A multidisciplinary team made up of medical professionals was the main reason for the improved breast cancer survival rates, Health Minister Joe Cassar said yesterday.

The team, set up some 10 years ago, includes oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other professionals from different fields.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Maltese women. Although there has been an increase in recent years, from approximately 180 cases to around 270 per year, patient mortality rates were halved.

The breast cancer mortality rate in Malta was now roughly 20 per 100,000 people - down from 40 per 100,000 people 10 years ago.

Describing the figures as encouraging, Dr Cassar said the multidisciplinary team was in a much better position to detect new cases early, thanks to the new breast cancer screening centre at Lascaris Wharf.

Dr Cassar was speaking at Mater Dei Hospital where the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation donated a microscope to the ministry, which will be used in multidisciplinary team meetings to analyse patients' progress.

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