Susan E Jones : Consultant Breast, Oncoplastic Breast and General Surgeon, Kent

Mrs Susan Jones qualified from St. George's Medical School in 1976 with M.B. B.S., F.R.C.S (Eng.) After graduation and registration she commenced surgical training with posts at St. James' Hospital, Balham and Wycombe General in High Wycombe. She became a registrar at Mayday Hospital in Croydon and then completed the St. James' and St. George's Hospitals post-fellowship surgical registrar training scheme.

After some time as a part-time principal in general practice, whilst also undertaking regular surgical sessions at Maidstone Hospital, she returned to surgery full-time in 1993 to help launch a dedicated breast clinic with her husband Peter Jones who has a major interest in all aspects of breast disease . The clinic has steadily evolved into the multidisciplinary team based Peggy Wood Breast Centre at the Maidstone Hospital which opened in 2004, and is now one of the busiest clinics in the UK, assessing more than 4000 new patients each year of whom just over 300 will have breast cancer.

Sue Jones has wide experience in all aspects of breast surgery including immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, breast reduction, augmentation and nipple reconstruction.

A one stop Breast Clinic

Peter and Sue Jones are a unique husband and wife partnership of highly experienced specialist Breast Surgeons who established a dedicated Breast Clinic in Maidstone more than 15 years ago.

They work closely together to provide immediate access to their one-stop Breast Clinic privately, as well as in the NHS and specialise in all aspects of breast surgery. Breast conservation (lumpectomy as opposed to mastectomy) is their aim whenever possible. They believe there are still too many unnecessary mastectomies being performed. They have shown that as long as a carefully performed lumpectomy is combined with high quality radiotherapy - such as is available at the Kent Oncology Centre in Maidstone - then very low recurrence rates can be achieved.

The team

Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer involves a whole team of breast specialists from different disciplines. Peter and Sue Jones are fortunate to work with an amazingly talented and dedicated team. Ali Sever and Pippa Mills are Radiologists that both specialise in breast imaging and are truly expert at reading mammograms and performing breast ultrasound.

All biopsies are taken with pinpoint accuracy under ultrasound guidance or on their prone biopsy table. Dr Sever has performed more mammotome stereotactic prone biopsies than any other Radiologist in the UK.

Diagnosing breast cancer is dependent on the pathological assessment of the ultrasound guided biopsies and they have a leader in the field of breast pathology who provides second opinions for Radiologists all over the UK and is in charge of quality control for breast screening pathology across the South of England. They know that his assessment of respected cancers and lymph nodes is as accurate as it is possible to be, and provides totally reliable ER and PR hormone status results. He has also established a region-wide HER 2 testing service. These results provide information that is invaluable when planning and discussing all stages of treatment options, both surgical and oncological.

Peter and Sue Jones also work with Dr Jenny Weeks, Breast Physician, Fiona Cameron and Anna Matthews, Specialist Breast Care Nurses and many others.

Why choose the Maidstone Breast Team?

Talented and dedicated team
Their cohesive team strives to deliver a personalised and friendly, yet highly professional approach to help women with all management decisions.
They believe passionately in breast conservation and in their view this is safe and optimal treatment for the vast majority of women with breast cancer
When mastectomy is required they offer all forms of immediate or delayed reconstruction from within the unit.
As an integral part of the Kent Cancer Centre they have immediate access to mammography, breast ultrasound, MRI, PET scanners and stereotactic biopsy including a prone biopsy table.
For primary chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy they benefit from having all the specialist oncologists from the Kent Cancer Network right on their doorstep, and they work closely with those specialising in breast cancers on a daily basis.
To ensure best practise all their patients, private and NHS, are discussed in detail in their weekly comprehensive MDT meetings.
Patients are kept involved in the decision making process from the point of first referral
Their Breast Care Nurses are available throughout the entire patient journey
They aim to provide a level of expertise that is second to none, but at the same time maintain a close personal, friendly and totally dedicated approach to every individual patient.
Private patients can be seen within 24 hours and normally on a same day basis. Where appropriate surgery can be performed within a week.
If possible, they will always arrange for those who prefer to be seen by a female Breast Surgeon
All breast cancer patients have the option to meet with someone who has had breast cancer. If required, the breast care nurses will arrange this for you.
There is a counseling service in the hospital. If you feel you would like to use it then the breast care nurses can refer you.

Websites

Maidstone Breast Clinic

A comprehensive resouce for patients providing breast information - breast lump, nipple discharge, breast reconstruction, breast cancer treatment, mastectomy, lymphoedema, breast biopsy and breast cancer, written and maintained by Susan's husband, Mr Peter Jones, a breast specialist.