Annual Breast Cancer Screening Beginning at Age 40 Reduces Mastectomy risk

Annual Breast Cancer Screening Beginning at Age 40 Reduces Mastectomy risk advises study led by Director of The London Breast Institute at The Princess Grace Hospital Dr. Nicholas Perry

Having a yearly mammogram greatly reduces the risk of mastectomy following breast cancer in women between the ages of 40 and 50, according to a study presented on December 1st at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The researchers studied the benefits of screening women between the ages of 40 and 50, the frequency of mammography and the type of treatment after breast cancer diagnosis. There are currently no routine screening guidelines for women under 50 in the U.K. Dr. Perry and colleagues reviewed the clinical data available on women from 40 to 50 that had been diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at The London Breast Institute. Between 2003 and 2009, 971 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time of diagnosis, 393 (40 percent) of the women were under 50, with 156 of these women completing treatment at the center.

Data showed that mastectomy was the required treatment for 3 (19 percent) of the 16 women who had been screened the prior year, compared to 64 (46 percent) of the 140 women who had not been screened in the past year.

"Regular screening is already proven to lower the chance of women dying from breast cancer," Dr. Perry said. "The results of our study support the importance of regular screening in the under-50 age group and confirm that annual mammography improves the chances of breast conservation should breast cancer develop."

Dr. Perry's coauthors are Sue Milner, B.Sc., D.C.R., Kefah Mokbel, M.B.B.S., M.S., F.R.C.S., Stephen W. Duffy, B.Sc., M.Sc., andKatja Pinker, M.D.

Please contact the London Breast Institute at www.londonbreastinstitute.co.uk or 020 7908 2031

‘Live Interactive Web Screening – A First for HCA and the Royal Society of Medicine’

After an enormously successful series of Gastrointestinal GP Masterclass lectures held at the Royal Society of Medicine, The Princess Grace Hospital will be ending on a high note. On Saturday 13th November we will host the first, live online event at the RSM where GPs can take part by simply by logging on from their home or office to our exclusive GP site, www.CentralDoctor.co.uk

Our final Masterclass will take the format of a ‘virtual’ Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT) and will be lead by Dr Sean Preston, a leading GI (gastrointestinal) consultant at The Princess Grace Hospital. He and other leading consultants in their field will be discussing the multidisciplinary care of patients with symptoms of colorectal cancer. The audience will be asked to contribute to the decision making pathway utilising the anonymous voting system within the auditorium, which is also the first time this has been done at the RSM!

Attendance is GP only and if you would like to take part, please visit www.centraldoctor.co.uk or email events@rsm.ac.uk to register for the event.

Excitement over new test for prostate cancer

There has been much excitement in the media over the last few days about a new test for prostate cancer which involves a simple urine sample. Prostate cancer effects on average 35,000 men each year but it can be difficult to diagnosis at a very early stage and prostate screening is unreliable and not widely adopted – although we do offer screening at The Princess Grace Hospital. I asked one of our senior Urologists Professor Mark Emberton MD FRCS (Urol) for his view of the new urine screen.

Mark Emberton said, “Urine and breath tests are showing some promise in assisting in prostate cancer detection. The most commonly used urine test has not been approved for use in the NHS, though is available through private providers.”

“The real question relates to whether or not these tests will be able to discriminate clinically important prostate cancer from the small insignificant cancers that probably do not matter. This will be the subject of further studies.”

Please follow this link to an article featuring the development of the new urine test.

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/cancer/prostate-cancer-urine-test-breakthrough/5020495.article

Vanessa’s gastric band success will be down to post op care

Recently TV and radio presenter Vanessa Feltz announced to the world that after years of yo-yo dieting she had opted for a surgical route to weight loss – the gastric band. Gastric bands are not new, but have been the subject of some unfair press in the past which is a shame because in the right circumstances and under the hands of a skilled surgeon, it is an extremely effective weight loss solution. At The Princess Grace Hospital we are performing an increasing number of gastric band procedures and I’m pleased to see that it is becoming more and more acceptable, not just for cosmetic reasons but for the important health benefits associated with losing excess weight.

So I asked one of our top surgeons here at The Princess Grace Hospital for some advice for those thinking of following Vanessa’s lead.

"Vanessa has obviously struggled over the years with yo-yo dieting, and indeed having a gastric band insertion is an excellent option for her.  The band really is a tool to help you not only lose weight, but also keep the weight off, something that dieting fails to do. There are many excellent surgeons abroad and there is the notion that it is cheaper to have surgery in Europe. However, it is also possible to have affordable private weight loss surgery closer to home.  And of course key to success with your gastric band is your aftercare.  It is essential to have good follow-up with your surgeon, frequent band-fills and help close by when you need it.”


