Focus on holistic support for people with breast cancer
SWICA has been actively working on breast cancer prevention for many years, and is strongly committed to supporting initiatives like Pink Ribbon Schweiz. The two organisations have a partnership based on their shared goals of raising awareness of the importance of preventing breast cancer and providing long-term support to those affected by it. A conversation with Birgit Schmid, Chief Psychologist at santé24.
A breast cancer diagnosis is a significant setback in the lives of many women – physically, emotionally, and also socially. This makes it all the more important for them to not only receive medical care during a difficult time, but also to have access to mental and organisational assistance. santé24, SWICA's online practice, offers comprehensive support, from an initial consultation to help with returning to normal life.
In this interview, Birgit Schmid, Chief Psychologist at santé24, provides an insight into how SWICA provides holistic support to women suffering from breast cancer, and why it is so important for medical care and psychological support to be closely intertwined.
Birgit, apart from covering their costs, what support does SWICA offer to women with breast cancer?
At santé24, we offer our customers three key advantages over and above paying for treatment. Firstly, they can get impartial information. During the gynaecological clinic, they can talk to medical experts about topics like prevention, genetics, treatment options, surgery and the side effects of medication. Secondly, we facilitate holistic support by enabling direct communication between gynaecologists and psychotherapists. Thirdly, we are always available to take patients' calls, which can be an important source of reassurance in difficult times.
Why is psychological support so important for people with breast cancer, and how does SWICA help in this regard?
A breast cancer diagnosis comes as a shock for many patients. It entails a lot of uncertainties, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Once a diagnosis has been given, the focus is on medical treatment. Concurrent support from a psychotherapist helps patients and those close to them get through this difficult time.
In addition to medical treatment, patients can take guided online self-help courses, which can be completed any time, anywhere, or receive psychological/psychiatric consultations. These services are free of charge for all SWICA customers.
In most cases, patients' family members also experience stress and anxiety. They are usually just as surprised as the patient by the diagnosis, and they also bear the main burden of keeping the household going. And if there are children involved, family members often take on more responsibility for caring for them as well. In these cases, the family clinic can provide support for patients and their loved ones.
What specific services are offered for SWICA customers who are returning to normal life after medical treatment?
Helping patients and their families return to normal life after medical treatment is an important factor that is often underestimated. Stress and anxiety can persist even if the treatment was successful, because those kinds of experiences leave emotional scars. New challenges can also present themselves such as reintegrating into work, financial affairs, resuming familial duties and making the necessary lifestyle adaptations to reduce the risk of relapse. Physical restrictions such as nerve damage as a result of chemotherapy and sexual issues can also arise.
SWICA customers benefit from long-term, holistic support, both during and after treatment. In addition to the psychological/psychiatric and family clinics already mentioned, there are services available to help patients adjust their lifestyle, such as nutrition advice and exercise clinics.
SWICA is also expanding the services it offers for people with breast cancer as part of a pilot project with Krebsliga Zürich (Zurich Cancer League) starting in autumn 2025. Participants will receive comprehensive support in a series of five coordinated modules, covering topics such as life with and after a cancer diagnosis, how to deal with changes in their daily life, work life and finances, what they can do to promote their health and preventive health measures.
«Helping patients and their families return to normal life after medical treatment is an important factor that is often underestimated.»
Birgit Schmid, Chief Psychologist at santé24
How does SWICA raise customers' awareness of the subject of early breast cancer detection?
SWICA offers its customers a preventive health check via the SWICA Benecura app. The check takes specific individual factors into account, such as history, age, gender and risk factors, when recommending evidence-based check-ups. The preventive health check can be performed from the comfort of your own home, and if you want, the results can also be sent directly to your GP in an encrypted email.
In your work, has there ever been a particularly striking experience or feedback from customers that has underscored the importance of holistic care?
My consultations with women with breast cancer and their families frequently highlight the challenging time associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. Of all our services, patients particularly appreciate the online clinics and guided self-help courses which can be used any time and anywhere, for example on how to come to terms with the disease. Many patients note the flexibility they offer, as well as the option to use the services in a familiar, safe environment rather than in a doctor's office.
The associated time and stress are also much lower. Patients do not have to organise the support services themselves or deal with long waiting times. The average wait for a first online psychological/psychiatric consultation is just six days, compared to the average wait of six weeks for outpatient treatment. Face-to-face advice is also available for those who prefer it. We can help you find a suitable specialist, and will support you in the intervening time before your appointment.
Breast cancer: early detection can save lives
The earlier cancer is detected, the higher the patient's chances of survival. Breast cancer is usually identified with the help of a mammogram (X-ray of the breast tissue), a breast ultrasound and/or a biopsy (taking a tissue sample). Find out here what else you need to know when it comes to preventing breast cancer.
