Prof John Benson is a Consultant Breast Surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; Affiliated Assistant Professor (ex-officio) at the University of Cambridge; and Visiting Professor at ARU's School of Medicine in Cambridge and Chelmsford. He is a Former Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge and was Director of Clinical Studies from 2007 until 2020.
Prof Benson qualified from Oxford University Clinical School and was awarded doctorates from Oxford [DM (Oxon)] and Cambridge Universities [MD (Cantab)] in 1998 and 2010 respectively. He received specialist training at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, London and the New York-Cornell Medical Centre/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York (Traveling Fellowship, Royal College of Surgeons Foundation Inc. New York [$7000]). He is an examiner for the MRCS examination, member of the British Breast Group and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS).
Prof Benson's clinical practice is devoted entirely to breast diseases and current research interests include investigation of fluorescence navigation for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in early breast cancer patients. He has published the first randomised trial evaluating indocyanine green (ICG) as a sole tracer agent for SLN localisation. He has been actively involved with the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, initially as Sessional Chair and Panelist and subsequently as member of the Planning Committee and Career Development Forum (2013 – 2015). He was Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, Texas in December 2016.
Prof Benson has more than 200 publications (33 in Lancet/Lancet Oncology), contributed to numerous book chapters and written/edited a total of nine books on breast cancer/reconstructive surgery. One of these won First Prize in the Oncology Section of the BMA Medical Book Awards in 2013. His latest book, Diagnosis and Management of Breast Diseases, was published in June 2025.
Prof Benson has been engaged with ABS since 2011, initially as a member of the Education and Training Committee but subsequently a member of the Academic and Research Committee (demitting office in 2021). He is currently a member of the Clinical Practice and Standards Committee and chair of the Working Group that is updating national guidelines on axillary management in early stage breast cancer. He has served as an Ordinary Trustee and member of the Executive Board (2016-2021) and was elected Honorary Secretary of ABS in 2023. This involved working closely with the President and members of the Executive Board to further evolve the specialty, develop/implement new guidelines and ensure the organisation remains responsive to individual needs of its members. He was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Surgical Oncology (USA) in 2025 and was Visiting Professor at Yale University in June 2026.
Working knowledge of Portuguese
1. INFLUENCE study: a prospective study comparing indocyanine green (ICG fluorescence combined with a standard tracer versus ICG alone for sentinel lymph node detection in early breast cancer [Joint Chief Investigators – J. R. Benson and Vassilis Pitsinis, University of Dundee]. Awarded Association of Breast Surgery Research Development Grants in January 2020 for the sum of £10,000 (these are very competitive and prestigious awards – one of top two highest-scoring applications). Further £10,000 obtained from Tayside Endowment Fund. Listed on NIHR Clinical Trials Portfolio and trial badging by Association of Breast Surgery. Trial completed recruitment in December 2022 and data lock in March 2023. Data analysed and abstract prepared for San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2023. Paper published in Annals Surgical Oncology August 2024. Sub-study of patient experience within INFLUENCE trial – presented as poster San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025 and published as full paper in Surgery (May 2026).
2) POSNOC study: POsitive Sentinel Lymph Node: Observation vs Clearance [Chief Investigator - Amit Goyal, University of Nottingham]. Recruitment now complete after initial extension of recruitment period to 2021 (target 1900 patients) [local Principal Investigator – J. R. Benson]. Data is currently being analysed and will be published end of 2026.
3. MARGINPROBE Study: Assessment of surgical margins after breast conserving surgery and rates of re-excision [Chief Investigator - Nigel Bundred, University of Manchester]. Trial has recruited target of 460 patients [local Principal Investigator – J. R. Benson]. Participated in formal assessment of cosmetic outcomes relating to re-excision of margins (as separate operation) (June 2021) and results have now been written up but paper pending publication (abstract published – Bundred, N., Dixon, M., …. Benson, J., …. (2022) Eur J Surg Oncol 48(5), pp. 221).
4. PIONEER trial – a ‘window of opportunity’ study investigating value of a short pre-operative course of endocrine therapy with either an aromatase inhibitor or progesterone (based on purported role of progesterone receptor in hormone responsive breast cancer) [Chief Investigator – Richard Baird, University of Cambridge; local Principal Investigators – J. R. Benson/Amit Agrawal]. Recruitment completed in October 2022 and results presented at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in 2023. Published in Nature Cancer (March 2026).
