Breast cancer may be the number one killer of Bermudian women, according to an American expert.

However, the Island's women are guaranteed first-class diagnosis and quality of care, Dr. Annette Brown said.

Dr. Brown was speaking at a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bermuda TB Cancer and Health Association, which has been largely responsible for keeping cancer issues in the limelight.

She said TB, once almost eradicated from the world, was now increasing due to poverty; HIV, which destroys the immune system; world travel and homelessness.

New strains had also appeared which were resistant to antibiotics. Doctors, she said, were now being taught to think TB when seeing a patient with respiratory problems.

However, the main thrust of her talk was on breast cancer and she revealed that Bermuda's mammography unit was on the verge of accreditation with the Canadian Board of Radiology.

"This will be the Bermudian woman's guarantee of a mammogram done under official conditions with regard to safety, radiation dose and diagnostic quality of the examination,'' she said.

The Association was responsible for setting up the mammography unit in 1973.

It was updated in 1990 thanks to the fund-raising efforts of the Junior Service League and has state-of-the-art facilities, envied by doctors in America.

"As TB was considered the greatest killer ever known to mankind, breast cancer is the scourge of women in our day,'' added Dr. Brown.

"It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Only lung cancer kills more women.

"Breast cancer may be the number one cancer killer of Bermudian women, given the fact that fewer Bermudian women are smokers, although statistics are not easy to come by as many Bermudians go abroad.'' Mammography screenings remain the best way of reducing the death rate and increasing the survival of women, as a cause of breast cancer has yet to be found, and Dr. Brown praised the Association for leading the way in Bermuda.

"Most impressive is the fact the Association has accomplished everything as a registered charity which receives no Government grants.'' In the future, Dr. Brown said education for women and doctors had to be a priority. Advocacy -- for all organisations to speak with one voice was also important.

"Breast cancer is everyone's problem. The husband who loses a wife, the child who loses a mother, the employer who loses the `right hand' that really makes the business successful.'' HEALTH HTH