Associate Professor Sue Down
Consultant Oncoplastic Surgeon
MBChB, FRCS (Eng), PhD
I am an Associate Professor at UEA and Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Breast Surgery at the James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth. I trained in Manchester and Birmingham, undertaking a national TIG fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. I undertake assessment and surgical treatment for breast disease, including benign conditions and breast cancer.
My PhD research was in tumour immunotherapy, developing personalised treatments for breast cancer. I actively recruit patients to current NIHR trials to improve future care.
I have a particular interest in medical education and was awarded a PG Diploma in Medical education from the University of Cambridge. I am proud to lead several award-winning University Mastership programmes in Specialist Breast Surgery, which since 2011 have educated surgeons in over 50 countries to improve breast cancer surgery options for women worldwide. I am currently leading an international project to improve early breast cancer detection rates in lower income countries, with the aims of improving public awareness about the condition and upskilling health workers to detect and treat breast cancer at an earlier stage.
I am currently Chair of the National Education and Training committee at the Association of Breast Surgery, and a Quality Assurance Advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Associate Professor Sue Down at Spire include:
General surgery
- Breast lump removal
- Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
Breast care and surgery
- Breast lump removal
- Breast lump investigation
- Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy and lymph node removal
Other treatments
- Axillary lymph node removal
- Breast cancer surgery using Oncoplastic techniques which minimise post-operative cosmetic issues
- Breast lump excision
- Breast reconstruction with implants
- Duct excision
- Lipomodelling (fat transfer) to improve cosmesis after breast surgery
- Symmetrisation surgery following breast cancer treatment (breast reduction or implant augmentation)
- Risk-reducing mastectomy
- Wide local excision
Get in touch
Additional information
Clinical interests
Breast cancer
Benign breast problems
Areas of interest: Breast cancer; breast reconstruction; lipomodelling (fat transfer); nipple reconstruction; symmetrisation following breast cancer surgery; benign breast conditions; older women with breast cancer. Example procedures offered: Breast lump excision, duct excision, wide local excision, axillary lymph node removal, mastectomy, breast reduction or uplift (for cancer surgery), fat transfer, breast reconstruction.
Qualification and professional memberships
Professional memberships
Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of England
Member of Association of Breast Surgery
Chair of the Anglian Strategic Clinical Network Breast Group
Research and publications
- Breast cancer treatment in women aged 70 and over
- Improving quality of oncoplastic breast surgery training globally
Current NHS posts
Consultant Oncoplastic Surgeon, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth.
Personal profile
I enjoy teaching, and regularly provide practical oncoplastic workshops for breast surgeons around the world, including in Europe, India and Australia.
I also enjoy running and taking part in the annual CRUK Race for Life with staff and patients from my breast unit.
Outside work, I am married with a young son and several cats who all keep me busy! I enjoy travelling in the UK and abroad, trying local delicacies and tackling new activities.
Contact information
| Telephone | 01603 255 574 |
| Private secretary | JPUH Breast secretaries |
| Private secretary telephone | 01493 453 680 |
| Private secretary email | breastsecretaries@jpaget.nhs.uk |