Estepona City Council collaborates with a research project on postpartum breast cancer

The Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos will host this Saturday, October 26, a conference on breast milk donation to investigate molecular biomarkers that could provide an early diagnosis of postpartum breast cancer.

The Mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, and the researcher Alejandra Díaz Chacón, today presented a research project on breast cancer in which the Estepona City Council will collaborate.

This is the Hera Project, an innovative research project aimed at the identification and study of molecular biomarkers in breast milk, allowing early diagnosis and the development of personalized treatments for postpartum breast cancer (that diagnosed from the time of delivery until 5 or 10 years later).

For the study to be viable, the participation of at least 2,000 breastfeeding mothers is necessary, regardless of their age or the time they have been feeding their babies with breast milk.

The councilman explained that the Consistory will collaborate with this initiative by ceding the facilities of the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos so that breast milk donations can be made. In the case of Estepona, it can be done this coming Saturday, October 26, from 09:00 to 14:00 and from 15:30 to 21:00 hours. In order to donate, mothers interested in participating can go directly or request an appointment at: https://proyectohera.es/solicitar-cita.

Alejandra Díaz, researcher and coordinator of this project, thanked the collaboration of the Estepona City Council and explained that the participants will be attended by midwives and specialized personnel who will provide all the necessary material for the small extractions required for the study.

Diaz has indicated that the Hera Project arose in Cordoba, and is financed by the Carlos III Health Institute and has the scientific backing of the Andalusian Society of Medical Oncology (SAOM). It is promoted by the Maimonides Institute of Biomedical Research of Cordoba (IMIBIC), and its development involves a multidisciplinary network of a large number of researchers and professionals from different health services, together with numerous associations and groups working in favor of breastfeeding and research. For the study to be viable, the participation of at least 2,000 breastfeeding mothers is necessary, which is why donation days are being held in various parts of Andalusia.

Diaz has pointed out that postpartum breast cancer is defined as that which is diagnosed up to ten years after having been a mother, has an increasing incidence and a particularly aggressive prognosis compared to other types of breast cancer.

For this reason, this study, which aims to improve research capacity for early diagnosis, prevention and personalized treatment, is important.