Practitioner Profile

• Symptoms related to breast pain, lumps and abnormal nipple discharge.

• Treatment of breast infections related to breastfeeding, breast abscesses.

• Discussion of surveillance and treatment of the high risk woman with family history of breast cancer or BRCA mutation carriers.

• Clinical breast examination.

• Breast screening.

• Evaluation of abnormal screening or diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds.

Dr Tan Yah Yuen obtained her medical degree from National University of Singapore and pursued surgical training at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Royal College of Surgeons. She underwent advanced surgical training in Tan Tock Seng Hospital and received further accreditation in General Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2003.

In pursuit of her interest in breast surgery, Dr Tan was the recipient of the HMDP scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Health and spent 12 months in subspecialty training in Breast and Endocrine Surgery at the University of California San Francisco in 2004.

In 2005, Dr Tan joined the specialized Breast Unit in KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). Dr Tan Yah Yuen also developed the sentinel lymph node program for early breast cancer in Tan Tock Seng Hospital and in KKH.

Dr Tan is also widely published in the field of breast surgery in several local, regional and international journals. She previously received a S$1million Ministry of Health grant to research the usefulness of mammary ductoscopy in women with pathological nipple discharge and breast cancer from 2007-2010. In recognition of her efforts towards patient care, she was awarded the SPRING Singapore Excellent Service Award (EXSA) Silver, Gold and Star Awards from 2007-2009 respectively. Dr Tan is also a member of International Society of Surgery and Breast Surgery International.