Lucy Labova, Author at Българско дружество за борба с рака на гърдата и други гинекологични тумори

The ESSO course “Fundamentals of Oncology for Surgeons” in Sofia has successfully concluded

The two-day ESSO specialized course, “Basics of Oncology for Surgeons,” held on March 19 and 20, 2026, in Sofia, Bulgaria, was a great success and drew significant interest. The event brought together young surgeons and residents from the region and far, who had the unique opportunity to train under the guidance of leading European experts. The course reaffirmed the role of surgical oncology as an integral part of comprehensive patient care and provided a platform for an intensive exchange of knowledge and cutting-edge practices.

The program offered a balance between theoretical lectures and practical sessions, covering critical topics such as the molecular biology of cancer, the role of multidisciplinary teams, and the integration of new treatment modalities. Special highlight was placed on the development of scientific skills and psychological support, with participants taking part in interactive workshops on public speaking and clinical trial design. These hands-on activities were highly valued by the participants as key to their professional development.

The success of this training underscores the commitment of Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association to provide high-quality education to the next generation of surgeons, laying the groundwork for better outcomes in the treatment of cancer throughout Europe.

COST - DISSECT event in Sofia

The first training school under the DISSECT COST Action (CA24158) program was successfully held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on February 26–27, organized by Dr. Mariela Vasileva-Slaveva with the support of Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association (BBCA), Bulgarian Lymphoedema Association and ESSOWith the support of COST EU program COST European Cooperation in Science and Technology, DISSECT (Disparities in Surgical Specialisation and Education in Cancer Training) brings together surgeons, patient advocates, and multidisciplinary experts from across Europe and beyond to address inequalities in cancer surgery training. Over the course of two productive days, participants took part in expert presentations, panel discussions, and practical exchanges focused on identifying, measuring, and reducing inequalities in cancer surgery education.

The program highlighted the importance of education as a driver of professional development, workforce retention, patient outcomes, and the quality of healthcare. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including residency training pathways, mentoring, training women in surgical oncology, multidisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and international best practices. The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking and developing new collaborations in the fields of research and education. As noted by Prof. Wim Celen, Chair of the DISSECT Management Committee, this initiative is both timely and highly relevant, with five active working groups already open to members, focusing on inequalities, research capacity, multidisciplinary knowledge exchange, mentoring, and innovation.

Работилница за биопсии на Международен Биомедицински Конгрес

Представител на дружеството е лектор на престижен конгрес

Д-р Мариела Василева бе водещ на работилница на Международен Биомедицински Конгрес – София на 31 октомври 2025 на тема Биопсии.

"Breast Cancer 2025" Course – Five Years of Knowledge, Experience, and Cause in Action

The "Breast Cancer" course, organized by the Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association, was held on October 12, 2025. For the fifth consecutive year, the initiative brought together medical specialists to exchange knowledge, present modern approaches and practices, and discuss real cases.

International participation and diverse program

This year's course was the largest training ever implemented by the company, both in terms of scale and quality. Interest was extremely high - all places were filled a month before the event. The program included lectures, practical workshops and discussion sessions, with highlights including:

Historical review of the status of breast cancer in Bulgaria before the introduction of a national screening program — Dr. Mariela Vasileva
Discussions on screening of high-risk groups — Dr. Gavril Nakov
Topics such as genetic mutations and options for bilateral mastectomy or organ-preserving surgeries — lectures by Dr. Daniela Poposka and Dr. Miroslava Chortova
International lectures in English:
- "Basic Principles of Breast Ultrasound" — Christian Langer (Austria)
- "BIRADS Classification in Ultrasound Diagnostics" — Dr. Silke Hauhammer (Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria)
- "The Breast Cancer Patient's Journey in Austria" — Dr. Birgit Amorth
- Practical workshop on ultrasound-guided breast lesion biopsies
- Discussions on topics such as biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes, the applicability of preoperative MRI, and surgical decisions for removing the ovaries in hormone-positive HER2-negative breast cancer

The course ended with a roundtable discussion and closing, with participants having the opportunity to actively exchange experiences with leading doctors.

We continue our mission in the fight against breast cancer

The Breast Cancer course is a key element in our efforts to improve the qualifications of Bulgarian specialists in the fight against breast cancer. The combination of theoretical lectures, international experience and practical exercises provides a chance for better diagnosis and treatment of patients in Bulgaria.

Expect events like this to continue, with even wider participation and an even more ambitious program.

Програма на кампанията Розов Октомври

Октомври - месецът за борба с рака на гърдата

Този октомври Дружеството за борба с рака на гърдата и други гинекологични тумори има пълна програма със събития за лекари и пациенти, които подкрепят мисията ни – да подпомагаме качествено образование за лекарите, полезна информация и подкрепа за пациентите и безплатни прегледи за повишаване на осведомеността за рака на гърдата.

