
Breast Center
Jedes Jahr behandeln wir im Brustzentrum mehr als 200 Patientinnen mit neu entdecktem Brustkrebs, die wir in enger fachübergreifender Zusammenarbeit, unter Anwendung der neuesten Abklärungs- und Behandlungstechniken, optimal betreuen.
Jede Patientin wird bei uns vor und nach einer allfälligen Operation in einem gemeinsamen Rapport besprochen, um die nächsten Schritte festzulegen. Ihre persönlichen Bedürfnisse stehen dabei immer im Mittelpunkt.
Während des gesamten Abklärungs- und Behandlungsverlaufs werden Sie von einer spezialisierten Pflegefachfrau, einer Breast Care Nurse, begleitet.
Kontakt
Termine nach Vereinbarung
Montag: 8.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Dienstag: 9.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Mittwoch: 8.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Donnerstag: 9.00 – 13.00 Uhr
Freitag: 8.00 – 12.00 und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Mamma-Sprechstunde Brustchirurgie
Tel. +41 61 328 75 25
alessandra.madonia@usb.ch
Mamma-Sprechstunde Senologie
Tel. +41 61 265 91 19
bz-ufk@usb.ch
Leitung

Prof. Christian Kurzeder
Leiter Brustzentrum, Chefarzt Senologie
Stv. Chefarzt Gynäkologische Onkologie
Leiter Innovations-Focus Krebserkrankungen der Frau

Prof. Walter Paul Weber
Chefarzt
Brustchirurgie
Ärztlicher Departementsleiter, Departement Brust, Bauch und Becken, Stv. Leiter Brustzentrum
Zentrumskoordination Zertifizierung

Dr. Janna Krol
Oberärztin
Brustchirurgie
Leitungsgremium

PD Dr. Nicole Bürki
Kaderärztin Genetische Beratung
Frauenklinik
Genetische Beratung

Dr. Sonja Ebner
Gastärztin
Kantonsspital Baselland

Prof. Martin Haug
Leitender Arzt/ Stv. Chefarzt
Plastische, Rekonstruktive, Ästhetische u.Handchirurgie

Marianne Kläusler
Departementsfachleitung Pflege/MTT
Departement Brust, Bauch, Becken

Dr. David König
Co-Leiter Klinische Forschung, Phase II-IV Studien
Onkologie
Stv. Leiter Zentrum für Lungentumore

Dr. Janna Krol
Oberärztin
Brustchirurgie

Prof. Simone Münst Soysal
Kaderärztin
Pathologie
Gynäko- und Mammapathologie, Kopf-/Hals-Pathologie
Tel. +41 61 328 54 60

Daniela Richner
Breast Care Nurse
Frauenklinik

Dr. Noemi Schmidt - EBBI
Leitung Mammadiagnostik, Kaderärztin, Mitglied Tumorzentrum
Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin
Mitglied Tumorzentrum
Tel. +41 61 556 59 06

Dr. phil. Corinne Urech
Leitende Psychologin
Gynäkologische Sozialmedizin und Psychosomatik

PD Dr. Marcus Vetter
Chefarzt
Onkologie und Hämatologie
Kantonsspital Baselland
Sekretariat

