Simon N. Powell, MD, PhD, FRCP

When patients come to see me, they are worried about whether we can get rid of their cancer. Many patients read about their diagnosis on the internet, and the information they find can be very scary. I always make it a priority to answer all of my patients’ questions so that they feel reassured. I want them to know that they are getting the best care possible.

My research is focused on breast cancer. I have received funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1992 and am an expert in understanding how DNA repair genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 work to fix DNA damage, as well as how a person’s genetics may influence his or her response to radiation therapy.   

 At MSK, we are leading the way in the use of advanced radiation techniques to ensure our patients have the best outcomes possible. For our early-stage breast cancer patients, we are using hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation. This means patients are receiving fewer total treatment sessions in a shorter time period, with a slightly higher dose given each treatment day. We also have a robust delivery system for partial breast irradiation. We now deliver treatment once per day, which helps our patients tolerate their treatment better.

I have experience treating people with recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer using radiation in combination with chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.

For some people, breast cancer treatment can negatively affect the heart. At MSK, we have a program dedicated to assessing this problem. We are leaders in the field of deep inspiration breath-hold techniques, which can help lessen the cardiac side effects for our breast cancer patients. We are also using proton therapy to target tumors more precisely, which can reduce the risk of other treatment-related side effects.

I am a member of advisory boards for several cancer centers in the US and abroad, including the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, University of Michigan Cancer Center, and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center.

In my free time, I enjoy theater, opera, ballet, country-specific versions of history, football, American football, and golf.