The International Breast Cancer Center (IBCC) and the Ribera Salud group have signed an agreement to incorporate the experience and knowledge of the team of oncologists and researchers of Dr. Javier Cortés, founder and director of the IBCC, to Ribera’s Breast Area, directed by Dr. Julia Camps. Thanks to this strategic alliance, patients with breast cancer from Ribera hospitals will be assessed in the tumour committee by IBCC professionals, and will have access to clinical trials, innovative drugs and translational research projects led by Dr. Cortés.
The IBCC is the first hyper-specialized centre for the treatment of breast cancer in Spain, driven by Dr. Javier Cortés and his team, conceived with a global, humanistic and scientific approach and with more than 20 years of experience in breast cancer research and treatment.
The Breast Area of the Ribera Salud group is already a leader in technology, radiology, pathology and oncoplastic surgery, and brings together 50 professionals from different specialities, with more than 20 years of experience in breast pathology. Their work is based on knowledge shared through the breast committees of the various hospitals (transversal), providing patients with personalized care and the best specialists to assess each case jointly. Working as a network across the various hospitals of the Ribera group, they provide patients with innovative technology, such as 3D Contrast Enhanced Mammography, pioneering techniques such as rapid breast biopsy and genetic signature in the initial biopsy, and precision surgical approaches, emotional support and nipple tattooing, among others.
“Adding the knowledge and experience of the IBCC and Dr. Cortés’ team to the Breast Area of the Ribera Salud group is a milestone that allows us to provide our patients with hyper-specialized, innovative and cutting-edge care in the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology”, says Dr. Julia Camps, corporate director of the Breast Area, adding: “ours has been a natural alliance”. “We are the perfect partners: we share philosophy and values, vocation for service and excellence, experience, involvement, professionalism, modernity and innovation”, assured Dr. Camps, also pointing out that personalized care and support for patients, as well as precision medicine (the right treatment at the right time) is fundamental for both organizations.
For his part, Dr. Javier Cortés says: “I think it’s a very good opportunity for everyone: for the IBCC, which specializes exclusively in breast cancer; for the Ribera group; and, ultimately, for patients with this cancer”.
Dr. Cortés stresses that “Ribera is a group that takes patient care and the logistics of patient care very seriously, so that patients really are well taken care of, and have the best imaging strategies and rapid diagnosis, and also quality”, and adds, “if you ask me ‘why Ribera?’ the answer is because they have made a firm commitment to breast pathology and because the person who directs and coordinates this area is Julia Camps, objectively recognized as one of the leading world authorities in breast MRI, along with a team of brilliant professionals.”
Therefore, “by combining the efforts of the two groups and optimizing the best of each, we believe that we can become leaders in Spain from both a care and clinical research perspective, at least, for the time being, in breast cancer”, says Dr. Cortés.