In Greece, there was no professional body in place to bring together and educate health care professionals on the genetic aspects of breast cancer. As a result of our project, we have co-founded the Hellenic Cancer Genetics Society. This is the first professional organization to educate and coordinate protocols for the management of high risk patients with familial breast cancer in Greece.
The benefits to the general public will be an improved, better coordinated breast cancer screening and treatment service in Greece. We now continue to collaborate with centres in Greece with respect to all aspects of familial breast cancer.
Similarly in Italy, the formation of the Italian Network of Cancer Genetics Centres will now allow a central organization to coordinate, and educate on, the genetic aspects of breast cancer services in this country.