About ABS
The Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) is the association for healthcare professionals caring for any person with a breast problem.
Our Members
The Association’s membership includes surgeons and nurse specialists, as well as other members of the wider breast care team, all of whom have expertise in the diagnosis and management of breast conditions, in particular breast cancer. Our members work in the UK, Ireland and worldwide.
Our Charitable Aims
The ABS is a charitable organisation dedicated to setting and advancing standards in breast care and breast surgery, including cosmetic (aesthetic) breast surgery. Our work ranges from breast diagnostic clinics, where any woman or man who has a breast concern can be seen and assessed, through to complex oncoplastic breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction.
The ABS wants to ensure that any individual with a breast problem receives the very best possible care. We aim to achieve this by providing ongoing specialist breast education and training to allow ABS members to remain up-to-date with the latest research developments, new treatments and surgical techniques. We also encourage best practice by working with NICE, the CQC and other associations and charities interested in breast care, to develop clinical guidelines based on high quality research recommendations from around the world. In addition, we drive up standards and reduce regional variations in care by regularly auditing the performance of individuals and breast teams. Our meetings and conferences promote good practice through information sharing and networking.
Our History
The ABS was established in its own right in 2010 but its origins started in 1995 as the British Association of Surgical Oncology (BASO) Breast Group. In 2002 it became the Association of Breast Surgery at BASO under the umbrella of BASO~ the Association of Cancer Surgery (BASO~ACS).
In 2010 the ABS was established as an independent charitable organisation. In the early years, members were general surgeons who managed breast problems - mainly the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer - but as specialist breast care and oncoplastic reconstructive breast surgery developed, surgeons became more specialised. Membership was extended to include nurse specialists, who were crucial to the delivery of high quality breast care, and membership is now open to all members of the breast multidisciplinary team.