Alessandra Madonia
Chefarztsekretärin / Leiterin Administration
Brustchirurgie
Tel. +41 61 328 75 25
Unser Angebot
Diagnoses
What happens after a lump is found in the breast? What are the next steps if an examination reveals something conspicuous? Women suspected of having breast cancer want to get clarity about their situation as quickly as possible. The Breast Center team helps patients and is there for them at every stage.
Early detection thanks to the screening program
The early detection of breast cancer increases the chances of recovery, allows for a gentler treatment and thus increases the quality of life. This is why the Breast Center at the University Hospital Basel participates in the mammogram screening program of the Canton of Basel-City.
As part of the program, women aged 50 and over are invited to an early detection screening every two years. Participation in the program is voluntary.
A mammogram device with the latest digital technology, which reduces radiation, is available at the University Hospital Basel for the examination. Thanks to the special imaging technique, even small tumors are visible long before they become recognizable by palpation or from other symptoms.
The screening program is subject to high quality standards, which are continuously reviewed and further developed. The mammograms are performed by specially trained specialists and evaluated by experienced radiologists.
Registration
Online registration
Cancer League of Basel
Appointment management
Registration by phone
University Hospital Basel, Breast Diagnostics Radiology
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
+41 61 265 91 50
Self-examination
The best time
The best time is about eight days after the menstrual period, because the breast is softer than before the period and it is easier to detect changes. Women after menopause should simply choose a specific day of the month.
Critical visual inspection
Stand in front of a mirror and look at your breasts with your arms raised and lowered. Do you notice that one breast is bigger than the other? That’s normal. Turn left and right. Push your arms into your hips and tighten your chest muscles. Lean forward, with or without muscle tension. Look at every change in the shape and size of the breast. Look at the surface of the skin, look for protrusions or shrinkages, redness, thickening or hardening of the skin.
Watch out for bloody secretions from the nipple or initial retractions as well as inflammatory changes. If you feel a change, perhaps a lump, remember that four out of five breast lumps are harmless. Check the same region of the other breast. If it feels similar, it’s a good sign that you’re dealing with normal breast tissue. However, if there is no similarity, please inform your doctor. Keep in mind: You should only look for changes in your breast, not make a diagnosis.
Step 1

The breast extends from the collarbone to the fold of the breast and from the sternum to a line running through the middle of the armpit. Use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice versa.
Step 2

Place the front of the index, middle and ring fingers flat next to each other. At each point you examine, feel with these three fingers in three circular motions, approximately on a surface the size of a one-franc coin. Lumps can form at different depths of the breast. For this reason, make the first circular motion with only slight pressure, the second with medium pressure and the third with strong pressure.
Step 3

The horizontal position is ideal for tactile examination – in a half-sideways position. To do this, first turn sideways with your legs bent and then turn your shoulder back into your supine position. This way the breast is evenly distributed on the rib cage, with the nipple forming the highest point.
Step 4

Start the tactile examination in the middle of the armpit and move your fingers up and down in parallel. At each part of the breast you examine, feel with the flat front sections of the three middle fingers. Perform three circular movements each with three different pressure strengths.
Step 5