5. ATNEC study: Axillary management in T1-3N1M0 breast cancer patients with FNA or core biopsy proven nodal metastases at presentation who convert to node negative after NEoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Patients randomised to no further axillary treatment or treatment (axillary dissection or radiotherapy) [Chief Investigator - Amit Goyal, University of Nottingham; local Principal Investigator – J. R. Benson]. Recruitment scheduled for completion 2030.
6. SMALL trial: study comparing conventional surgical excision of small screen-detected breast cancers with vacuum-assisted excision [Chief Investigator – Stuart McIntosh, Queens’ University, Belfast; local Principal Investigators – J. R. Benson and Penny Moyle]. Trial struggling to recruit nationally but Cambridge contributed high number of patients.
7. TADPOLE trial - TADPOLE trial has recently opened to recruitment and randomises clinically node negative patients with fewer than three abnormal nodes on ultrasound scan and needle biopsy-proven low-volume nodal metastases to either targeted axillary dissection (TAD) (without axillary RT) or conventional ALND. Eligible patients have T1 or T2 hormone receptor positive/HER2 negative tumours.
Regular tuition to clinical and pre-clinical medical students (Associate Lecturer, University of Cambridge). Co-ordinator for regional training days (Eastern Deanery) and co-convener for Advanced Skills in Breast Disease Management course, The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Module lead for Masters in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery (University of East Anglia).
1. Reviewer of major grant applications for Breast Cancer Campaign/Breast Cancer Now, Royal Society Enterprise Fund, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, RfPB programme, Cancer Research UK and Imperial College, London, Dutch Cancer Society.
2. External reviewer for major grant proposal (IPAX study) – Dutch Cancer Society (2023).
3. External reviewer for BASO~ACS/Rosetrees Research grants in cancer surgery (MELODY study) (2023).
4. Chairman of ABS Grants Committee, 2019 (selection of assessors, scoring of applications, collation of scores and allocation of funding).
5. Member of the Oncoplastic Breast Consortium Consensus Panel, Basel, Switzerland (2019 and 2021).
6. Member of Group for Reconstructive and Therapeutic Advancement (GRETA) Foundation (Italy).
7. Lead for update of Axillary Management guidelines, Association of Breast Surgery (last updated 2015).
Visit Prof Benson's ResearchGate profile for an expanded list of publications.
Benson, J. R., Goyal, A. and Jatoi, I. (submitted May 2026) 'How I manage pathologically node positive patients in the primary surgery setting', Future Oncology (commissioned article).
Thomas, R. and Benson, J. R. (submitted April 2026) 'Holistic care in breast cancer survivors: Current practice and future directions', Academia Oncology (commissioned article for special issue) (manuscript ID W5AqAA).
Benson, J. R., Jatoi, I. (2026) 'Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025: Part 1', Future Oncol. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2026.2668554
Collins, P., Pitsinis, V., Khitab, N. and Benson, J. R. (2026) 'Evaluation of patient experience from participation in the randomized INFLUENCE trial on fluorescence-guided surgery', Surgery, 110289. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2026/110289
Lucocq, J., Karakatsanis, A., Kirwin, C., Boughey, J. ... Benson, J. and Elder, K. (accepted for publication April 2026) 'An International Delphi consensus study on axillary management in node positive breast cancer in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy', Eur J Surg Oncol.
Burrell, R. A., Kumar, S., Provenzano, E. ... Benson, J. et al. (2026) 'Evaluating progesterone receptor agonist megestrol plus letrozole for women with early stage estrogen receptor positive breast cancer: the window of opportunity, randomized, phase 2b, PIONEER trial', Nature Cancer, 7, pp. 194-206. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-025-01087
Benson, J. (2025) 'Key presentations to look out for at SABCS 2025', Oncology Central, 8 December.
Webb, G. J., Jarman, G. L., Vonk, E. M. ... Benson, J. ... Grogono, D. M. (submitted June 2025) 'Dose-responsive cystic fibrosis modulator therapy associated mastitis', J Cystic Fibrosis.
