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Offer

The mammary gland, also known as the breast, consists of glandular, fatty and connective tissue. Changes can occur in each of these tissues, which can cause different symptoms. These often include benign changes to the connective tissue, inflammation and benign tumors (e.g. fibroadenomas).

We also treat women with an increased risk of cancer and malignant breast tumors (breast carcinomas). Through early detection and individual consultation, we provide those affected with an often life-saving head start in the fight against breast cancer.

Symptoms

Changes in the breast can manifest themselves through a range of symptoms:

  • pain
  • a feeling of tightness
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Inflammation of the skin or nipples
  • Hardening or lumps
  • Increased discharge from the nipple

The symptoms can indicate various diseases - they do not necessarily mean breast cancer.

Offer

The breast clinic's consultation hours are intended for women with benign and malignant breast diseases. Women with an increased risk of breast cancer are given individual advice during the consultation and receive a screening examination. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with breast problems can also attend the consultation.

You can register for a consultation yourself or be referred by your GP. At the first consultation, you will be examined by experienced specialists. A breast ultrasound will then be carried out. If necessary, a biopsy (removal of tissue) will be carried out under ultrasound guidance. This procedure is performed on site and under local anesthesia. The tissue samples are analyzed in the University Hospital's own laboratory.

The findings are assessed in the tumor conferences, which are attended by experts from various specialist areas. The resulting proposals for diagnostic and therapeutic measures are then discussed in detail with you and your relatives. Together with you, we will draw up a therapy program tailored to your needs.

The surgical focus is on modern oncoplastic surgery, which has been offered in close collaboration with plastic surgery since 2011. By combining tumor-surgical and plastic-reconstructive surgical techniques, it enables optimal cosmetic results in both breast conservation and breast removal. With this surgical method, we can remove the tumor and also address your wishes with regard to breast modulation.

Whereas in the past most of the lymph nodes in the armpit were removed, today only the sentinel lymph node is usually removed first (so-called sentinel lymph node). In the majority of cases, these sentinel lymph nodes are without tumor involvement, so that the removal of the remaining axillary lymph nodes can be dispensed with. This makes the procedure smaller and the surgical technique gentler.

Our Breast Care Nurses advise and support you and your relatives throughout the entire course of the disease: from diagnosis to the end of treatment and beyond the hospital stay. The qualified nurses, who specialize in the care and support of breast cancer patients and their relatives, will answer your questions about coping with everyday life and therapy.

Your Breast Care Nurse will also support you with psychosocial stress, body image work and role changes in the family and at work. Furthermore, she will show you how to optimally care for and treat the surgical scars after breast surgery and will advise you on the selection of suitable support services. Your Breast Care Nurse will also inform you about additional offers, such as the "Look Good Feel Better" workshop, in which professional beauty consultants guide our patients through a 12-step beauty program.

Our Breast Care Nurses work closely with the social services and psycho-oncology department and remain your point of contact for questions and concerns even after your treatment has ended.

Our Breast Care Nurses advise and support you and your relatives throughout the entire course of the disease: from diagnosis to the end of treatment and beyond the hospital stay. The qualified nurses, who specialize in the care and support of breast cancer patients and their relatives, will answer your questions about coping with everyday life and therapy.

Your Breast Care Nurse will also support you with psychosocial stress, body image work and role changes in the family and at work. Furthermore, she will show you how to optimally care for and treat the surgical scars after breast surgery and will advise you on the selection of suitable support services. Your Breast Care Nurse will also inform you about additional offers, such as the "Look Good Feel Better" workshop, in which professional beauty consultants guide our patients through a 12-step beauty program.

Our Breast Care Nurses work closely with the social services and psycho-oncology department and remain your point of contact for questions and concerns even after your treatment has ended.

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Dr. Isabell Xiang Ge

Oberärztin

Brustklinik

Show profile

Disease patterns

Inflammation of the mammary gland can occur particularly during breastfeeding. This is a bacterial infection that can enter the milk ducts and mammary glands via the nipple. Our breastfeeding advice is available to you for the prevention and treatment of such inflammation.

There are various forms of tissue enlargement which, depending on their severity, are not necessarily considered a disease diagnosis. However, an increase in size due to the menstrual cycle, for example, can lead to breast pain and discharge. Such changes are mainly dependent on hormones and can be treated with medication accordingly. Surgical intervention is only necessary in the case of pronounced mastopathies.

Cysts are fluid-filled cavities and are one of the most common benign findings in breast diseases. They usually go unnoticed, but can be easily identified using ultrasound. Cysts are treated differently depending on the cause and severity.

Benign growths (lipomas, fibrodenomas) can usually be palpated or further defined with the help of an ultrasound examination. If malignant tissue is suspected, a tissue sample (biopsy) can provide information.

Regular self-examinations can help to detect changes at an early stage. We recommend that every woman over the age of 25 should palpate her breasts and lymph nodes (armpit and collarbone area) once a month.

Fluid secretions from the nipple are not uncommon, but a watery or bloody secretion should be investigated. Possible causes may be benign growths in the skin of the milk ducts (papillomas). An examination of the fluid can further determine whether it is a benign or malignant tissue change.

If tumors are suspected, a mammogram can determine what type of tumor it is - this examination is extremely helpful for early detection. If necessary, a minimally invasive tissue sample (biopsy) can provide further details on the nature of the tumor. Benign tumors or cysts can, if necessary and depending on their size and location, be removed with minor surgery. In the case of a malignant tumor, we will explain the various treatment options. At the Breast Center , our interdisciplinary team will guide you through treatment and aftercare.