Finally, examine the regions above and below the collarbone in horizontal movements.
Breast Diagnostic Radiology
The first important step in the evaluation is the mammogram, an x-ray examination of your diseased breast. You will be looked after by specialized radiologists and experienced medical technical radiology specialists. The breast cancer screening is carried out using state-of-the-art equipment: For example, the Breast Center has digital mammograms including tomosynthesis (3D imaging of high-resolution plane images from different angles), ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (breast MRI). You can also submit findings from another hospital or practice to us for a second evaluation.
Benign or malignant? If abnormalities are discovered during the breast examination, these findings are examined by means of a tissue sample (biopsy). Image-guided tissue samples can be taken with extreme precision using a mammogram, ultrasound or breast MRI. It will then take a few days for you and your attending physician to receive the test results.
Registration
Contact Breast Diagnostic Radiology:
Leadership: Dr. Noemi Schmidt
Visits by appointment
Monday to Friday 8 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Tel. +41 61 265 91 50
Pathology
Pathology deals with the examination of tissue samples and cell material taken during a biopsy. All tissue samples are first examined under the microscope. Using a wide range of other examination methods, the benign findings can be differentiated from malignant even better. These additional examinations contribute to therapy planning. For example, each breast cancer is examined to see if the tumor cells contain hormone receptors. If this is the case, treatment with hormone receptors may be useful. During surgery, pathology specialists support the surgeons with immediate examination of the operative tissue. Pathologists are indispensable participants at tumor conferences because they determine the type of tumor, among other things.
Genetic testing
Sometimes a genetic test (DNA analysis) may be useful, especially if your family has an increased incidence of cancer. The most important clues come from your family history, which specifically asks about cancer of the breast, ovaries, pancreas and prostate gland in blood relatives. An in-depth consultation will determine your individual risk of breast or ovarian cancer with the help of genetic tree analyses and recommend a genetic test if necessary.
Treatments
The radical surgical techniques of yesteryear are now a thing of the past – breast-preserving surgery is now possible for many patients. Interventions are increasingly more sparing and no longer seen in isolation, but as an essential component of interdisciplinary cooperation. Patients can rest assured that they are in good hands at the Breast Center.
Surgical therapies
Oncoplastic surgery
The surgical focus is on modern oncoplastic surgery, which has been offered since 2011 in close cooperation with the Plastic Surgery Clinic. Thanks to the combination of tumor surgery and plastic reconstructive surgical techniques, optimal cosmetic results are possible for both breast maintenance and breast removal. This surgical method allows us to remove the tumor and also address your needs for breast changes.
Armpit surgery
Whereas in the past most lymph nodes were removed from the armpit, nowadays only the sentinel lymph node is usually removed first. In the majority of cases, these sentinel lymph nodes have no tumor, so there is no need to remove the remaining armpit lymph nodes. New study results have shown that removal of the remaining lymph nodes in the armpit can be dispensed with in many patients, even in the case of metastasis in the sentinel lymph node. This makes the procedure smaller and the surgical technique more gentle.
Plastic surgery
Restoring the breast after tumor surgery is part of the holistic treatment at the Breast Center. As soon as you decide on the treatment approach following your cancer diagnosis, you will receive detailed advice on various aspects of breast restoration. The Breast Center offers you the full range of breast reconstruction services, including complex microsurgical procedures using your own tissue.
Your aesthetic feel and well-being in your own body are important to us. Together with our qualified specialists in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, you can discuss your individual wishes as well as the various options for breast reconstruction.
Further information:
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is also an integral part of breast cancer treatment and promotes healing in more than half of breast cancer cases. It is also an important component of symptom-relieving cancer treatment. We will provide you with detailed information about the exact procedure, effect and further details before the start of treatment, so that you can better understand what radiotherapy will do in your particular case and what you can expect.
Using state-of-the-art techniques, we guide therapeutic X-rays into the tumor region in a targeted and precise manner. The team at the University Hospital has special experience in the following therapy types: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), stereotactic radiation to the head and body, radiosurgery, biotherapy planning and brachytherapy, also known as minimally invasive short-distance therapy.
Oncology therapies
Our team offers patients continuous treatment during the drug therapy of cancer. The range includes all drug therapies (chemotherapy and hormone therapies, antibody infusions, modern molecular drugs).
At your request, you have the option of taking part in national and international trials to optimize therapy and test new substances. This is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain promising new therapies that are not otherwise approved.
Psycho-Oncology
In addition to medical therapy, the Breast Center offers targeted psycho-oncological care. In the form of counseling, we help you regain your emotional balance, security and orientation and deal better with your worries and fears. You can take advantage of this support both during your inpatient stay and during your subsequent outpatient care.
Care at the Breast Center
In the case of breast cancer, surgery may often be necessary, leading to changes in the patient’s body image. Chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapies have side effects. What can I expect from my therapy? We specialize in these questions and support patients throughout the entire course of disease, from diagnosis to follow-up. We offer well-founded guidance on the effects and symptoms of the treatments and discuss any changes in the body perception after surgery. Our care team is complemented by specialist nurses known as Breast Care Nurses. We contact the patients right after the diagnosis is made, guide them through their hospitalization and serve as the point of contact for questions afterwards.

