Breast Clinic
The Royal Perth Hospital Breast service provides an integrated service for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The two major functions of the service are the diagnosis and surgical management of breast disease.
We use a multidisciplinary approach comprising a clinical assessment by breast physicians combined with imaging and pathology. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer are then seen by a surgeon with ongoing support from Nurses and Allied Health staff.
The Breast service also makes referrals to Radiation Oncologists, Medical Oncologists and Plastic Surgeons as appropriate.
The Specialist Breast Nurses play a key role in providing education and support to patients and their families with specialist input from Physiotherapist, Psychologist and Social Worker as appropriate. The Cancer Clinical Psychology Service is a specialist service for patients with cancer.
If you require assistance after-hours, please contact your GP or visit your closest Emergency Department.
Any messages left after-hours on the Breast Clinic answering machine will be attended to the next working day.
Dr Vanitha Budhavaram FRACSDr Vanitha Budhavaram is a specialist breast and general surgeon and trained in the field of breast cancer and oncoplastic surgery, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and a full member of BreastSurgANZ. She is also a GESA accredited endoscopist.On completing her undergraduate training, she underwent Masters in General Surgery completing with a Governor’s medal for securing first position. Dr Budhavaram underwent MRCS program from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Following her Surgical Fellowship with Royal Australalasian College of Surgeons, Dr Budhavaram underwent sub-specialty and accredited oncoplastic breast surgery training under the aegis of BreastSurg ANZ at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth and concurrently obtained Masters in Breast Surgery from the University of Sydney. In addition to her special interest in breast cancer surgeries, Dr Budhavaram specialises in general surgical procedures and has the expertise in treating all aspects of general surgical conditions including laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, hernia repairs, insertion of infusaport, colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Dr Budhavaram has trained internationally and comes with rich and extensive experience as a surgeon. |
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| Dr Helen Ballal FRACS Dr Helen Ballal is a specialist general surgeon who has completed extensive oncoplastic training in Australia, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and a full member of BreastSurgANZ. She has trained at several flagship breast units in Western Australia including Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital. After graduating from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom (UK) she started surgical training in 2003, completing basic surgical training and commencing higher surgical training in the UK before relocating to Australia in 2010. She gained MRCS (Edinburgh) in 2005. Helen went on to complete a doctoral research degree, focusing on the personalised treatment of breast cancer, with the University of Liverpool. This afforded her the opportunity for clinical breast work with the team at the Linda McCartney Centre. Her interest in research continues in WA as the principal investigator on several Breast Cancer Trials projects. She is particularly interested in patient reported outcome measures and improving patient experiences. Helen participates in the MDT process as standard and has developed close collaborations with a wide team, including breast care nurses, medical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. She offers a full range of breast cancer surgery including localisation techniques for screen detected cancers, lumpectomies, mastectomies, breast reconstruction, breast reductions, sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection, targeted axillary dissection and fat grafting. |
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Dr Synn Lynn Chin FRACSConsultant Breast and General Surgeon |
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Dr Vineeta Singh FRACSDr Vineeta Singh is a Breast Surgeon of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.She had worked in senior leadership positions including being Head of Department Surgery, Armadale Health Services and Executive Head of Breast Unit at Royal Perth Hospital. She has gained more than 15 years of experience in managing breast diseases both benign and cancer by working overseas and in Australia. After MBBS, she trained in General Surgery and obtained Masters in General Surgery with Thesis work. She underwent further training and obtained Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). She also did post fellowship training in Oncoplastic breast surgery with Breast surgANZ Australia at Royal Perth Hospital, Perth. She has gained extensive experience in the management of acute general surgical emergencies, elective general surgery, both open and Laparoscopic, and excellent experience in Breast oncology and Oncoplastic breast surgery. In addition to clinical work she is interested in breast cancer research and surgical education. She believes in importance of forming strong patient surgeon bond with effective communication, this often helps to reduce psychological stress from cancer diagnosis. |
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Dr David Lim FRACSConsultant Breast and General Surgeon |
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Dr Samantha ChenDr Samantha Chen is an Australian trained specialist oncoplastic breast and general surgeon. She graduated with First Class Honours from the University of New South Wales.After attaining Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in General Surgery, she completed two years of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ) subspecialty fellowships in Breast Surgery, at Mater Hospital Brisbane and Royal Perth Hospital. During this time, she was awarded a Master of Advanced Surgery in Breast Surgery from the University of Sydney. Dr Chen gained further oncoplastic breast surgery experience in the United Kingdom at the world-renowned specialist cancer hospital, The Royal Marsden Hospital, in London. Here she was appointed a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and a Member of the International Postgraduate Deanery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She returned to Australia as a Consultant Breast and General Surgeon at Prince of Wales Hospital, The Royal Hospital for Women and BreastScreen NSW in Sydney, before relocating to Perth. Dr Chen has full membership of BreastSurgANZ, Breast Cancer Trials (BCT), The Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD) and General Surgeons Australia (GSA). She provides all aspects of oncoplastic breast surgery, including therapeutic mammoplasty, chest wall perforator flaps, autologous fat grafting, targeted axillary dissection, risk reducing mastectomy and breast implant reconstruction following skin and nipple sparing mastectomy. She has published and presented internationally and is actively involved in breast cancer clinical trials. |
Our Clinics
| Clinic name/condition | Location | Face to face Yes/No | Telehealth Yes/No |
| Breast Familial | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 | YES | YES |
| Breast Physician | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES |
YES |
| Physiotherapy | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES | YES |
| Psychology | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES | YES |
| Breast Surgery | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES | YES |
| BSWA Clinics | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES | YES |
| Nursing | Breast Clinic, R Block, Level 3 |
YES | YES |
Digital/Telehealth options are available, please discuss with your health care provider if you prefer a video or phone call appointment.
Potential suitability for Video or Telephone consultations can be flagged on referral, but all new patients require an initial face to face appointment.
Other specialist clinics/services include:
- Multidisciplinary breast surgery clinic, internal services
- Plastic surgery department
- Medical oncology
- Radiation oncology
More information: Clinicians in WA can find assessment and management information on breast conditions at: Clinician Assist WA: Breast Symptoms