Breast Cancer Institute

'The Breast Cancer Institute, incorporating the Breast Unit, is based at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and has charitable status. It provides breast services for patients in South and Southeast Scotland. It also conducts research programmes and provides specialist training in this field. Consultants work on a regional basis to ensure patients in all hospitals receive an equal standard of expertise.

The BCI facilities across the region include outpatient clinics, in-patient care, operating theatres, laboratories and relevant administration. Currently a pilot study is being conducted using teleconferencing to discuss the management of patients future treatment. These measures contribute towards fewer patients in those areas needing to travel to Edinburgh.

Mr Udi Chetty, Senior Consultant Breast Surgeon at the BCI, said "It is our vision to undertake a major expansion of the existing facilities to improve the environment and clinical care of patients, expand our research programmes into causes and treatments and create a regional centre for education and training.

This is vitally important in view of the predicted 30% increase in the incidence of breast cancer over the next decade, putting intense pressure on a service already stretched to meet the ever-increasing demand.

The tremendous amount raised at the Twilight Walk in 2004 for the BCI will help to meet the challenges ahead."