Breast health campaign day was very well received

Raising awareness, sharing knowledge, bringing research to life: This was the motto of the Breast Health Action Day at the FHV. Experts, students and around 200 interested people discussed early detection, new technologies and creative ways to raise awareness. The focus was on lectures, information stands and insights into current research work.

In his presentation, Dr. Bernd Hartmann from Krebshilfe Vorarlberg emphasized the crucial role of early detection. The FHV research team presented the Interreg project MammAware, which is developing virtual reality technologies for breast self-examination training, among other things. "We are very pleased about the great interest. It shows how important the exchange between research, medicine, care and society is when it comes to prevention and health. The day of action makes it clear that science can make a direct contribution to saving lives," explains MammAware project manager Hubert Jocham.

Sense of touch as a medical resource
The involvement of visually impaired and blind women with their extraordinary sense of touch was a central component of the MammAware project. In cooperation with Discovering Hands, led by Dr. Frank Hoffmann, so-called medical-tactile examiners (MTU) are being trained. They can feel the smallest tissue changes in the breast at an early stage. "This collaboration shows how valuable diversity is in healthcare," explains Jocham and emphasizes: "We were also delighted that the Austrian Health Insurance Fund was interested in training the examiners. In order to anchor this innovative model in the long term, it would be advisable for ÖGK to cover the costs of the training."

Pink bras on campus
To mark International Breast Health Month in October, around 1,000 pink-colored bras are hanging in garlands on the FHV campus. The art campaign, inspired by the pink ribbon symbol, draws attention to the importance of education and prevention, as according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Health, only 36% of women in the core target group in Vorarlberg take advantage of the prevention services. The installation was created in collaboration with carla Vorarlberg, the Association of Austrian Textile Chemists and Colorists, the HTL Dornbirn and the Dornbirn Vocational School. A visible sign of solidarity and joint commitment.

More about the MammAware research project: MammAware - Research project MammAware - for more breast awareness. With digital support for self-determined prevention.