An international and multidisciplinary representation of more than 70 expert delegates will meet in Vienna, Austria for the International Breast Health summit.

The summit will run over 3 days, from 3 to 5 October. International experts will discuss and analyse the issues of supportive care and quality of life in breast cancer care delivery. The meeting will consist of international presentations, workshops and high-level scientific discussions covering global geographic regions. The key groups who are involved are:

• clinicians & governmental health care agencies
• public health researchers
• advocacy, non-governmental, non-profit & for-profit organizations.

The summit will produce a review of existing guidelines to create the first peer-reviewed Guidelines for International Breast Health and Cancer Control – Supportive Care and Quality of Life, and other special reports. These reports will be published in 2013 and will be made freely available via the publishing journal website. The reports will address:

• survivorship and long-term follow-up care
• treatment related symptoms and quality of life
• end-of-life and palliative care.

The summit is convened by the Breast Global Health Initiative (BGHI), organised in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) of the United Nations.

The global summit marks the 10 year anniversary of the BHGI global alliance, and is the fifth summit of its kind to take place so far.

Read more about the summit, and particularly its relevance to Africa, in an article on the ehospice Africa edition. Look out for exclusive commentary by Dr Stephen Connor on ehospice next week.