THE FIRST breast health clinic in Cyprus has opened at Limassol General Hospital, offering medical care to women from the Limassol district.
The official opening took place yesterday morning in the presence of Health Minister Costas Kadis and Europa Donna representatives. Minister Kadis confirmed that plans are also in the works for a second Nicosia-based breast clinic.
“Stemming from the Health Ministry’s objective for continuous upgrading of health service provision, we have created this independent space, where patients can be examined with dignity and without trouble by high-standard specialised care, taking all contemporary European standards into consideration,” said Minister Kadis.
“We are very happy with the creation of the first public breast health clinic. It has always been one of our main goals,” said Evi Papadopoulou, Vice President of Europa Donna Cyprus. “Our primary objective is for every woman to have access to specialised care.”
The Breast Clinic will be run by the Surgical Unit of Limassol Hospital, under Dr Stavros Stavrou and Dr Maria Hadjicosta.
“We will provide support to this clinic and we hope it becomes the basis for the creation of additional clinics in Cyprus, so that all Cypriot women have a chance,” added Papadopoulou.
Europa Donna, the European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe.
The Coalition works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research.
“Breast cancer is the most common cause of death for women,” said Minister Kadis. “It is the type of cancer to which most research articles are dedicated, for which most biopsies are performed, most x-rays, most surgical interventions and most chemotherapy performed.”
In 2003, the Ministry of Health established the Population Programme for Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Through this programme, all women aged between 50 and 59 are offered free mastographies at specialised centres operating all over the island. In Limassol, the breast cancer diagnosis centre has been operating since February 2003 at the Old Limassol Hospital.
The Ministry has been sending invitations to all women between the ages of 50 and 59, informing them of the programme and encouraging them to have a mastography. “A simple check can save lives, as it is well-known that the earlier breast cancer gets diagnosed, the higher the chances for the therapy to succeed,” said Minister Kadis.
“As part of the programme 101,600 invitations have been sent out and 44,700 women have come in to get tested since the programme was launched. From these, 300 women have been diagnosed with cancer.
“I would like to take this opportunity to call all women to respond to the invitations sent to them. In the Limassol district, they can call 25-305124 to book an appointment. This appointment will save them, in most cases, from unnecessary trouble, from difficult and painful therapies,” added Kadis.