Ameet Patel MS FRCS
Consultant HPB, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon

You can find out more about gastric band procedures by contacting Dr Patel on 0207 034 5020



Daily Express coverage

Successful treatment of Jennifer Saunders’ breast cancer

I was delighted to read in the news this week about the successful outcome of Jennifer Saunders’ treatment for breast cancer. Although official details are scant, it would seem that early diagnosis and intervention has greatly improved the effectiveness her treatment.
At The London Breast Institute here at The Princess Grace Hospital, we have one of largest private screening units in London and see '000s of women every year. Our Medical Director, Dr Nick Perry, is one of the pioneers of digital mammography particularly in younger women and we were the first hospital in the UK to use this technology ten years ago. Nick is a strong advocate of early breast screening and recommends this for women over 40. He says, ““Screening women between 40 and 50 saves lives and is routine in the USA. Breast Cancer is the commonest cause of death in women aged 35-54, and 40% of all life years lost to breast cancer are attributable to women under 50 who are diagnosed outside of a screening programme. Younger women tend to have more aggressive tumours and therefore can gain the most from early detection. Digital mammograms perform better and find more cancers.”

At the London Breast Institute we run a one-stop breast clinic and anyone can make an appointment for the following day for a mammogram without referral from a GP. There are others centres around London offering a similar service. So if you are between 40 and 50 and haven’t yet had a mammogram, then you should certainly consider having one – there is a cost attached but it is a relatively small price to pay compared with the peace of mind of knowing that you are well, or at the very worst that you can find out while the cancer is likely to be more easily treated.


Contact the London Breast Institute

Londoners are to get “robotic” cancer surgery for the first time

An article in the Evening Standard this week announced that Londoners would now get ‘robotic’ cancer surgery for the first time.
At The Princess Grace Hospital we have been offering robotic surgery of the prostate since 2004 and were the first private hospital to offer this pioneering treatment. Consultant Urologist, Mr Chris Ogden, was the first doctor in the UK to be recognised to perform robotic prostatectomies and has since treated more than 800 patients.
The positive outcomes of this minimally invasive procedure are well recognised and Mr Ogden has published several papers to show the positive effect on patients requiring prostate surgery.
Robotically assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is at the cutting edge of prostate cancer treatment and has been shown to vastly reduce the risks of postoperative side effects such as urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction. It also has the benefit of being a minimally invasive technique that lessens postoperative pain and recovery time.
Visit our Urology website for information.

Our sports Injury Surgeon explains how Wayne Rooney will probably play on Sunday

Having finally qualified, all eyes are now fixed on England’s clash with Germany on Sunday but there are still concerns about Wayne Rooney’s ankle injury (DailyMail.co.uk 24th June 2010).
Mr Fares Haddad, orthopaedic surgeon here at The Princess Grace Hospital and also University College Hospital, has these reassuring words.
“Footballers frequently can be managed such that they play on with minor injuries and niggles. As Wayne Rooney has already suffered an ankle injury last season it is highly likely that he continues to play with some inflammation in his ankle, secondary to minor instability and possibly bone bruising.
This can be stirred up by playing and can be managed with elevation, ie, anti inflammatories, physiotherapy and non impact activity such that he will, in all probability, modify his training load but play when required on Sunday.

More about Fares Haddad BSc(orth), FRCS(Ed), Dip Sports Med, FFSEM

Our hospital is now just an ‘iPhone app’ away!

Here at The Princess Grace Hospital we love technology and pride ourselves on often being the first to make the latest innovations available to our doctors and patients. We have led the field with digital mammography, robotic surgery and most recently low-dose CT scanning. Now I’m very excited to announce our new iPhone app – which we think is another first for a private hospital.

We’ve called our iPhone app PG DOCTOR and its main function is give GPs fast and easy access to our database of private specialists as well as a direct line into the hospital facilities and to our Urgent Care Centre.

Using the app, GPs can search for consultants by name or treatment area, view full background and contact details, including NHS base – and book appointments or emergency admissions through HCA Connect our central booking service.
Doctors feature strongly amongst the early adopters of iPhone technology and there have been almost 5,000 medical apps developed so far. As well as saving valuable time for busy GPs, we’re hoping that PGDoctor will enhance the referral process by them to locate the right consultant for a particular patient condition. Then it’s simply a case of contacting us directly from the PGDoctor app and we can do the rest from here.

