October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October raises public awareness worldwide about the prevention, research and treatment of breast cancer. The issue is highly relevant: Every year, around 6’600 women and around 60 men in Switzerland are diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, the survival rate today is around 89%. Despite this positive development, further research remains essential in order to better understand the causes, further develop treatments and improve the quality of life of those affected in the long term.

The Swiss Cancer Research foundation continuously supports numerous projects in the fight against the most common cancer in women. The research projects supported cover a broad spectrum – from research into causes and new treatment approaches to aftercare. Currently, 14 projects are being supported that are wholly or partly dedicated to the topic of breast cancer. Four projects are presented here as examples.

The Role of Testosterone in the Development of Breast CancerBreast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women worldwide. In Switzerland alone, around 6,600 women are diagnosed each year. In about 70–80% of cases, these are hormone receptor-positive (HR+) tumors.

The fine line between trust and mistrustWhat creates trust in breast cancer patients? And what can cause them to lose it? In a study that followed twelve patients from diagnosis to the end of their treatment, nursing scientists discovered different answers to these questions.

Helping people with a hereditary cancer riskMany families are impacted by an increased risk of cancer due to genetic changes that are often passed down from one generation to the next. A new nationwide study in Switzerland is exploring how these families manage the unique challenges arising from their hereditary cancer risk.

Restoring Lympf FlowElisabeth Artemis Kappos never originally intended to become a surgeon. However, she found her calling in the operating room. Now, she is working on a global study to prove that the quality of life for breast cancer survivors can be improved with microsurgical techniques.