BSI Report Gaurav Agarwal President BSI
During these difficult times of COVID pandemic, all health care professionals are putting their efforts to combat the virus while maintaining other emergency and or urgent services. Changes happened world-wide, especially the way we deliver the services so we can allocate more resources towards frontline and COVID team, meanwhile minimise interruption to our cancer services. National polices or Society guidelines are available to guide the management strategies (ASBS, ABS, SSO), but we believe that it should be dynamic and country specific to meet the rapidly changing scenario and to provide care depending on the severity of COVID and resources available in individual country. As the dust settles, and some clarity emerges, there is a growing realization amongst breast surgeons across the globe to find a balance between minimizing the risk of COVID-19 for their patients and the health care workers, and optimally treating breast cancers and other breast conditions.
President BSI, Gaurav Agarwal with BSI past Presidents, Cheng-Har Yip, Malaysia; Polly Cheung, Hong Kong; Omar Z. Youssef, Egypt
Sharon W.W. Chan Honorary Secretary BSI
Over the recent past, the BSI faculty have been conducting and participating in various outreach activities to take world class breast surgery education and training to various underserved parts of the globe. The BSI participated in 7th Malaysian Breast and Endocrine Surgery Course, at the Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, Malaysia on 31st October to 1st November 2019. As part of our MOU with the College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, the BSI conducted a day long training course for the Malaysian breast and endocrine fellows and other delegates. The BSI was represented by BSI president, Gaurav Agarwal, and past presidents, Polly Cheung, Che ng-Har Y ip and O mar Youssef (Pictures). Various issues of importance in clinical practice of a breast surgeon, including pre-malignant/ high risk breast lesions, Chronic Granulomatous mastitis, Oncoplastic and Breast Conserving Surgery, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Adjuvant Therapy and Influence of molecular subtypes of breast cancer, Neoadjuvant therapies and Surgical options
after neoadjuvant treatment, Case based Discussions, and Set Up of the Breast cancer multi-disciplinary teams. Indeed, the deliberations of the day were found useful by most, and were well appreciated. The Malaysian hospitality was of an equally high class. The successful collaboration of BSI with the Malaysian college will be continued, and we are committed to support our Malaysian peers in training and teaching activities in coming years too. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, it is unfortunate that some of the planned scientific meetings/outreach programs had to be cancelled, rescheduled or had be conducted only as webinars. These include the SGPGI Breast Course India (Feb/ Mar 2020) and SEABCS 2020 Jakarta (July 2020). We hope the pandemic situation will improve soon, permitting us to resume our activities, even if a bit lowkey. At the same time, the BSI had drawn up a contingency plan to minimize travel and to conduct the teaching/training activities by relying more on online meetings
Malaysian Breast & Endocrine Surgery Course
May 2020
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