You can download PGDoctor from the iTunes store – for free, of course.

The first High Definition CT Scanner in London

This is an exciting week at The Princess Grace Hospital as we take delivery of the very latest in CT scanner technology. In fact it is so new that it's the first machine of its type anywhere in London so it really is a first for us, our doctors and of course all of our patients.

Described as the leading edge in CT clarity, the new 64-slice Discovery CT750 HD scanner from GE Healthcare creates high definition 'x-ray' images in a level of detail that has never been seen before. Added to this, it uses significantly less radiation than a conventional CT scanner so you can have a full body scan with 50% less radiation than before.

The most immediate benefit of this new scanner is its ability to provide more detailed internal images than ever before - up to 33% more detail throughout the body and up to 47% greater detail in the heart. The secret lies in a new detector material developed by the GE engineers which allows images to be created 100 times faster. It is the most significant advance in this technology in 20 years and it is at the heart of this revolutionary scanner.

The Discovery CT750 HD scanner complements our already extensive diagnostic imaging facilities at the Princess Grace Hospital and it will be used to help diagnose a wide range of conditions. And there is no doubt that we will be able to do so faster and more accurately than ever before. To find out more about this system follow the link below or contact our imaging department.

discovery ct750 HD

Breast Screening for the Under 50s

The news that Coronation Street star, Sally Whittaker, had discovered her breast cancer almost by chance is another reminder of the importance of screening in younger women. 46 year old Sally became more aware of breast cancer because in the Corrie story line her own character was undergoing treatment for the disease. This prompted her to check her own breasts and this is when she found a lump which unfortunately turned out to be cancer.

At just 46, Sally would not yet qualify for the national screening programme (50 years), but according to Dr Nick Perry, who heads up The London Breast Institute here at The Princess Grace Hospital, “Screening women between 40 and 50 saves lives and is routine in the USA. Breast Cancer is the commonest cause of death in women aged 35-54, and 40% of all life years lost to breast cancer are attributable to women under 50 who are diagnosed outside of a screening programme. Younger women tend to have more aggressive tumours and therefore can gain the most from early detection. Digital mammograms perform better and find more cancers.”

At the London Breast Institute we run a one-stop breast clinic and anyone can make an appointment for the following day for a mammogram without referral from a GP. There are others centres around London offering a similar service. So if you are between 40 and 50 and haven’t yet had a mammogram, then you should certainly consider having one – there is a cost attached but it is a relatively small price to pay compared with the peace of mind of knowing that you are well, or at the very worst that you can find out while the cancer is likely to be more easily treated.


Contact our breast clinic at:

*http://www.londonbreastinstitute.co.uk/breast-screening-saves-lives.php

New life saving test for bowel cancer

This week the Lancet published the results of a new colon cancer test which promises to save the lives of many thousands of people. The simple 5 minute test involves inserting a scope into the large bowel and removing any polyps that might eventually become cancerous. I talked to Dr Sean Preston a consultant gastroenterologist who heads our Endoscopy Unit here at The Princess Grace Hospital and he confirmed that this is indeed a major breakthrough in the fight against bowel cancer. He said, ‘this momentous study demonstrates that endoscopic screening for bowel cancer in the over 55s dramatically improves survival from this common condition.’

These two articles from the Times and BBC explain how the new colon cancer test works. Or you can contact our Endoscopy Unit here at The Princess Grace Hospital. http://www.endoscopylondon.co.uk/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8650330.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7109833.ece

Wishing a high speed recovery to Sir Stirling Moss at The Princess Grace Hospital

As a leading private hospital in West London, it's not unusual for us to see famous names on our patient list. For the most part, our celebrities pass quietly through our doors to enjoy the same level of treatment, care and utmost privacy that we offer to every single one of our patients.

It is rare that a famous patient is prepared to talk publicly about their stay here, so we were absolutely delighted when Sir Stirling Moss publicly praised our team after his stay at The Princess Grace Hospital last month, following a shocking accident in which he fell into an open lift shaft!

This is what he said,

“on behalf of Stirling, Susie, Elliot, Allison, Helen his daughter-in-law, and his family they would like to thank the staff of Princess Grace Hospital, including the surgeons, consultants, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and staff for their kindness and patience in helping Stirling recovery from his injuries, for which the hospital CEO, Sue Smith, can be rightly proud of.”

more info



Thank you, Sir Stirling, we are all extremely proud and honoured to have looked after you and we all wish you a speedy recovery!

Sue Smith
Chief Executive Offer, The Princess Grace Hospital,