But why both together?

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“When there’s no place for the scalpel, words are the
surgeon’s only tool…”

Paul Kalanithi

My day job is as a surgeon. My specialty is Breast Endocrine surgery. Many, patients included, are confused about any connection between mammary glands and organs such as the thyroid. In Australian and the UK at least, Breast and Endocrine often go together. I suspect the origin story is as follows. Once all were general surgeons, but over time orthopaedics, urology and neurosurgery etc. began to strike out formally on their own. In general surgery a series of streams also emerged. Colorectal, upper GI, hepatobiliary and the like. At the same time breast cancer surgery became complex enough to warrant specific interest. During that period endocrine manipulation of breast cancer via reduction in oestrogen levels, required surgery. Adrenalectomy was a common procedure. This is why breast surgeons maintained an interest in the endocrine system. In 2023 we lower oestrogen levels by drugs and our most of our attention has moved to the thyroid and parathyroid glands #istillliketodoadrenals #letsmakelemonade