October is breast cancer awareness month and most newspapers and magazines are full of the pink ribbon symbol and articles about breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a common disease, affecting over 200 people every year, making it the commonest single cancer in Malta and a very significant health problem in the country. Although breast cancer is considered a disease of the elderly, about a third of cases occur in women under the age of 50. Over recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of breast cancer cases in Malta but in spite of this, fortunately, the number of deaths is steadily declining.

The Multidisciplinary Breast Care Team was set up at St Luke’s hospital in 2000 and now functions from Mater Dei hospital. It is led by surgeons with an interest in breast disease and includes oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, breast care nurses, radiographers and physiotherapists and there are close links with plastic surgeons, epidemiologists, statisticians, geneticists and experts in other allied fields.

The Multidisciplinary Breast Care Team is holding a symposium to update the medical profession on the current management of breast cancer at Mater Dei Hospital on 1 November at 10am.

The meeting will be opened by Joseph Cassar, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. Members of the breast care team will discuss topics from their field of expertise including surgery, statistics, radiology, pathology, oncology, genetics and plastic surgery.

The seminar is open to all doctors, medical students and members of NGOs with an interest in breast disease. Registration may be made with Ms Liz Vella [email protected]