Montagna, G., Alvarado, M., Myers, S., Morrow. M. ... Benson, J. and Weber, W. (accepted for publication pending revisions July 2025). 'Association of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection with Oncological Outcomes in Patients with Residual Micrometastases after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: The OPBC-07/microNAC Study', Lancet Oncology.
Benson, J. (2024) 'Key insights from SABCS 2024', Oncology Central, 9 December.
Pitsinis, V. and Benson, J. R. (2024) 'Reply to: Letter to the Editor in Relation to ‘Results of a Prospective Randomised Multicentre Study Comparing Indocyanine Green (ICG) Fluorescence Combined with a Standard Tracer Versus ICG Alone for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer: the INFLUENCE trial', Ann Surg Oncol. Available at: https//doi.org/10.1245/s10434-025-17158-3
Pitsinis, V., Kanitkar, R., Vinci, A., Choong, W. L. and Benson, J. R. (2024) 'The results of a prospective randomised multicentre study comparing indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence combined with a standard tracer versus ICG alone for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer: the INFLUENCE trial', Ann Surg Oncol, 31, pp. 8845-55.
Montagna, G., Laws, A., Ferrucci, M. ... Benson, J., Morrow, M. and Weber, W. (2024) 'Nodal burden and oncological outcomes in patients with residual isolated tumour cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ypN0i+): The OPBC-05/ICARO study', J Clin Oncol, 43(7), pp. 810-820. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.24.01052
Ashfield, S., Bojanic, C., Benson, J. R., Forouhi, P., Malata, C. (accepted for publication June 2024) 'Breast reconstruction in patients with previous Wise-pattern mammoplasty scars: challenges and techniques', PLOS-ONE.
Benson, J. R. and Jatoi, I. (2024) 'Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2023: Part 2', Future Oncol. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2024.2418797
Benson, J. R. and Jatoi, I. (2024) 'Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2023: Part 1', Future Oncol. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2024.2418804
Baird, R., Burrell, R., Benson, J. R. et al. (submitted April 2024) 'Results of the window of opportunity PIONEER trial evaluating addition of the progesterone receptor (PR) agonist megestrol to letrozole for early stage estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer: exploiting ER-PR interaction', Nature Medicine.
Toi, M., Kinoshita, T., Benson, J. R. et al. (2024) 'Non-surgical ablation for breast cancer: an emerging therapeutic option', Lancet Oncol, 25(3), e114-e125.
Wang, L. P., Salzberg, A., Benson, J. R., Rocco, N. and Liang, S. S. (submitted May 2023) 'Perioperative nursing care of a male patient after bilateral endoscopic mastectomy: a case report', Gland Surgery.
Jatoi, I., Shaaban, A. M., Jou, E. and Benson, J. R. (2023) 'The Biology and Management of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast', Curr Prob Surg, 60(8), 101361. PMID: 37596033
Weber, W., Gentilini, O. D., Morrow, M. ... Benson J. R. et al. (2023) 'Uncertainties and Controversies in Axillary Management of Patients with Breast Cancer', Cancer Treatment Reviews, 117. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102556
Wignarajan, P., Malata, C. and Benson, J. R. (2023) 'Oncoplastic Breast Surgery', Frontiers in Oncology, 13, 1176915. PMID: 37448512
Elumalai, T., Jain, U., Coles, C. and Benson, J. R. (accepted for publication February 2023) 'The role of irradiation in management of the axilla in early breast cancer patients', Frontiers in Oncology.
Soh, C. L., Muktar, S., Malata, C. M. and Benson, J. R. (2023) 'Reasons for choosing delayed rather than immediate contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in patients with unilateral cancer', Cancer Res, 83, P6-05. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445 (SABCS22 –P6-05-44)
Soh, C. L., Muktar, S., Malata, C. M. and Benson, J. R. (2023) 'Surgical outcomes for reconstruction after delayed contralateral prophylactic mastectomy', Cancer Res, 83, P4-05. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445 (SABCS22 –P4-05-06)
Soh, C. L., Muktar, S., Al-Shiekh, M., Law, J., Aslam, A., Malata, C. M. and Benson, J. R. (submitted April 2023) 'Delayed Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Tertiary Centre Experience', PLOS One.
