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Press Release
EUROPA DONNA – THE EUROPEAN BREAST CANCER COALITION DEMANDS EQUAL ACCESS TO BREAST CANCER CARE FOR ALL WOMEN AT THE 6TH EUROPEAN BREAST CANCER CONFERENCE
Berlin, 15-19 April 2008
Some 5,700 breast cancer specialists and advocates from 95 countries attended the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-6) in Berlin, Germany from 15-19 April. EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, in partnership with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA), hosted the conference, where physicians and advocates alike heard the latest findings in drug therapy, imaging, molecular targeting, managing special patient populations, screening, and implementation of specialist breast units.
In the first session, entitled “Can we walk away from economics”, EUROPA DONNA Executive Director Susan Knox presented the patient advocates’ view. “We must never lose track of the human dimension, to the fact that there is a face to each and every diagnosis of breast cancer, an individual with a family – a life that needs to be lived and a life that needs to be saved using every means available to us. The value of this is incalculable and cannot be reduced to a statistic or a formula. Breast cancer advocates need to keep a close watch on the economic decision making process utilised in each country and become a part of this important process which ultimately will have an impact, not just on us as patients, not just on us as women, but on all of us, on all citizens,” she told the thousands present.
Throughout the conference, teaching sessions and the first ever EUROPA DONNA wrap-up session were attended by numerous advocates as well as professionals. Some of the many results that were revealed included:
Workshops of the TRANSBIG Consortium, of which EUROPA DONNA is a member, were held in English to reinforce the partnership involved in the multidisciplinary efforts in research. Dr. Emiel Rutgers, EBCC-6 Chair, emphasised the need to conserve frozen tumour tissue for every woman, for the future and for research. Stella Kyriakides, President of EUROPA DONNA Cyprus and EUROPA DONNA Past President, presented the patient’s view and stressed the importance of mutual respect between all members of the multidisciplinary team to improve patient care. A subsequent session held in German was open to breast cancer patients and the public.
A session of the European School of Oncology’s Metastatic Breast Cancer Task Force aimed to work toward the creation of guidelines for this patient group, for which earlier recommendations were published following a session at EBCC-5 in Nice, France.
A SenoNetwork meeting focused on the implementation of specialist breast units according to set guidelines and discussed the granting of EUSOMA accreditation of units. Dr. Alberto Costa, Director of the European School of Oncology, also described the workings of specialist breast units at a session that was also dedicated to the needs of countries with limited resources.
In the closing session, EUROPA DONNA President and conference co-chair Ingrid Kössler presented the following take home messages for future action:
“By forging new partnerships, by insisting on transparency and clarity, and ensuring that advocates are educated, involved and are part of the decision making process that needs to take place, we will be on the correct path to finding solutions acceptable to society, patients and citizens. There may be difficulties and obstacles, but only through this open, honest dialogue and involvement that we have here at EBCC, will we have the best chance of providing the best care that is possible to all patients in the future,” Ms Kössler said.
The European Breast Cancer Conference, held every two years, brings together the voices of doctors, researchers, nurses and patients, and is the only conference of its kind to represent advocacy groups and major breast cancer institutions in one arena. The next conference, EBCC-7, is to be held 23–27 March, 2010, in Barcelona, Spain.
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About EUROPA DONNA EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition – is an independent, non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. EUROPA DONNA works to raise public awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care and increased funding for research. Member countries currently number 41.
Contact information: EUROPA DONNA-The European Breast Cancer Coalition Via G. Previati 12, 20149 Milan, Italy Tel: 39 02 8907-9660; Fax: 39 02 8907-9664 Email: info@europadonna.org Website: www.europadonna.org
The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of EUROPA DONNA. |
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