Consultant Breast Surgeon,
Miss Christina Choy is an experienced female oncoplastic breast surgeon with a specialist expertise in one stop rapid assessment for various breast symptoms and lumps, family history risk assessment and genetic testing, breast screening and counselling, and state-of-the-art management of both benign breast disease and breast cancer. She works at HCA hospitals in London with a group of dedicated multidisciplinary team members to provide holistic personal care using an updated cutting edge approach to breast management. She is a trustee for Breast Cancer Hope Charity which promotes breast cancer research to improve for breast awareness and disease treatment.
Miss Christina Choy qualified from the Medical School of the University of Sydney in 1986 and undertook her postgraduate training in surgery and have worked in various major centres in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK, including The Royal Marsden Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital. She worked as consultant breast surgeon in the NHS previously and was Lead of the Breast Service at the Homerton University Hospital.
She has worked in the private sector since 2003. From January 2017, she works exclusively for HCA private hospitals including the Princess Grace Hospital, the Harley Street Clinic, the Portland Hospital for women and the new HCA specialist unit at the Chiswick Outpatient and Diagnostic Centre.
Oncoplastic breast surgery combines modern techniques in breast cancer surgery such as those that preserve the skin or unaffected tissue with the latest techniques in plastic surgery, including implants, skin flaps, nipple sharing grafts and fat transfer. The cosmetic results are excellent compared to breast cancer surgeries of the past, lessening the emotional impact of treatment and boosting confidence.
Studies have shown that the removal of the whole breast (mastectomy) does not prolong life when compared to the removal of the tumour alone (lumpectomy). Lumpectomy or partial mastectomy preserve more of the breast allowing for optimal reconstruction of the breast shape and contours. Reconstructive surgery is often performed immediately after the cancer excision, but can be done at a later date as a separate procedure, if preferred.
In cases of invasive breast cancer, the lymph nodes under the arm need to be assessed to determine if cancer cells have spread. If ultrasound and fine needle biopsy show no evidence of the lymph nodes containing cancer cells, a procedure called axillary sampling is generally carried out.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a technique that allows for accurate sampling of the glands. Prior to breast cancer surgery, the surgeon injects a small amount of blue and/or radioactive dye into the breast revealing the first, or sentinel, lymph nodes. One or two of these glands are then removed for examination by a pathologist. If they are clear, the decision may be made that no further armpit surgery is required avoiding the problems associated with lymph node clearance (lymphedema, arm stiffness and pain). However, if the sentinel glands do contain cancer cells, all the armpit glands will need to be removed.
Miss Choy provides specialist care for:
A highly experienced female consultant breast surgeon, she understands that women of some nationalities and faiths may prefer undergoing treatment with a female breast surgeon and is more than happy to respect any religious and cultural patient needs.
Miss Choy is actively involved in research and has worked in conjuction with the pathology department at St Bartholomew's Hospital on a study of the gene arrays and demographic data of young women, particularly Afro-Caribbean women and other ethnic groups, presenting with breast cancer.
Other projects that she is involved in include research into barriers to women accessing early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in various ethnic groups (in conjunction with King's College Hospital, recently presented in Parliament for Black Afrocaribbean and Ethnic Minority Group, BAEM), the development of a 23 hours model for early discharge after breast cancer surgery and an audit to determine if sentinel node of highest isotope count can be the predictor of nodal status in breast cancer.
Publications
Miss Choy has published peer-reviewed papers in leading medical journals in the field of skin sparing mastectomy and reconstruction, ductal carcinoma in situ and lipofilling, including:
Nipple-sparing mastectomy using a hemi-periareolar incision with or without minimal medial-lateral extensions; clinical outcome and patient satisfaction: a single centre prospective observational study. El Hage Chehade H, Headon H, Wazir U, Carmaichael AR, Choy C, Kasem A, Mokbel K, Am J Surg. 2016.
Clinical outcome and patient satisfaction with the use of bovine-derived acellular dermal matrix (SurgiMend™) in implant based immediate reconstruction following skin sparing mastectomy: A prospective observational study in a single centre. Headon H, Kasem A, Manson A, Choy C, Carmichael AR, Mokbel K, Surg Oncol. 2016.
Current treatment of DCIS. Choy C , Mokbel K , WJCO. 2015
Towards optimal treatment of DCIS. Choy C, Mokbel K, WJCO. 2014.
Evaluation of outcome after immediate breast reconstruction: prospective comparison of four methods. Gui G, Kodayaprath G, Tan SM, Faliakou El, Choy C et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005
Immediate breast reconstruction using biodimensional anatomical permanent expander implants: a prospective analysis of outcome and patient satisfaction. Maxwell GP, Gui G, Tan SM, Faliakou E, Choy C, A’Hern R and Ward A, Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003
Predictors of positive margins after local excision of ductal carcinoma in situ. Mokbel K, Choy C et al . Am J Surg. 2001
Adjuvant radiotherapy for DCIS. Mokbel K, Choy C, Carpenter R, Lancet. 2000
Initial consultation fee: £225
Follow-up consultation fee: £275
Miss Christina Choy offers expert detection and management of breast cancer and benign breast conditions and provides a full range of modern, oncoplastic surgical techniques and aesthetic breast procedures:
The London Clinic
20 Devonshire Place
London
W1G 6BW
Main phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
The London Breast Institute
Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place
London
W1U 5NY
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
King Edward VII's Hospital
5-10 Beaumont Street
Marylebone
London
W1G 6AA
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
The Harley Street Diagnostic Centre
16 Devonshire Street
London
W1G 7AF
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
Chelsea Outpatients Centre
Diagnostic and Treatment Facility run by The Lister Hospital
280 Kings Road
London
SW3 5AW
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
OneWelbeck
1 Welbeck Street
Marylebone
London
W1G 0AR
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
Circle The Clementine Churchill Hospital (BMI)
Sudbury Hill
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 3RX
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
LycaHealth Canary Wharf
1 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London
E14 4HD
Phone: | 44 (0)1245241346 | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | 44 (0)7751769888 | |
Secretary: | misschoy@privatemedicalmanagement.com | |
Weekend and Afterhours: | christinachoy@hotmail.com |
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