New conference to discuss issues surrounding breast cancer to take place at UWE

Current Issues in Breast Cancer: A day conference on the latest developments in breast cancer for the lay public and healthcare professional.

An opportunity to join a forum to discuss issues surrounding breast cancer is taking place at the University of the West of England on Saturday 3 July 2010.

'Current issues in breast cancer' will include presentations by local researchers to build awareness of the vast range of projects that are happening on the doorstep, here in Bristol.

The conference will be of interest to health practitioners but is also open to people who have breast cancer and their families who want to find out more about recent developments in research and treatment developments.

Keynote speakers include Professor Jeff Holly, Head of Research at the Dept of Clinical Sciences, North Bristol and Dr Anthony Rhodes, Reader in Cellular Pathology from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, UWE. The conference will include an international dimension with special invited guest speaker Professor Cheng Har Yip, Head of Breast Surgery at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

UWE has ongoing research collaboration with the University of Malaya and the University of Bristol and this is the first time that a Malaysian partner has given a keynote address at a UWE Breast Cancer conference.

Pat Turton, a specialist lecturer in cancer care professional training at UWE, said, "This conference was inspired by the success of the Prostate cancer symposium held by UWE last year ->

"We hope that people who have cancer will feel able to attend as it can be reassuring to hear about the extent of work being carried out and also to get the opportunity to discuss the issues with researchers.  Researchers find this very useful too as people who are living with cancer can offer up important insights.

"Currently within our Faculty we are actively involved developing and evaluating  initiatives to improve the experience of people with cancer once treatment has finished, and also in developing services for women whose breast cancer has unfortunately recurred when, although they may have years of active life ahead, they feel particularly vulnerable."

Dr Jeff Holly will talk about diet and nutrition and how this can influence the expression of specific biomolecules which can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Professor Cheng Har Yip will discuss Breast Cancer in Asia, where the incidence is lower and which may relate to environmental factors such as differences in diet.

Dr Anthony Rhodes will present projects happening at UWE including aspects of their comparative studies comparing the characteristics of breast cancer in Malaysia and the UK,

Bristol based Mr Simon Cawthorn, who is also Joint National Clinical Lead for Breast Cancer, and Bristol oncologist Dr Chris Price will discuss the latest developments in surgery and breast cancer therapies, respectively. Dr Mona Jeffries will give insights into the inequalities of breast cancer.

Professor Steve West, UWE Vice- Chancellor, concludes, "Researchers at UWE are doing important work in cancer diagnostics and the University excels in specialist training for health practitioners. This conference is a dual opportunity to both showcase the research activity in the region and to highlight the international research links that we have been developing over the last few years, particularly in Malaysia."