Breast Cancer Risk Management Gold Coast
Whether you have found a lump, received an abnormal mammogram result, carry a family history that worries you, or simply want a specialist opinion on your risk profile, you do not have to work it out alone.
What Breast Cancer Risk Management Actually Involves
Risk management is not a single test. It is an ongoing relationship between you and an experienced breast team, built on four pillars:
- Risk assessment. We take a detailed personal and family history, review previous imaging and pathology, and consider factors such as age, reproductive history, breast density, previous benign breast disease and known genetic mutations (including BRCA1 and BRCA2). This tells us whether your risk is average, moderately increased or high.
- Surveillance. Your risk category determines your screening schedule and the imaging that suits you. Average risk women are generally well served by routine mammography. Women with dense breast tissue, a strong family history or a genetic predisposition often need supplementary breast ultrasound or breast MRI, and may need it more frequently.
- Risk reduction. For some women this means lifestyle and monitoring. For others, it means discussing risk reducing (prophylactic) mastectomy, which can substantially reduce the chance of breast cancer developing in high risk patients. This is a significant decision and it is never rushed.
- Definitive treatment. If cancer is found, risk management becomes treatment. That means breast cancer surgery on the Gold Coast, coordinated with your oncologist, radiation oncologist and pathologist, with the appearance of the breast considered from the outset rather than as an afterthought.
Your Breast Cancer Risk Management Team on the Gold Coast
A new diagnosis, or even the suspicion of one, brings an enormous amount of uncertainty. Our aim is to replace that uncertainty with information, a clear plan and the security of knowing there is a team behind you.
Dr John Gault, Breast Surgeon
Dr Gault is a Specialist General Surgeon (FRACS), with a focus on breast and oncoplastic surgery, who treats breast cancer using oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques. Oncoplastic breast surgery combines oncological (cancer) surgery with plastic surgery principles, so the tumour is removed while the shape and appearance of the breast are preserved wherever possible.
Dr Gault is your primary caregiver. From your first appointment he will build a treatment plan around you, explain every option available and set out the order in which things will happen, so you have a clear and coordinated path rather than a series of disconnected appointments.
Our Breast Care Nurse
Our experienced breast care nurse guides you through the entire journey. Our nurse explains processes in plain language, works closely with Dr Gault to answer your questions, connects you with support organisations and resources, and makes sure you feel heard at every stage.
Contact the practice: 07 5539 3999
Breast Screening on the Gold Coast: The Tests That Detect Cancer Early
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of risk management. Our team explains what each test does, why it is being recommended for you, and what happens next.
Mammogram and 3D Tomosynthesis
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast tissue, used for both screening and diagnosis, and is checked for even minor changes. 3D tomosynthesis takes multiple digital X-ray images and reconstructs them into a layered 3D picture of the breast, which can improve detection of small cancers, particularly in dense breast tissue.
Eligible Queensland women can access free screening mammograms through BreastScreen Queensland, which has clinics across the Gold Coast. Bulk billed and privately billed diagnostic mammograms are also available through local radiology practices when you present with a symptom or a referral. We are happy to advise which pathway is appropriate for your situation.
Breast Ultrasound
Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of breast tissue and is used to characterise lumps, guide needles and investigate abnormalities found on a mammogram. It is non-invasive and radiation free, and is particularly useful in younger women and women with dense breasts.
Breast MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses a magnetic field and radio waves to build a highly detailed picture of the internal structures of the breast. It is a highly sensitive form of breast imaging and has an important role in surveillance for high risk women, including those carrying BRCA mutations.
Breast Biopsy and Excision Biopsy
A biopsy removes a small sample of breast tissue for a pathologist to examine. It may be taken with a biopsy needle or surgically. Several techniques exist, and Dr Gault will explain which is best suited to the location and character of your lesion, and prepare you for the procedure.
Lymphoscintigraphy
Performed before breast cancer surgery, lymphoscintigraphy uses nuclear medicine imaging to map your lymphatic system, a key part of your immune system. A small radioactive tracer is injected into the tissue, allowed to travel through the lymphatic channels, and imaged with a specialised camera. This shows the surgeon which lymph nodes drain the breast, so the correct node can be sampled. No specific preparation is required and our team will walk you through it.
Benign Breast Disease: When It Is Not Cancer
Benign breast disease covers abnormalities, lumps and growths in the breast that cause symptoms but are not cancerous. They can still be painful, persistent and frightening, and some benign conditions carry a modest increase in future cancer risk, which makes them part of your risk management picture rather than something to dismiss.