Daniela Richner
Breast Care Nurse
Frauenklinik
Breast Care Nurse
Our Breast Care Nurses advise and support you and your loved ones throughout the course of the disease: from diagnosis to treatment completion and beyond your hospital stay. Qualified nurses, who specialize in the care and support of breast cancer patients and their relatives, will answer your questions about how to cope with everyday life and treatment.
Your Breast Care Nurse also supports you with psychosocial stress, body image work and role changes in the family and at work. She will also show you how to optimally care for and treat the surgical scars after breast surgery and will be happy to advise you on the selection of appropriate support options. Your Breast Care Nurse will also tell you about our additional offers, such as the «Look Good … Feel Better» workshop, where professional beauty consultants guide our patients through a 12-step beauty program.
Our Breast Care Nurses work closely with Social Services and Psycho-Oncology and remain the point of contact for your questions and concerns even after your treatment has ended.
Our Contact
Breat Center
Clinic 1, 1st floor
Spitalstrasse 21
4031 Basel
Monday to Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tel. +41 61 328 79 54
breastcarenurse@usb.ch
Further Information
Mamma-Sprechstunde
Die im Brustzentrum integrierte Mamma-Sprechstunde ist für Frauen mit gutartigen und bösartigen Brusterkrankungen gedacht. Frauen mit erhöhtem Brustkrebsrisiko werden in der Sprechstunde individuell beraten und erhalten eine Vorsorgeuntersuchung. Auch Schwangere und Stillende mit Brustproblemen können die Mamma-Sprechstunde aufsuchen.
Sie können sich selber zur Mamma-Sprechstunde anmelden oder sich von Ihrem Hausarzt überweisen lassen. An der ersten Sprechstunde werden Sie von erfahrenen Fachärztinnen und Fachärzten untersucht. Anschliessend wird ein Brustultraschall durchgeführt. Sofern nötig, wird eine Biopsie (Gewebeentnahme) unter Ultraschallkontrolle vorgenommen. Dieser Eingriff geschieht vor Ort und mit örtlicher Betäubung. Die Analyse der Gewebeproben geschieht im Unispital-eigenen Labor.
Die Befunde werden in den Tumorkonferenzen, an denen Expertinnen und Experten unterschiedlicher Fachbereiche teilnehmen, beurteilt. Die daraus hervorgehenden Vorschläge für diagnostische und therapeutische Massnahmen werden anschliessend mit Ihnen und Ihren Angehörigen ausführlich besprochen. So erstellen wir zusammen mit Ihnen ein auf Sie abgestimmtes Therapieprogramm.
Termine nach Vereinbarung
Montag: 8.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Dienstag: 9.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Mittwoch: 8.00 – 12.00 Uhr und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Donnerstag: 9.00 – 13.00 Uhr
Freitag: 8.00 – 12.00 und 13.00 – 16.30 Uhr
Mamma-Sprechstunde Chirurgie:
Tel. +41 61 328 75 25
Mamma-Sprechstunde Gynäkologie:
Tel. +41 61 265 91 19
bz-ufk@usb.ch
Häufige Fragen zum Thema Brustkrebs
FAQ Brustkrebs
Gibt es Personengruppen, die bei Brustkrebs eine intensivere Vorsorge benötigen? – Prof. Christian Kurzeder
Was ist eine Breast Care Nurse? – Andrea Imgraben
Wann ist eine Operation bei Brustkrebs nötig und was wird dabei gemacht? – Prof. Walter Weber
Wann ist der richtige Zeitpunkt für eine Brustrekonstruktion? – Prof. Martin Haug
Mit welchem Anliegen bin ich bei einer Breast Care Nurse richtig? – Daniela Richner
FAQ Brustkrebs
Gibt es Personengruppen, die bei Brustkrebs eine intensivere Vorsorge benötigen? – Prof. Christian Kurzeder
Was ist eine Breast Care Nurse? – Andrea Imgraben
Wann ist eine Operation bei Brustkrebs nötig und was wird dabei gemacht? – Prof. Walter Weber
Wann ist der richtige Zeitpunkt für eine Brustrekonstruktion? – Prof. Martin Haug
Mit welchem Anliegen bin ich bei einer Breast Care Nurse richtig? – Daniela Richner