Breast cancer will come under the spotlight at a conference opening at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa on Thursday (April 9).

The First Regional Breast Cancer Scientific Activity is held under the patronage of Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer.

The event, under the title GCC and Middle East Highlights - St Gallen Breast Cancer Symposium, is organised by the Salmaniya Medical Complex Oncology Centre in collaboration with the Bahrain Medical Society.

It aims at enhancing the skills and expertise of all health professionals in the field of breast cancer.

Another aim is to improve the care of patients at academic and social levels.

The symposium is the first in a series of events tackling the global problem of cancer.

Delegates will be attending from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain.

Guests and speakers include Cairo University vice-president Professor Dr Hussein Khaled, Middle East and North Africa National Comprehensive Cancer Network Group co-ordinator and Cairo Cure Centre chairman Professor Dr Hamdy Azim and Egyptian Health Minister and Egyptian Breast Cancer Screening Programme director Professor Dr Dorria Salem.

The event is co-ordinated by SMC consultant oncologist Professor Dr Lobna Sedky and supported by Sanofi Aventis, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche, and Yousef Mahmood and Sons.-TradeArabia News Service