Suspected or confirmed breast cancer

Suspected or confirmed breast cancer — referral criteria for General surgery services.

Eligibility

At least one must be met for the patient to be eligible for referral.

Clinically suspected or confirmed suspected or confirmed breast cancer with initial primary-care work-up completed

Red flags

Indicate urgent (Category 1) referral or emergency assessment.

Metastatic breast disease with intractable pain

Fungating mass with haemorrhage

Post-surgical wound with dehiscence or sepsis

Routine referral criteria

Determine Category 2 or 3 urgency.

Core biopsy with suspicious or equivocal findings or proven breast cancer (e.g. detected through BreastScreen Australia Program)

Malignant, suspicious or equivocal findings on imaging

Clinical findings suspicious of malignancy

Usually managed in primary care