Ethnicity and breast cancer in the UK: Where are we now?

Outcomes from breast cancer for women in the UK have improved significantly over recent decades. These gains are largely attributable to a combination of earlier diagnosis and access to treatments delivered to patients by the National Health Service irrespective of cost. Ethnic minority groups make up almost fifteen percent of the UK population and there is concern however that these groups may have poorer outcomes from the disease.

An oncoplastic technique to reduce the formation of lateral 'dog-ears' after mastectomy.

Background: Lateral skin folds or 'dog-ears' are frequent following mastectomy, particularly in patients with large body habitus.

Methods: We describe a method of modifying the mastectomy incision and suturing to eliminate these lateral 'dog-ears'.

Conclusion: This surgical technique, as compared to others described in the literature, is simple, does not require additional incisions and is cosmetically acceptable to the patient.

Does the timing of breast cancer surgery in pre-menopausal women affect clinical outcome? An update.

There is some evidence that breast cancer surgery during the luteal phase in pre-menopausal women is associated with a better clinical outcome, however the evidence for this is still equivocal. In this paper, after summarizing the normal physiology of the menstrual cycle, we examine how such an association may occur and provide a comprehensive review of the literature in the area.