Mark Sibbering

Mark Sibbering has been a Consultant Breast Surgeon at the Royal Derby Hospital since 1997.

He is a past President of the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS).

He has previously held numerous roles in relation to the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) including Regional Director of Quality Assurance (East Midlands), Chair of the ABS/NHSBSP Screening Audit, Member of the Advisory Committee for Breast Screening and Chair of the Research Advisory Committee.

He is a member of the East Midlands Breast Pain Pathway Transformation Team and was Clinical Lead for the Derbyshire pilot of Community Breast Pain Clinics. 

Breast pain is not a symptom of breast cancer, yet in England 20% of 2-week wait (2WW) breast referrals are for breast pain alone. BSBR guidance states that “Breast pain is not an indication for breast imaging”, yet many women continue to be imaged in 2WW clinics.

The East Midlands Breast Pain Pathway for women presenting with breast pain alone has four key components:

·       Emphasising that breast pain has no relationship to breast cancer

·       Clinics held in a Community / Primary Care setting

·       Clinical assessment by an experienced breast clinician

·       Family history risk assessment

The pathway aims to improve the patient experience whilst also freeing capacity in secondary care diagnostic breast clinics including avoiding unnecessary breast imaging.

The results of the pilot implementation of Community Breast Pain Clinics at multiple sites in Derbyshire (catchment population ~1 million), with 12 months follow up data will be presented, as well as details of wider implementation of the pathway across the East Midlands and numerous other Cancer Alliances in England.