Siobhan Laws MBBS FRCS DM
I qualified in medicine from the Royal Free Hospital
(University of London) in 1987. My initial posts were in
Kent, Sussex and London but went on to basic surgical
training in Bristol. My specialist general surgical
training has been predominantly in Wessex (with an extra
year in Bristol). I developed an interest in Breast
disease relatively late in my career and gained breast
surgical experience in Portsmouth, Southampton,
Basingstoke and Winchester.
Academic qualifications include a DM thesis from the
University of Southampton (cell receptor analysis in
cancer) and the FRCS exit exam for which I came top in my
group and was award the Association of Surgeons of Great
Britain and Ireland Prize and Medal.
I have a number of research interests and am seeking
funding for various projects. I am also looking into the
use of a 3D scanner to audit the outcome of breast cancer
surgery – a quick, easy and accurate measure of breast
size and shape that will help us improve operative
technique. I am the lead clinician in Winchester advising
on research in the trust and contribute to various
clinical trials. Our most exciting project is the TARGIT
trial. We are the only English centre outside of London,
able to offer women single dose intra-operative
radiotherapy in the context of this trial. Women with
cancers suitable to enter the trial are randomly selected
to have either all their radiotherapy during surgery or to
standard treatment, usually 15 daily visits to the
radiotherapy centre.
http://www.targittrial.org/TARGIT/indextargit1.shtm
Archaeology is also a passion of mine and I hope to be
able to study more in the future. Breast cancer seems to
be present in both the historical and archaeological
record despite the premature deaths of our ancestors.
I was appointed as Consultant oncoplastic breast and
general surgeon to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital,
Winchester in 2001. I work very closely with my NHS
colleagues many of whom also work within the private
sector. There is very much a team approach to the care of
breast patients and breast cancer in general. We are aware
of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and work well as
a team – something that has been shown to improve patient
safety. Many of the protocols we have devised or adopted
apply across the NHS and independent sector. We are
admirably supported by the breast care specialist nurses.
I am married with two sons, two dogs and no chickens (the
dog has eaten them!). I garden, read a lot – I am an avid
J K Rowling fan - and used to have time to paint but am
now mostly Mum’s taxi.
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