Aslam, A., Arshad, Z., Ahmed, A. ... Benson, J. R. et al. (2023) 'Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy and reconstruction – a 12 year review of methodological trends and outcomes at a tertiary referral centre', PLOS One
Healy, N., Parag, Y., Soppelsa, G., Wignarajah, P., Benson, J., Agrawal, A., Forouhi, P., Kilburn-Toppin, F. and Gilbert, F. (2022) 'Does pre-operative breast MRI have an impact on surgical outcomes in high-grade DCIS?', Br J Radiol, 95(1138), 20220306. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20220306
Bundred, N., Dixon, M., Achuthan, R., Barrett, E., Benson, J. et al. (2022) 'Does the use of an intraoperative device to assess margins reduce need for re-excision after breast conserving surgery: Multicentre randomised controlled trial', Eur J Surg Oncol, 48(5), pp. 221
Aslam, A., Arshad, A., Ahmed, A. ... Benson, J. et al. (2022) 'A ten-year review of methodological trends and outcomes in risk-reducing mastectomy and associated reconstruction at a tertiary referral centre', Br J Surg 109 (Suppl 4), znac242.050. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znac242.050
Rocco, N. ... Benson, J. R. et al. (2022) 'Text mining and word embedding for classification of decision-making variables in breast cancer surgery', Eur J Surg Oncol, 48(7), pp. 1503-1509.
Weber, W. P., Shaw, J., Pusic, A., Wyld, L., Morro, M. ... Benson, J. R. (2022) 'Oncoplastic breast consortium recommendations for mastectomy and whole breast reconstruction in the setting of post-mastectomy radiation therapy', The Breast, 63, pp. 123-139.
Ingram, J., Beasant, L., Benson, J., Murray Brunt, A., Maxwell, A., Harvey, J., Greenwood, R., Roberts, N, Williams, N., Johnson, D. and Winters, Z. (2022) 'The challenge of equipoise: qualitative interviews exploring the views of health professionals and women with multiple ipsilateral breast cancer on recruitment to a surgical randomised controlled trial', Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8, 46.
Dumitru, D., Ghanakumar, S., Provenzano, E. and Benson, J. (2022) 'A prospective study evaluating the accuracy of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence compared with radioisotope for sentinel lymph node detection in early breast cancer', Annals Surg Oncol, 29(5), pp. 3014-3020. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11255-9
Benson, J. R., van Leeuwen, F. W. B. and Sugie, T. (2021) 'Editorial: State-of-the-art fluorescence image-guided surgery: Current and future developments', Front Oncol, 11, 776832. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.776832
Soh, C., Moyle, P., Scott-Balgrove, J. and Benson, J. (2021) 'Sebaceous carcinoma of the chest wall: a case report', Radiol Case Rep, 16(7), pp. 1870-1873.
Aslam, A., Arshad, Z., Ahmed. A., Kazazzi, F., Benson, J. R. et al. (submitted April 2021) 'Risk-reducing mastectomy and reconstruction – a ten year review of methodological trends and outcomes', JPRAS.
Healy, N., Benson, J. R. and Sinnatamby, R. (2021) 'Role of early post-operative breast MRI: How helpful is it in deciding the next step for women who may have residual disease?' BJR Open, 3(1), 20210024. PMID: 34381952
Raghavan,, V., Leff, D., Green, M. ... Benson, J. R. and Holcombe, C. (2021) 'Innovations for the Future of Breast Surgery', Br J Surg. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/BJS/ZNAB147
Taher, W., Benson, J. and Leinster, S. (2021) 'The effectiveness of mammography surveillance after treatment of primary breast cancer: A single centre retrospective cohort study', Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 65, 102272.
Rocco, N., Catanuto, G., Cinquini, M., Audretsch, W., Benson, J. et al. (2021) 'Should oncoplastic breast conserving surgery be used for the treatment of early stage breast cancer? Using the GRADE approach for development of clinical recommendations', The Breast, 57, pp. 25-35. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2021.02.013
Benson, J. R., Jatoi, I. and Dumitru, D. (Eds.) (2025) Atlas of Diagnosis and Management of Breast Cancer. 1st edn. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781032485690
Jatoi, I., Benson, J. R. and Sbitany, H. (2020) Atlas of Breast Surgery. 2nd edn. Cham: Springer.