Related procedures:
- Lumpectomy for removal of a benign lump
- Breast duct surgery (microdochectomy) for nipple discharge caused by a problem in a milk duct
- Localisation and excision biopsy for lesions that cannot be felt and must be pinpointed with imaging before removal
Malignant Breast Disease and Surgical Treatment
Malignant breast disease occurs when cells mutate and spread through otherwise healthy breast tissue. It is the most common cancer affecting Australian women, and there is no single version of it. There are many types, grades and receptor profiles, and treatment differs accordingly. The volume of information available online is overwhelming, and much of it will not apply to you. Our job is to tell you what is relevant to your diagnosis.
Breast Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)
Removal of the tumour with a clear margin of healthy tissue, preserving the breast. Usually followed by radiotherapy.
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Cancer clearance and reshaping performed in the same operation, using plastic surgery techniques to redistribute remaining tissue so the breast retains a natural contour where possible.
Mastectomy
Removal of the whole breast, recommended when the cancer is extensive, multifocal, or when breast conserving surgery is not appropriate.
Risk Reducing (Prophylactic) Mastectomy
For women at high genetic or familial risk, removal of healthy breast tissue before cancer develops, which can substantially reduce lifetime risk. This is discussed carefully, with genetic counselling and reconstruction planning built in.
Axilla Surgery
Sentinel node biopsy or axillary clearance to determine whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, which directly informs the rest of your treatment.
Breast Reconstruction and Nipple Reconstruction
Reconstruction restores the shape and appearance of the breast after cancer treatment, either at the time of the original surgery or later. Nipple reconstruction completes the result. Dr Gault's oncoplastic approach means the appearance of the breast is considered alongside cancer clearance, not bolted on afterwards.
Beyond the Breast: Our Wider Surgical Services
Gault Surgery is a general surgical practice as well as a breast practice. Alongside breast care, Dr Gault provides melanoma treatment, thyroid surgery, gall bladder surgery, hernia repair and endoscopy for Gold Coast patients, offering continuity if your health needs extend beyond the breast.
Why Gold Coast Women Choose Gault Surgery
The Gold Coast stretches from Coomera and Hope Island in the north to Coolangatta and Currumbin in the south, and no woman should have to travel to Brisbane for breast care. We see patients from Southport, Robina, Burleigh Heads, Nerang, Broadbeach, Palm Beach, Helensvale and the northern corridor, and we work with local radiology, pathology and oncology providers so your imaging, results and treatment stay coordinated in one region.
What that means for you:
- A surgeon with a dedicated breast focus, using oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques as standard.
- A dedicated breast care nurse. You will speak with someone who knows your file, not a call centre.
- A written plan. You leave your first appointment knowing what is happening, in what order, and why.
- Care that does not stop at surgery. Reconstruction, surveillance and follow up are part of the plan, not a separate conversation.
- Local coordination. Imaging, pathology and oncology arranged on the Gold Coast, close to home and family.
Take Control of Your Breast Cancer Risk Today
Early detection is an important part of good outcomes, and knowing your risk helps you make decisions. If you have a symptom, an abnormal result, a family history or simply a question you have been putting off, a single consultation can give you clarity and a plan.
Book a breast cancer risk management consultation at Gault Surgery, Gold Coast.
Call the practice on 07 5539 3999 to speak with our team and take the first step toward answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I start breast screening on the Gold Coast?
BreastScreen Queensland invites women aged 50 to 74 for free screening mammograms every two years, and women aged 40 to 49 and 75 and over can also attend free of charge. If you have a family history, a genetic mutation, dense breasts or symptoms, you may need to start earlier and screen more often. That decision is best made with a specialist rather than by age alone.
I have a family history of breast cancer. What should I do first?
Book a risk assessment. We will map your family history, work out whether your risk is average, moderate or high, and determine whether you need genetic testing, earlier screening, MRI surveillance or a discussion about risk reducing surgery. Most women with a family history do not carry a genetic mutation, but knowing that for certain is worth the appointment.
Do I need a referral to see a breast surgeon on the Gold Coast?
A GP referral allows you to claim Medicare rebates on your specialist consultation and is the usual pathway. If you have had an abnormal mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy, bring the images and reports with you so we can review them at the first visit.
Can I have breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy?
Often, yes. Immediate reconstruction at the time of mastectomy is possible for many patients and avoids a second recovery period. Whether it is appropriate depends on your cancer, your treatment plan (particularly whether radiotherapy is required) and your general health. Dr Gault will discuss immediate versus delayed reconstruction with you before any surgery is booked.
What is the difference between a lumpectomy and oncoplastic breast surgery?
A lumpectomy removes the tumour and a margin of tissue. Oncoplastic surgery does the same, then uses plastic surgery techniques in the same operation to reshape the remaining breast tissue so the breast keeps a natural appearance where possible. The cancer clearance is the priority in both. Oncoplastic technique adds attention to the aesthetic result.
How quickly can I be seen?
Suspected cancers are prioritised. If you have a new lump, an abnormal scan or a positive biopsy, contact the practice on 07 5539 3999 so your appointment can be triaged appropriately.