As the NHS continues to respond to increasing demand in breast services, the Breast Clinician Credential is playing a vital role in training a new generation of doctors with expertise across clinical assessment, imaging, and genetics. These breast clinicians are supporting multidisciplinary teams, helping to reduce diagnostic delays, and contributing to innovation across the breast care pathway.
This Breast Clinician Spotlight series celebrates the impact of these professionals -showcasing how they are using their training to improve services, introduce new models of care, and support patients across the UK.
Whilst completing the NBIA Breast Clinician Credential, Dr Harsha Pratap contributed to the development of clear, evidence-based guidance on the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women with varying levels of breast cancer risk. This guidance, developed by a multidisciplinary expert writing group, offers a much-needed resource for clinicians navigating conversations around HRT use and cancer risk.
The comprehensive guidance includes:
- Association between breast cancer risk and HRT: Outlines broad principles linking breast cancer and HRT use.
- Breast cancer risk by HRT type: Highlights how different HRT formulations affect breast cancer risk
- Variation in risk across groups and duration: Explains how breast cancer risk depends on personal risk level and duration of HRT use.
- Practical value in consultations: Provides a clear, evidence-based tool for clinical staff to support shared decision-making and informed discussions in menopause care.
This guidance empowers GPs and breast clinicians to have informed, balanced conversations with patients who are considering HRT to manage menopausal symptoms, particularly important for women with concerns about breast cancer risk due to personal or family history.