How to choose a breast cancer doctor 2026: which specialties are involved, breast surgery and specialist registration, screening recommendations, public and private routes and test fees, insurance

Which specialty treats breast cancer?

Our analysis: based on the treatments described in the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019 below, the specialties related to breast cancer are mainly General Surgery (S28), Clinical Oncology (S26) and Medical Oncology (S36); the scope of each is in the table below. Modern breast cancer management emphasises early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and personalised treatment that cares for patients' physical and psychological needs; surgery is the main treatment for achieving cure, with systemic therapy and locoregional radiotherapy added before or after surgery as needed (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, Annex One, July 2019).

Chemotherapy in the Hospital Authority is provided by clinical oncologists, medical oncologists and other specialists, and systemic therapy includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy and immunotherapy; since 2010-11 the Hospital Authority has run a Cancer Case Manager Programme for patients with breast or colorectal cancer to help coordinate diagnosis and treatment (Hong Kong Cancer Strategy 2019, July 2019).

Women followed up in primary care who have clinical features suggestive of breast cancer, or a mammogram report in BI-RADS category 4 to 6, should be referred early to a surgeon (Primary Healthcare Commission reference framework, first edition, February 2025).

Our analysis: ‘oncology’ in everyday use can mean either Clinical Oncology (S26) or Medical Oncology (S36); see Clinical Oncology: English name and code and Medical Oncology: English name and code.

Which specialty takes charge of an individual patient, and how the patient is treated, is decided by the treating doctor according to the patient's condition.

I have no symptoms but want breast cancer screening. What does Hong Kong recommend?

Risk-based screening is recommended: women aged 44 to 69 who are at higher risk of breast cancer because of a combination of personal risk factors can consider mammography every two years; there are separate recommendations for women at moderate and high risk, set out in the table below (Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening, revised June 2020).

Breast self-examination is not recommended as a screening method; instead women are advised to be familiar with the normal look and feel of their breasts and to seek medical advice early if suspicious symptoms appear, and the evidence for screening by clinical breast examination or ultrasound is considered insufficient (Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening, revised June 2020).

Participants in the Department of Health's Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme Phase II must be women aged 35 to 74 who carry specified gene mutations confirmed by genetic testing or have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer (those with a family history can start 10 years before the age of the youngest diagnosed family member, but not before 30); they must also hold a Hong Kong Identity Card or a Certificate of Exemption, be registered with eHealth, and have no breast cancer symptoms and no history of breast cancer.

How do I check a doctor's specialist registration?

On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, the Specialist Register can be opened by specialty; searching by name shows the specialty and the specialist registration number in the specialist registration field of the doctor's record. For the steps, see How to check a doctor's registration and specialty.

A doctor must be on the Specialist Register to hold himself or herself out as a specialist, and can use only the title of the specialty in which he or she is registered (Medical Council Code of Professional Conduct, section 7, October 2022).

Breast Surgery is one of the six subspecialties recognised by The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong under General Surgery; general surgeons who complete subspecialty training are awarded a Certificate of Post-Fellowship Training in Subspecialty by the College. The specialty registered on the Medical Council register is General Surgery (S28); the register has no specialty called Breast Surgery.

For what qualification abbreviations mean, see What is FHKAM?.

How do I get a referral to a public breast cancer specialist? Can I book a private specialist directly?

To book a new appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the last three months; a letter from a private doctor is also accepted. Our analysis: for a private specialist, you can ask the hospital or clinic directly how to book; if you use medical insurance, whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed depends on the policy terms, and you can ask the insurer first.

‘Eligible Persons’ in the table mainly means holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card and children under 11 who are Hong Kong residents; for details, see Public healthcare fee reform 2026.

For the booking steps, see How to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for a general comparison of the two routes, see Public or private specialist?.

If your condition gets worse while you wait, you can contact the specialist outpatient clinic to ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to the Accident and Emergency Department.

How much do breast ultrasound and mammography cost?

Among the private hospitals and medical centres this site checked, the 12 that publish a breast ultrasound fee charge from HK$1,110 to HK$2,970 (HK dollars; fees published on institution websites as checked on 1 October 2026; pricing bases and what is included, such as the radiologist's fee, differ between institutions; confirm with the hospital); in public hospitals, ultrasound and mammography (breast X-ray) are Intermediate items in non-emergency radiology, at HK$250 per item for Eligible Persons from 1 January 2026 (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025).

For each institution's fees, see Ultrasound fees compared and Mammogram fees compared; for cancer drug charges and subsidies, see Cancer financial support in Hong Kong.

How do I compare hospitals or medical centres?

When comparing, put the same item on the same basis. Private hospitals must have a fee schedule covering all chargeable items, and patients have the right to know the charges before treatment (Department of Health Code of Practice for Private Hospitals, July 2026).

For each private hospital's fees, see Private hospital fees.

What should I check when using medical insurance for a breast cancer doctor?

Before seeing a private specialist, confirm three things with the insurer: whether the policy covers specialist outpatient visits, whether it is limited to a designated medical network, and whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed; see Using medical insurance for a private specialist.

The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme covers only individual indemnity hospital insurance; outpatient insurance is outside the Scheme. The Standard Plan covers up to 1 outpatient or emergency consultation before a hospital stay or day surgery, and up to 3 follow-up outpatient visits within 90 days after discharge or day surgery, which must be directly related to the illness or injury requiring the hospital stay or day surgery, at HK$580 per visit and HK$3,000 per policy year (Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme, Standard Plan policy template, July 2022).

Some insurers offer pre-approval (commonly called ‘免找數’): if both the policy and the hospital offer direct billing, you can apply to the insurer before admission and the insurer pays the hospital directly; the approved amount is an estimate, and before discharge you still pay charges not listed in the ‘letter of guarantee’, such as the deductible, co-payment and items outside the cover (Insurance Authority, January 2024); see Medical insurance pre-approval.

What should I ask before booking? What should I bring to the first visit?

Which specialty on the Medical Council's Specialist Register is the doctor listed under?

Does the doctor regularly treat patients with breast cancer? Will the treatment plan be discussed with other specialties?

How much is the first consultation? What tests might be needed this time, and roughly how much will they cost?

Is the test quote an outpatient or inpatient price? Does it include the radiologist's report fee?

If surgery, radiotherapy or admission is needed later, can a budget estimate of the service fees be provided first?

Is my medical insurance accepted? Is a referral letter or pre-approval needed?

What to bring: a referral letter (if any), reports and images of previous tests such as mammograms and ultrasound, and a list of the medicines you are taking; see What to prepare before a specialist appointment.

For a fuller checklist of what to ask your doctor and care team after a diagnosis, see what to ask your cancer doctor.

Breast cancer: when should I call 999 or go to A&E straight away?

If you feel it is an emergency, call 999 straight away. The situations in which this site suggests calling 999, with the source for each, are listed in Why do we suggest calling 999?.

If it is not urgent and you are not sure which specialty you need, you can see a family doctor first; which specialty to be referred to is decided by the attending doctor according to your condition.

Frequently asked questions