 66 88

Maggies Yorkshire
St James University Hospital,
Alma Street,
Leeds LS9 7BE
Telephone: 0113 457 8364
Email: leeds@maggies.org

Bosom Friends
Evening Group Meetings (third Wednesday of each month) 7.00pm at
Cancer Support Yorkshire Centre
Daisy House Farm,
44 Smith Lane
Bradford.
Further Information:
www.facebook.com/bosomfriendsbradford
www.BosomFriendsBradford.Org

Other Useful Information:

Macmillan Cancer Relief
Telephone (Helpline Free): 0808 808 2020, 
Monday – Friday 9am to 9pm
www.macmillan.org.uk

Breast Cancer Care
Telephone (Helpline Free): 0808 800 6000
www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Breast Care Nurses 
(answer phone) 18001 01274 365190. 
This will be answered between the hours of 9am-4pm Monday–Friday. 
Out of hours concerns should be directed to your GP or post surgical out of hours contact above.

Breast Secretaries
01274 365734 / 365844

Prosthetic Appointments
01274 365190

Research Nurse
01274 383435

Surveillance mammogram appointment enquiries
01274 365522

Lisa Hill (in patient waiting list officer)
01274 273787

Horton Wing Reception
01274 365821

Dales Reception
01274 365330

Pennine Reception
01274 365525