The 4th European Breast Cancer Conference, organized under the auspices of the 
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Group, 
of the European Breast Cancer Coalition (Europa Donna) and of the European 
Society of Mastology (EUSOMA), was held in Hamburg, Germany on 16-20 March 2004. 
The leading theme of the conference was partnership among scientists, 
clinicians, carers, advocates and patients. The present article provides a brief 
description of the most important conference presentations on molecular biology, 
epidemiology, prevention, pathology, diagnosis and treatment at all stages of 
breast cancer.