The event “The Breast Unit network – An integrated model for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation” of breast cancer.
To the initiative, moderated by Maria Rosaria CampitielloHead of the Technical Secretariat of the Minister, was attended by the Minister of Health Orazio Schillacithe European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, Alberto CostaSpecial Adviser on Cancer Strategies of European Commissioner Kyryakides; Francesco SchittulliPresident LILT; Corrado Tinterri, Operational Unit Manager and Director of the Breast Unit, IRCCS Humanitas; Oreste BuonomoSenologist, General Surgeon, Full Professor of General Surgery, University of Basilicata; Nicoletta GandolfoDirector of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, ASL3 Genovese and of SC Radiology, Villa Scassi Hospital and Michelino De LaurentiisDirector of the Department of Senological and Thoraco-Pulmonary Oncology, National Cancer Institute IRCCS – “Fondazione G. Pascale” of Naples.
Il minister during his speech he underlined the enormous progress made thanks to research and the diffusion of Breast Units.
“In 2023 – said Schillaci – in Italy approximately 56 thousand diagnoses of breast cancer have been estimated, which represents the most frequent neoplasm in women and unfortunately the first cause of death in the age group between 35 and 50. There are However, fortunately, there are also positive numbers: the survival figure 5 years after diagnosis is 88% and there are more than 834 thousand women living in Italy after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Without a doubt, these are possible goals thanks to the enormous progress made by research which has made increasingly innovative and personalized therapies available and to the diffusion of Breast Units which guarantee early diagnosis, surgical interventions according to the highest standards and above all multidisciplinary management which I believe is the best response for a disease like breast cancer.”
The minister then underlined how the Breast Units are “a model of care that has developed thanks to the impulse of the European Parliament which, starting from the end of the 90s and especially at the beginning of the 2000s, affirmed women’s rights affected by this pathology to be treated in multidisciplinary centers and with specific volumes of activity. And Italy has adapted to European indications”. Schillaci also spoke on the topic of the diffusion of Breast Units on the national territory, recalling the work carried out with the Regions “to make the presence of breast care centers on the national territory increasingly widespread, which by 2022, according to our data, will be 194. And despite widespread opinion, they are not all concentrated in the North, but are now widespread throughout the national territory”.
And the EU Commissioner on the value of the Breast Units Stella Kyriakides highlighted: “In Italy I have seen excellent work in the treatment of women with breast cancer in specialized breast units: this is an example for us that I hope we can share with other member states.”
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