Facts on breast cancer

Breast cancer facts

Every year, around 6,500 women and 50 men in Switzerland are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the most common type of cancer among women. A few facts about the condition.

Almost a third of carcinomas among women are diagnosed in the breast. The most frequent form of breast cancer, known in medical parlance as ductal carcinoma, originates in the milk ducts. If the condition originates in the lobules of the breast, it's termed lobular carcinoma.

Symptoms

  • Palpable hardening or knots in the area of the breast
  • Changes in the skin such as indentations or bulges in the area of the breast
  • Sudden inflammation, reddening of the breast or orange-peel skin
  • Inflammation of or fluid discharge from the nipple
  • A change in the size difference between the breasts
  • Enlarged lymph nodes around the armpit, collarbone or breastbone
  • Inexplicable weight loss

These symptoms may, but don't necessarily, indicate breast cancer. Whatever the case, you should always get them checked out by a doctor – especially if you have an elevated risk of breast cancer.

Young women also affected

Although the risk of contracting breast cancer increases particularly over age 50, younger women are also affected. Around one fifth of all sufferers are below 50 when diagnosed. Even men can get breast cancer, although it's rarely diagnosed and in most cases affects men over age 60.

According to the Swiss Cancer League, other factors besides age can increase the risk of breast cancer. They include:

  • Family members in the first degree (mother, sister or daughter) diagnosed with the disease
  • Hereditary dispositions through so-called BRCA mutations, abnormalities in the genes related to breast cancer
  • Hormonal influences: in cases where the woman has her first period before age 12 or her last after age 55, gives birth to her first child after age 30, or has many years of combined hormone therapy for the symptoms of menopause
  • Radiation therapy for other forms of cancer
  • Obesity, smoking and drinking

 

Prevention and therapy

The earlier the cancer is detected, the easier the therapy and the greater the patient's chance of survival. Finding out whether a woman has breast cancer involves a mammogram (an X-ray examination of the breast) or biopsy (removing a tissue sample). The most common treatment methods are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and antibody therapy or surgery (these days more likely to involve breast reduction rather than complete removal).

Solidarity with sufferers

The 15th edition of the Pink Ribbon Charity Walk will take place on 25 September 2022 – after three years finally on site again at the Letzigrund stadium. Pink Ribbon expects around 5,000 runners and walkers to join. The main aim of the event is to show solidarity with people affected by breast cancer. As in the years before, SWICA supports Pink Ribbon Switzerland. For more information on the Charity Walk check pink-ribbon.ch.

Video of the Pink Ribbon Charity Walk 2019 (in German):



21.06.2023
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 telemedicine service free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach. SWICA customers can also use the BENECURA medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.