Health forum: focus on breast cancer

With 70,000 new cases each year, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Early detection and current therapeutic approaches are the key to targeted treatment. With the opening of the new radiology practice IBID – Institut für bildgebende Diagnostik (Institute for Diagnostic Imaging) – new perspectives have opened up in breast diagnostics at the Evangelisches Diakoniekrankenhaus.

In November 2020, the health forum “Breast cancer in focus” took place as an online event. In addition to the lectures, specialists from the health campus at the Diakoniekrankenhaus answered, in a panel discussion, questions put by the virtual audience either live or in advance.

The video of this successful event is available here:
Health forum: Breast cancer in focus

A diagnosis of breast cancer often triggers fears and worries in those affected. Being torn between hope and apprehension is an emotional rollercoaster, and solutions are needed to counter the personal loss of control. If it is not possible to share thoughts and feelings, fluctuations in emotional balance or even depression may follow. “We support patients and their relatives in coming to terms with the illness and help them to find courage, strength and confidence in this stressful situation,” says psycho-oncologist and gynaecological Senior Physician Dr. Martina Meiser.

Dr. Alexander Büttner, Head Physician of the Breast Diagnostics Department at IBID, spoke on the topic “Detecting breast cancer early – making the best use of opportunities”. The radiology institute has been newly equipped by the practice founder and medical director Dr. Markus C. Müller . As a Siemens reference centre, it offers patients the most up-to-date diagnostic options currently available.

“Today, gentle and minimally invasive surgical techniques are available for breast cancer,” explained Prof. Dr. Dirk Watermann, Chief Physician of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Diakoniekrankenhaus and spokesperson of the Breast Centre South Baden. The oncologist Dr. Dieter Semsek (Praxis für interdisziplinäre Onkologie & Hämatologie) gave an insight into new developments in the drug therapy of breast carcinoma. The head of the Zentrum für Strahlentherapie (radiotherapy centre), PD Dr. Christian Weißenberger, presented at the health forum the precise and gentle treatment using respiratory-gated radiotherapy (breath gating).