Breast cancer pioneer honoured

Date Published: 30-Oct-2008

THE extraordinary work of Professor Fred Given – the man who pioneered breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and research in the west – was honoured in Galway last week at a special function held by the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.

Professor Given was the main instigator of the development of a breast cancer diagnostic and treatment programme in Galway, and was one of the pioneers of the concept of specialist breast cancer treatment centres.

In 1988-89 he set about campaigning for the establishment of the NBCRI in Galway, and the Institute, its committee and guests, on Thursday night attended the special function at which a portrait of Professor Given was unveiled in the Symptomatic Breast Cancer Unit at University College Hospital. Professor Given was the first Clinical Director of the NBCRI, which was formally launched in 1990 by President Mary Robinson.

At the reception held in recognition of Surgeon Given’s contribution over many years to the area of breast cancer, the tributes were led by Professor Michael Kerin, the current Director of the NBCRI, who said they were gathered to honour the work of a remarkable man who had pioneered breast cancer treatment and research in the west.

Professor Kerin said that he had first met Fred Given when he was a Third Med student in Galway and Dr. Given was Professor of Surgery. He quickly realised that not alone had Fred Given ‘the best pair of hands as as surgeon that I have ever seen,’ but that he was totally patient-centred and had a much wider vision of medicine than many.

In the eighties, the west did not …