Family tragedy led Shabana Iqbal to become one of the country's few female breast cancer surgeons.

An aunt died in her mid-30s leaving two small children behind, and a cousin was treated for breast cancer in the same hospital where Shabana studied in Lahore, Pakistan.

This led to the 40-year-old from Heaton being drawn to the area of medical expertise.

"When my aunt died it devastated their lives," she said. "She was very young and her children were very young. It was a terrible situation for the family.

"My other relative lived with a lump for a long time - she just did not want to see anyone, especially a male doctor."

Now Shabana has taken up a post as consultant surgeon at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Only around ten per cent of surgeons are women and even fewer have breast specialism.

And she admits it can be upsetting: "There are times when something strikes a chord personally and it gets to me, because of my own experiences.

"When young children and young families are affected that is particularly so."

She sees her role as a surgeon going beyond the operating table.

"Surgery is a small part," she said. "A lot of talking goes on before and after. You have to be a good communicator.

"I know consultants used to have this image of being dictatorial and aloof but in areas such as breast cancer you need to be an effective communicator.

"I enjoy that aspect of it. If you feel you are helping someone through difficult times that is a good feeling. I could never sit in front of a computer all day, I need to interact."

Born in the Punjab, her father was a wing commander in the air force, and it was her mother who steered her towards medicine.

She trained in Lahore before coming to England in 1994 to study for surgical exams.

She settled in Bradford two years ago with husband Rashid who works at the University of Bradford.

They were introduced by friends and were married in a low-key register office in Bournemouth where she was working at the time.

In her job she treats breast diseases in all ages ranging from children to women in their 90s and says the outlook for breast cancer patients in the UK has improved in the last few years.

"Most women are now aware of their breasts and obviously the earlier they are treated the better," she said.

"There are also huge developments in hormones available and new chemotherapy treatments."

The post with the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust is her first as a consultant.

She said: "I regard myself as still training but I am lucky in that I am happily settled with my husband and friends in Bradford and doing a job I love as well."