Доктор Василева представя дружеството на подкаст на Фемена и БНТ

Участие на доктор Василева в подкаст

В световния месец за борба с рака на гърдата д-р Василева споделя своя богат професионален опит в областта на хирургията на рака на гърдата и профилактиката в нов епизод на подкаста на платформата за менопауза Femena and Българска национална телевизия. БНТ

The Association is a Member of DISSECT

We're proud to share this important moment

The Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association is proud to be a member of the European initiative COST - DISSECT (Disparities In Surgical Specialization and Education in Cancer Training Неравенства в хирургичната специализация и обучението в областта на рака).
This collaboration brings together experts and organizations with a common mission: to address inequalities in surgical training and education across countries, especially where research opportunities and standardized programs are limited.

By joining DISSECT Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association contributes to the advancement of surgical education, promotes knowledge exchange, and ensures that patients everywhere benefit from high-quality, evidence-based cancer care.
Together we work to reduce inequalities, strengthen professional development, and build a more equitable future in the field of oncological surgery and training.

Success of the campaign for free exams in Burgas

We just closed the campaign of Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association and Lady Bikers MPowered Bulgaria / Жените Мотористи МПауърд България for free medical exams for breast cancer.

The initiative involved three leading specialists who performed consultations in three hospitals in the city. Dr. Tinka Arnaudova performed examinations at the Virgin Mary University Hospital, Dr. Mariela Vasileva at the DCC1, and Dr. Adam Hadjimehmed at the DCC El-Masri.

As part of the campaign, 8 dates for check-ups were organized in August, and the interest from Burgas residents was extremely high - over 110 free check-ups were performed.

Huge thanks to the doctors who dedicated their time and effort to the cause, as well as to all the women who took advantage of the opportunity for prevention!

Early detection of the disease remains key to successful treatment, so experts urge women not to miss regular preventive examinations even outside of such campaigns.

Patients Talk - The Path of a Patient with Breast Cancer - August 2025

On 1st August we held a patients talk on The Path of a Patient with Breast Cancer hosted by Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association. The event was moderated by Dr. Anita Angelova, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. The discussion was attended by Dr. Mariela Vasileva, chairwoman of the society and specialist in general surgery, and Assoc. Prof. Angel Yordanov, specialist obstetrician-gynecologist with a second specialty in medical oncology.

Main topics included in the talk were:

1. The project "Patients Pathway for Breast Cancer"

The project started more than an year ago with support from America For Bulgaria Foundation.. It includes different initiatives by the associationsuch as an interactive map on the association's websitethat contains sections on prophylactics, screening and diagnostics. Dr. Vasileva emphasized that the goal of the map is to direct patients to various talks and podcasts to obtain as much information as possible about the patient's journey. The association has translated the European Society of Medical Oncology's recommendations for patients, which are available as a free booklet on the website. В сътрудничество с Bulgarian Association Lymphedema we have published two books on lymphedema after treatment for breast cancer and gynecological cancer, co-authored by Dr. Miroslava Chortova and Assoc. Prof. Yordanov.

2. Diagnostics and staging

Bulgaria lacks a national breast cancer screening program and generally recognized national guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Vasileva explained that the patient's journey begins with a preventive examination or when a breast mass is detected by the patient herself. In the case of a suspicious mass, a triple evaluation is performed: clinical examination, imaging studies and a core needle biopsy (the so-called "core needle biopsy").

Biopsy is extremely important because removing the tumor before diagnosis may deprive the patient of effective treatment.

Staging is determined by imaging studies and histological analysis of the biopsy material, which includes the type of tumor, its differentiation, and the status of the receptors for estrogen, progesterone, HER2, and the proliferative index Ki-67.

3. Treatment and ovary suppression

Assoc. Prof. Yordanov emphasized that patients in Bulgaria are not sufficiently informed, as the information is often not based on global guidelines. He categorically stated that patients should actively participate in decisions about their treatment.

Ovarian suppression, which is required in young women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, was discussed.

Suppression can be medical or surgical (removal of the ovaries).

The surgical method is suitable for patients with metastatic cancer or with a BRCA1 mutation.

The advantages of medical suppression are that it is reversible and allows for the restoration of menstruation and preservation of reproductive function.

From a financial point of view, Assoc. Prof. Yordanov noted that surgical castration becomes more cost-effective after two years compared to drug suppression.

As the first choice for non-metastatic patients, current guidelines point to drug suppression, while in metastatic patients the better option is surgical removal of the ovaries.