Kronowitz, S, Benson, J. R. and Nava, M. B. (Eds.) (2020) Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Management of the Breast. 3rd edn. London: CRC Press. ISBN 9781498740715 (Foreword written by Monica Morrow, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, and Jim Grotting, Birmingham, Alabama. Includes contributions from many of the world’s leading experts in the field of oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.)
Benson, J. R., Tuttle, T. and Gui, G. (Eds.) (2013) Early Breast Cancer - from screening to multidisciplinary management. 3rd edn. London: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-84184-885-3 (Winner of First Prize, Oncology Section, BMA Book Awards, 2013.)
Querci della Rovere, G., Benson, J. R. and Nava, M. (Eds.) (2010) Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Breast. 2nd edn. New York: Informa Healthcare. ISBN 9780415477284
Benson, J. R. and Jatoi, I. (2009) Management Options in Breast Cancer – case histories, best practice and clinical decision-making. New York: Informa Healthcare.
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary Guidelines Update', Association of Breast Surgery Regional Meeting (Yorkshire and Humber), Leeds (May 2026).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary Guidelines Update', Barts Annual Breast Cancer Study Day, Barbican Centre, London (March 2026).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025', Mammary Fold (trainees) webinar (Association of Breast Surgery) (2025).
Poster presentation, 48th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, (December 2025).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'De-escalation of local axillary treatment in primary surgery patients', British Society of Breast Radiologists Annual Conference, Brighton (November 2025)
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary Guidelines Update', Association of Breast Surgery Regional Meeting, Liverpool (October 2025).
International invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary management', Department of Surgery, University of Witswatersrand, South Africa (August 2025).
Presentation entitled 'Principles of Breast Cancer Surgery', Surgical Masterclass, United Bulawayo Hospitals, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (August 2025).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary Guidelines Update', East of England Regional Breast Meeting, Cambridge (July 2025).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Axillary Guidelines Update', Association of Breast Surgery Annual Conference, Birmingham (May 2025).
International invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Would there be less local treatment of the axilla for patients not receiving neoadjuvant therapy?', International Conference, Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research and Chinese Cancer Society, Hong Kong, China (July 2025).
Invited speaker: presentations entitled 'Update on Axillary Guidelines' and 'Presidential Address (on behalf of President of ABS – in absentia)', East of England Cancer Alliance/ABS Regional meeting, Cambourne (May 2025).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Update on Axillary Guidelines', Association of Breast Surgery Annual Meeting, Birmingham (May 2025).
Attendee and co-author on paper presented by lead author Giacomo Montagna entitled 'Nodal burden and oncological outcomes in patients with residual isolated tumour cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ypN0i+): The OPBC-05/ICARO study', Annual Meeting of Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), Tampa, Florida, USA (March 2025).
International invited speaker: presentations entitled 'Axillary management in breast cancer', 'Multiple Ipsilateral Breast Cancers' and 'Breast Surgery Training in UK', BREASTBDCON – 2nd International Breast Cancer Conference, Dakkha, Bangladesh (February 2025).
Chairing of session on Axillary Guidelines Questionnaire including preparation of questions, 10th Association of Breast Surgery, MDT meeting, Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, London (January 2025).
Presentation on Axillary Guidelines Framework (as Chair of Working Group), Royal College of Surgeons (ABS office), London (November 2024).
Invited chair: session with international speaker, Controversies in Breast Cancer Meeting, Edinburgh (September 2024).
Invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Multiple Ipsilateral Breast Cancers', International Cambridge Conference on Breast Imaging, Cambridge (May 2024).
Invited speaker, co-Chairperson and poster presentation, The Association of Breast Surgery Annual Meeting (Virtual) (May 2021).
International invited speaker: presentation entitled 'Carcinoma intraductal: opcion mira y espera’, Congreso Virtual AECIMA (May 2021).
Speaker: presentation entitled 'Highlights of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2020', National Webinar (Association of Breast Surgery) (February 2021).
International invited speaker: presentation entitled 'When can we omit breast/axillary surgery?', Kyoto Breast Cancer Consensus Conference 2021 (Virtual) (February 2021).
Interview for Tehran television, February 2018. Interview conducted in English with subsequent Parsi translation and voiceover.