Mr Kelvin Chong

I am part of the new generation of breast surgeons who practice oncoplastic breast surgery. This is a new field of breast surgery which applies plastics and reconstructive techniques to minimise the cosmetic effects of breast cancer surgery and enhance the wellbeing of breast cancer patients.

I graduated from Glasgow University and during my surgical training, I devoted several years in clinical research at St George’s Hospital, London looking at effects of growth factors on breast cancer biology. My work led to publications in several peer-reviewed journals, international presentations and culminated in a Doctor of Medicine (MD) research degree from the University of London. After that, I continued into advanced surgical training in the south west London training rotation and have trained at leading breast cancer centres such as the Royal Marsden Hospital and Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. After completing my training, I pursued a fellowship with renowned breast and plastic surgeons in Dusseldorf and in Lyon. I also have a postgraduate certificate in breast ultrasound from the University of London.

I hold a substantive consultant breast surgeon position at St Albans City Hospital and Watford General Hospital. I am experienced in treating breast cancer and benign breast diseases. At Spire Bushey Hospital, I run a Rapid Access Clinic which is equipped with all the facilities that allow me to provide patients with a diagnosis by the end of the clinic session. For patients undergoing breast biopsies, their results are communicated to them promptly after the clinic so as to minimise anxiety.

For patients with family history of breast cancer, I work with clinical geneticists to provide counselling, BRCA gene testing, risk-reduction drug treatment and performs risk-reducing mastectomies with reconstructions. For breast cancer patients, my breast care nurses and I will spend considerable time to discuss with patients about their diagnosis and will tailor a treatment plan according to the patient’s personal needs.

I work closely with my team of experienced radiologists, oncologist and pathologist to provide the most effective evidence-based breast cancer treatment. In addition to providing standard breast surgical operations, I also incorporates the latest breast surgical practices. These include intraoperative sentinel lymph node analysis, using breast ultrasound during the operation to reduce cancer margin involvement and performing therapeutic mammoplasty techniques that conserve the breast so that patients with large or multifocal breast cancers can avoid mastectomies.

I am skilled in performing immediate or delayed implant-based reconstructions using synthetic or biological meshes ie Strattice ADM or using the latissimus-dorsi muscle flap. I am also experienced in performing nipple reconstructions, breast reduction, breast augmentations and breast lifts in order to achieve breast symmetry.