Fengxi SU
Professor Su Fengxi pioneered the establishment of the breast specialty team at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Together with Academician Song Erwei, he established China’s distinctive integrated breast tumor center, encompassing breast diagnostics, breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and a breast cancer laboratory. This integrated model improved the patient experience and quality of care, earning widespread recognition. As Chief Expert for Guangdong Province for the Chinese Million Women Breast Cancer Screening Project, Professor Su was among the first specialists in China to initiate breast cancer screening. The total number of screenings conducted under the program ranks among the highest in the province.
Professor Su pioneered breast-conserving surgery in China and is a leading advocate for integrating compassionate, patient-centered care into the comprehensive treatment of early-stage breast cancer. With more than 40 years of experience in breast care, Professor Su has performed over 10,000 breast surgeries and provided more than 170,000 patient consultations. Professor Su was the first specialist in China to perform FISH-based breast-conserving surgery and to use the blue-dye method for axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy, an axillary-preserving procedure. His breast-conservation and axillary-preservation rates exceed 55%, placing them among the highest in the country. Patients have hailed Professor Su as the “Father of Breast Conservation in China.”
Professor Su helped establish a culture of breast conservation in China and promoted breast-conserving treatment as an important clinical approach. Professor Su was also among the first specialists in China to introduce and develop both conventional and oncoplastic breast-conserving techniques. This work strengthened breast surgeons’ capacity to perform breast-conserving procedures and improved the likelihood that eligible patients could successfully undergo breast-conserving treatment.
Professor Su upholds the principle that patients’ interests come first and is skilled at explaining medical conditions and addressing concerns from the patient’s perspective. Professor Su established one of China’s first comprehensive disease-management systems for patients with breast cancer. The system serves as a bridge between healthcare providers and patients, helping to ensure the continuity and comprehensiveness of care while supporting improved patient outcomes.
To meet patients’ diverse needs, Professor Su established the Su Fengxi Clinic and a specialized outpatient department through multi-site practice. These services have supported the hospital and its breast tumor center in delivering a broader range of high-quality medical services while improving the quality of care and the overall patient experience.
Professor Su Fengxi was among the earliest specialists in China to conduct both clinical and basic research on breast cancer. Professor Su was also the first in China to undertake a series of studies on breast-conserving therapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Professor Su has participated in several national multicenter clinical studies, led six projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and received support from Sun Yat-sen University’s 5010 Project for clinical research.
Professor Su has published more than 130 SCI-indexed papers, including papers in leading international journals such as Cell. His research achievements received the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award. Professor Su has supervised more than 50 doctoral and master’s students. Professor Su also served as chief editor of Breast-Conserving Therapy for Breast Cancer and Su Fengxi’s 2017 Perspectives on Breast-Conserving Therapy for Breast Cancer. These publications have been recommended as essential professional reading for breast specialists in China.
Professor Su served as Chief Expert for Guangdong Province for the Chinese Million Women Breast Cancer Screening Project. Professor Su was also the founding Chairman of the Breast Disease Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association and the founding Chairman of the Breast Specialist Physicians Branch of the Guangdong Medical Doctor Association. Through clinical practice, research, education, and professional leadership, Professor Su has made substantial contributions to the development of breast specialty research and breast cancer treatment in China and has become a highly influential figure in the field.