Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022 key visual

A breast cancer patient is rarely fighting alone

Why breast cancer prevention is critical and why it’s so important to find your own individual path in cancer treatment.

In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally. By the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years1, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.

Early detection

As is the case with many types of cancer, there is little that can be done to avoid the occurrence of breast cancer. But whether due to fear of the result, reservations about what the unfamiliar examination might feel like, or simply due to procrastination, many women don’t make use of the early detection screenings available. This is problematic because time is the most important factor when it comes to early detection.

It’s precisely because it’s not possible to directly influence the development of cancer that early detection remains the most important factor in increasing chances of a favorable course if the disease does occur. In the best case, patients will simply invest the short time needed for a quick examination to make sure that their life can continue as usual.

This has not changed during the COVID-19 pandemic: The procedures continue to be available and can be carried out, also when strict infection prevention measures are in place. The virus should not stop anyone from getting checked, as breast cancer is not going to wait for life to return to normal. 

As part of every preventive medical check-up, substantial data is generated that has to be analysed promptly. Artificial intelligence offers smart support for the experts.

Individual treatment


<p>Christian Weissenberger, MD,</p>

Examination and treatments are becoming more gentle as technology advances. Examples of this include patient-oriented development of the contact surfaces, imaging diagnostics becoming ever more refined, as well as targeted, minimally invasive procedures.


Mammography is the most efficient method for this purpose, and even more effective than palpation and ultrasound. The German Cancer Society (Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V.) assumes that the average size of a lump detected by mammography is 0.5 cm, while the average size of a lump that women can detect through regular self-examination is 2 cm.

Varian and Siemens Healthineers are dedicated to connecting all care aspects to achieve a world without fear of cancer. Intelligent Cancer Care™ stands for integrated, connected care pathways designed to drive efficiencies and deliver world-class treatment along the cancer continuum to increase impact where it matters most: patients.

Breast cancer treatment with VARIAN

To help patients prepare for the fight, Varian provides a brief outline of what they can expect during treatment with radiotherapy and radiosurgery. 


<p>Alexander Büttner, MD,</p>

The Breast Center Südbaden in Freiburg, southwest Germany, doesn’t just offer breast cancer patients state-of-the-art diagnostics and therapy with high-tech equipment from Siemens Healthineers. It also accompanies women with breast cancer from discovery to recovery through special services.

How to stay strong


<p>Dany Michalski,</p>

Staying mentally healthy throughout the period of treatment and recovery is essential. And what you know can make all the difference. One of the best ways people can learn about treatment is from the stories of those who have experienced it firsthand. We invite you to watch our patient stories.