11. January 2024
Bethesda Hospital and University Hospital Basel jointly establish the new Basel Breast Centre
Patients with breast cancer are treated with pioneering methods at the newly founded Basel Breast Centre. This will create a centre in Basel with national appeal and state-of-the-art treatment methods.
The Basel Breast Centre - Double the expertise
As one of the largest breast centres in Switzerland, the Basel Breast Centre represents a progressive and innovative collaboration between the University Hospital Basel and Bethesda Hospital. Our co-operation offers patients the best of both worlds: access to the latest research findings and innovative treatment methods, combined with the personal and patient-oriented care of a family-run private hospital. This unique combination enables us to tailor each treatment to the individual patient and always be at the cutting edge of medical research, on a par with the top breast centres in Europe and North America.
First contrast-enhanced mammography in north-west Switzerland
The University Hospital is the first institute in the region to introduce contrast-enhanced mammography (CM-MG). Compared to conventional mammography, contrast-enhanced mammography enables more precise detection of breast cancer - even for the smallest changes. "Particularly in confusing situations and with unclear findings, CM-MG can help to differentiate between benign and malignant findings," says the innovator and Head of Breast Diagnostics at the USB, Dr Noemi Schmidt. This innovative method is not only more cost-effective and time-saving than an MRI, but is also particularly suitable for patients with claustrophobia, as no cramped rooms are required. The CM-MGs performed to date have been extremely successful and have provided valuable information for further examinations and treatment within a very short time and with little effort.
A new health app for breast cancer patients
Patients who are confronted with a breast cancer diagnosis have many questions and receive many answers in the form of flyers, addresses and offers of help. What's more, the diagnosis is formulated in a language that many patients and their relatives don't really understand. Wouldn't it be helpful to have an app that summarises all the information and explains the most important terms? This problem is now being solved - thanks to the innovative idea from Bethesda employee Noemi Eisenring and the team at the Breast Centre. This initiative to use modern technologies to inform those affected and offer networking opportunities impressed the jury of the "Future Friday" innovation competition and won the winner's trophy. Work will continue on this idea and it will soon be made available for the benefit of breast cancer patients.