FIRST CONFERENCE ON BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Belgrade, 22 September 2008 – Under the patronage of the Serbian Ministry of Health, the First Breast Cancer Screening Conference was opened today at the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel. The Conference is taking place from 22nd to 23rd September and is organized by the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, the HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation, and the Katarina Rebraca Charity Fund, with expertise help from, and cooperation with the Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Centre – MSKCC from New York, USA.

The most eminent foreign and domestic experts from the fields of breast cancer screening and prevention are taking part in the Conference. Bearing in mind that, in Serbia, the rate of late detected breast cancers is extremely high, as well as the annual death rate, having a gathering of this kind is very important for the general development of Radiology, as well as for the prevention of this disease. Among other issues, the Conference will also point out to the role of media and non-governmental organisation in increasing the awareness and information level of women when it comes to early detection and prevention.

The attendees of the ceremonial opening at the Hyatt hotel were addressed by: Dr. Tomislav Stantic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health, HRH Crown Princess Katherine, HRH Crown Prince Alexander, Dr. Atila Cengeri, Health Secretary of Vojvodina, Dr. Nenad Borojevic, Director of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Mrs. Katarina Rebraca on behalf of her Fund, and Dr. Hedvig Hricak, Director of Radiology at the MSKCC from New York.

In her speech, HRH Crown Princess Katherine emphasized: “I am very happy to be here with you today, on the opening of the First Conference on Breast Cancer Prevention. This problem is huge in our country and that is why we must work together. I am happy that united – Ministry of Health, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, the Katarina Rebraca Charity Fund and my Foundation – we have managed, with great effort, to organize this Conference. We succeeded in bringing doctors from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre from New York – the lecturers at this Conference. Every Serbian doctor here, working on mammography, will get the latest book on proper reading of the mammography scans, translated to Serbian”.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander greeted the guests and emphasized: “Prevention is very important. I appeal to all women to have medical check-ups regularly, and to the media to pay more attention to this issue. Educating doctors is also crucial for the early detection and treatment of this disease”. He reminded everyone that October is the month dedicated to fighting breast cancer and called upon everyone to work together and reduce the number of women who suffer from this disease.

After the welcome speeches came the introductory lectures. Dr. Hricak spoke of cancer as a global problem and the role of screening, while Katarina Rebraca spoke of the need to change the awareness in women. Mr. Veran Matic, Editor in Chief of Radio-Television B92, underlined the importance of the media in raising awareness about breast cancer prevention. Then the speakers, among whom were lecturers from Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, spoke on the breast cancer situation in these countries of the region.

Their Royal Highnesses are hosting a reception this evening for the participants of this very important medical conference in our country, while tomorrow, on the second day of the Conference, lectures will be given on mammography, the breast ultra sound, the breast cancer surgery in an early phase, clinical examination of the breasts, stereotaxic procedure, biopsy, cytology and pathology, as well as medicaments.