Sheraz Azhar, Medical Oncology SpR at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Founder of OncsCare, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Had a great two days at the UK Breast Cancer Group (UKBCG) Conference 2025 with colleagues from our oncology team – Dr Olubukola Ayodele, Lakshmi Balakrishnan, Dr Yetunde Owoseni and Dr Goyal. It was a brilliant mix of teaching, discussion, and reconnecting with people across the breast cancer community.
I was also really pleased to present our poster on real-world outcomes with sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in metastatic TNBC – lots of helpful conversations about how centres are using SG.
Some of the key learning points I’m taking away from the sessions:
- Chemotherapy in pregnancy
– Anthracycline–taxane–based regimens (with or without carboplatin) can be safely used during pregnancy when needed. - Timing of chemotherapy
– Chemotherapy is safest from 13 to ~35 weeks and should be avoided in the first trimester. - Diagnostic imaging
– Non-contrast MRI is safe throughout pregnancy, and CT can be used when clinically justified. - Targeted therapies
– Tamoxifen, CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors and bisphosphonates should generally be avoided in pregnancy. - Supportive medications & VTE prophylaxis
– Steroids like methylprednisolone/hydrocortisone should be used instead of dexamethasone, and VTE risk must be assessed throughout. - Anti-HER2 agents
– Trastuzumab carries a significant risk of oligohydramnios, so use is extremely limited in pregnancy. - Systemic therapy recommendations
– Treat as per non-pregnant guidelines where possible, but delay HER2-targeted and immunotherapy until after delivery.
Lots of practical points to take back to the team – especially around pregnancy-associated breast cancer, menopause care, digital innovation, and MDT decision-making.
A big thank you to Dr Olubukola Ayodele for her mentorship and supervision throughout this project. Grateful for the ongoing support and guidance.”
Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post by Sheraz Azhar, adding:
“I’m feeling incredibly proud today. Two of my oncology trainees presented at the national UK Breast Cancer Group meeting. Dr Sheraz Azhar shared their work through a poster presentation, and Dr Sunil Goyal delivered an oral presentation. Seeing them represent University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust with such confidence and clarity was a truly joyful moment.
Mentoring is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. It’s not just about supervising a project or helping someone prepare for a presentation, but about creating an environment where future oncologists feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to develop their own voice. Watching these young colleagues step onto national platforms reminds me why investing time in training matters.
When they succeed, it reminds me that the time invested, late-night revisions, pep talks, and quiet encouragement all make a difference.
I am grateful to the UK Breast Cancer Group (UKBCG) steering committee for providing trainees with this platform. Opportunities like these shape careers in ways textbooks cannot. They give our future oncologists the courage to step forward, ask bigger questions, and feel that they belong in these rooms.
The past two days have been both refreshing and enlightening, discussing with colleagues what recent breast cancer data means for oncology practice in the UK. As oncologists, we remain advocates, committed to ensuring our patients receive the best care possible.
Looking forward to next year’s meeting!”
