Specialist Breast Cancer Surgery is passionate about delivering the highest standard of care to patients with breast conditions, including multi-disciplinary care for breast cancer.
Our medical team includes:
Dr Chantel Thornton is a specialist breast and oncoplastic surgeon, specialising in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and preventative breast cancer surgery. Chantel also manages benign breast conditions and high-risk patients with a strong family history of breast cancer.
She is passionate about enhancing the patient experience and has a special interest in oncoplastic breast cancer surgery, a subspecialty aimed at maximising cosmetic results with breast cancer surgery. She is a strong supporter of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy and performs sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection, skin and nipple sparing mastectomy with reconstruction.
Chantel also has the ability to perform core biopsies in the consulting rooms and she works with specialist breast pathologists and radiologists. Chantel leads the Epworth Hospital multidisciplinary breast cancer team.
Chantel obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with First Class Honours from the University of Tasmania. She was awarded eight university prizes and graduated as Dux of her year in 2000. She also completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences and received a scholarship to complete an Honours Degree at the University of Hong Kong in 1998. Chantel is keenly involved in medical philanthropy and has served on many boards at national and state level.
Dr Anannya Chakrabarti is a Specialist Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon. Born in the UK and brought up in Australia, Anannya obtained her medical degree in 2005 with a distinction in Surgery from the University of Otago. After qualifying as a General Surgeon in 2017, she completed the BreastSurg ANZ accredited postfellowship subspecialty training program in 2020 at Robina Oncoplastic Breast Unit, Gold Coast and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.
Scientific research is also a central part of Anannya’s work. Her Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) has been undertaken at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in collaboration with Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), looking at mechanism of tumour metastasis, evasion and long-term dormancy.
Dr Anh Nguyen is the General Practitioner for the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, which provides patients with support after they have completed their active breast cancer treatment. Anh graduated with Honours from Monash university in 1997 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in 2002. Anh commenced as a regular surgical assistant to Dr Chantel Thornton at the Epworth Richmond Hospital in October 2016. She has extended her special interest in benign and malignant breast disease by consulting at Specialist Breast Cancer Surgery. Alongside the breast care nurses, Anh consults with patients and champions the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program.
Patients at Specialist Breast Cancer Surgery benefit from the multidisciplinary approach to their surgery and care. Research shows that a multidisciplinary approach to the management of breast cancer improves survival. Specialist Breast Cancer Surgery has a multidisciplinary team that are highly regarded, experienced specialists that are experts in their field.
