Get up close with our breast specialists and hear more from them on their philosophy for patient care and interesting personal anecdotes.
“Breast cancer is NOT painful. It is a lump that is painless most of the time. The number of times I have heard “I felt a lump, but it wasn’t painful so I didn’t think it was dangerous” Please come forward when you feel any lump, whether it is painful and especially if it isn’t painful.”
Dr Chan Ching Wan is our Senior Consultant and Breast Surgeon and has a special interest in the formation of cancer, and how it can be inhibited and treated. Dr Chan is also an Assistant Professor at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, since 2009.
Prior to joining Solis, she was the Cluster Sub-specialty Lead for Breast Services in Singapore’s National University Health System. Dr Chan was also the Tumour Programme Lead for Breast Oncology for National Cancer Institute Singapore.
Q. Why did you choose to become a breast surgeon?
I didn’t really choose to become a breast surgeon – it was almost as though I was guided to eventually take this path. Before I started my advanced training, I was offered the chance to take up a research degree (MSc, which then became a PhD) and the topic was on the growth of breast cancer cells. To cut a long story short, I enjoyed the research which piqued my interest in breast surgery. After I completed my surgical training, oncoplastic surgery was just starting to flourish and my head of service had a good friend who was at the forefront of this new surgical method. I was able to get a job to train with him, and the rest is history
Q. Share with us a patient’s story that left a deep impression on you
There are so many, and people don’t know that I can’t just mention one (laughs).
I remember the mum, and her husband, who had already used up their Medisave accounts to treat their sons’ chronic medical conditions, without avail only to find out that she now had breast cancer. Fortunately, we were able to save her.
Then there is the grandmother who was looking after her three young grandchildren and suffered from bilateral breast cancer. She survived both well, and her grandchildren are all grown up now and looking after her.
There was also this young lady who discovered she had breast cancer just before she got married. She delayed her marriage and underwent treatment, and things looked good for a while, but she relapsed and it started to spread. Just then, when we knew we were unlikely to win, her fiancé who had been with her all the way asked her to marry him, and she did. She passed on shortly after that. There are many more, but I will stop here.
Q. What is ONE myth or message that you would like women to know about breast cancer?
Breast cancer is NOT painful. It is a lump that is painless most of the time. The number of times I have heard “I felt a lump, but it wasn’t painful so I didn’t think it was dangerous”
Please come forward when you feel any lump, whether it is painful and especially if it isn’t painful. Like the common saying – early detection saves lives and have a breast screening done for a peace of mind.
Q. What do you do during your free time?
Whenever I have free time, I will try to keep myself in a relax mode – like “relaxing” my mind and try not to think about work. I will take this time to pick a book and read it, listen to music or watch my favourite TV shows.
Q. What do you think you will be doing if you didn’t become a breast surgeon?
I cannot imagine any other surgery that gives me quite so much satisfaction and is so challenging and yet rewarding to do. I may have considered plastic surgery, but I may have switched career tracks and become an anaesthetist too!
Article contributed and reviewed by Dr Chan Ching Wan, Senior Consultant and Breast Surgeon at Solis Breast Care & Surgery
