Revolutionary breast cancer study from Ulm: More gentle care, better healing!

Revolutionary breast cancer study from Ulm: More gentle care, better healing!

The Ulm University Hospital plays a crucial role in the reorganization of breast cancer treatments. The important INSEMA study, which is revolutionizing treatment methods for patients with breast cancer, is breaking new ground. Insights from the study show that surgeries can be performed more effectively and with less strain. The goal is to reduce the number of necessary interventions and to offer more individualized therapies that both minimize the risk of relapse and increase the chances of recovery. This is supported by the finding that the removal of lymph nodes in the armpits is not always necessary, as swr.de report.

Currently, a patient named Julia, who wishes to remain anonymous, has benefited from this new method. She was diagnosed in 2024 and two days after her surgery she is optimistic. The attending physician, Dr. Visnja Fink, head of the Breast Center, highlights the need for new international guidelines for breast cancer treatment. The new approach enables the targeted removal of the tumor itself, resulting in a faster healing process. The advantage of this technique is that it is less invasive, meaning patients experience less pain and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Fewer operations – more individuality

The INSEMA study also shows that axillary surgery as a staging procedure has not yet provided sufficient evidence in breast cancer mortality. Instead, postoperative therapy could be better based on the biological properties of the tumor and not on the condition of the lymph nodes, as gbg.de shows. This could be a relief for many patients as unnecessary and stressful procedures can be avoided.

The aim of the study is to prove that patients with early stage breast cancer do not suffer any disadvantage in survival without axillary surgery. For this purpose, patients are randomly assigned between foregoing axillary surgery and an axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy. For many, this could herald a whole new chapter in their battle against cancer.

Modern aftercare and support

Around 900 breast operations are carried out every year at the Ulm Breast Center, including many chemotherapy treatments. Before these treatments, individual tissue analyzes are carried out to ensure an optimal therapy result. In addition, the patients are accompanied by specially trained nursing staff, the so-called breast care nurses, who support them during this difficult time.

The results of the INSEMA study could bring a real change in the aftercare of breast cancer patients. A new concept makes it possible to detect the smallest tumor cells in the blood, which helps detect relapses at an early stage. Julia herself is taking part in the SURVIVE study, which aims to provide better aftercare, and is optimistic about the future. Their experiences show that hope and progress can go hand in hand - with a cure rate for breast cancer of around 90%!