Durch die #SOLAgegenKrebs-Spendenkampagne sollen am CCCZ Nachwuchstalente in der Onkologie gefördert werden. Junge Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler, Ärztinnen und Ärzte werden in ihrer akademischen Laufbahn unterstützt und erhalten die Möglichkeit, eigene Forschungsprojekte umzusetzen und ein breites Verständnis für Krebsforschung und -medizin zu entwickeln.
Mehr erfahrenThe tumors could be operated on. However, they are in a very tricky place in my house. And an operation is always a risk, so on the advice of my treatment team I prefer to leave it as it is now. I have read a lot about possible treatment methods, including studies and reports from specialist clinics. During a routine check-up with the neurologist Dorothee Gramatzki, I casually asked if there was any medication for my tumors. She immediately mentioned the name Avastin (bevacizumab). I cried with happiness that there was a possible therapy. The doctors at the USZ worked hard to ensure that I received the medication off-label. The health insurance company initially rejected the costs. Now I am one of the hardship cases and the health insurance company pays for the medication.
Last year I received eight cans of it. I tolerate the medication very well and have no side effects. Every year I am put through my paces and my stomach, spine and head are also checked. The dizziness is treated in a swivel chair at USZ Airport. The tumors are currently quiet. And the positional vertigo has also improved.
The future remains uncertain, but I know that I am in the best hands at the USZ. Here I find the best doctors, the latest technologies and all this paired with human warmth and support. I am happy to support research by participating in studies. Not least for Cedrick, my six-year-old son. I hope he doesn’t get the disease. I want to share my story to encourage other people. It is important to know that life can be well arranged even with a disability. That’s why I also take part in studies – if the results are no longer useful to me, they might be useful to the next generation.”
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Very often these patients also suffer from hay fever, asthma or food allergies. Together with neurodermatitis, these diseases are classified as atopic diseases. Atopy means reacting to environmental influences with the formation of IgE antibodies. Atopic dermatitis is not an IgE-mediated reaction, meaning that the skin immediately deteriorates when hazelnuts are consumed, for example. Nevertheless, some patients report a worsening of the skin condition in connection with certain foods or during the hay fever season. It is an inflammatory reaction in the skin that is influenced by various factors and leads to an excessive reaction of the immune system.
Cortisone is often used locally during an acute flare-up. The immune response and thus the violent inflammatory reaction are thus inhibited locally. The side effects for the body are minimal, as local cortisone hardly enters the bloodstream. If neurodermatitis occurs over a large area, medication is also used for a short time to dampen the immune system as a whole. For the dermatologist, however, this is not a sustainable option. “As soon as you stop taking these medications, a new flare-up can occur. The medication is often not tolerated as well.” New medications are intended to provide relief by specifically targeting the relevant messenger substances. They are therefore intended to intercept the message that an ignition needs to be fought so that the “fire department” does not even have to go out.
The second therapy of choice after anti-inflammatory ointments such as cortisone is light therapy. It acts directly on the skin, is practically free of side effects and is therefore also suitable for pregnant women. Thanks to filtering to a specific wavelength in the UVB spectrum, it also does not increase the risk of skin cancer. Above all, however, it can have a long-term, positive effect. In addition, the actual therapy is extremely short: a session lasts only a few minutes. The only disadvantage is the sometimes considerable organizational effort required for two to three sessions a week for three to four months. Integrating treatment into your commute: The USZ’s offer at the Circle at Zurich Airport may make this easier for some.
For Karin Grando, the most important thing is that the people affected learn to deal with the disease and the constant itching. And not to give up. These are simple tips that she can pass on to patients. “If there is enough time. First and foremost, we explain the prescribed therapy and how to use, apply or take the medication after the doctor’s consultation.” What other tips would she give? “Avoid anything that puts additional stress on the skin. So don’t take a hot shower with a soft jet of water, dab yourself dry and never rub. Or even wear your underwear with the seams facing outwards.”
Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, Prof. Dr. med.
Head of Allergy Ward and Neurodermatitis
E-mail office:
Intracranial aneurysms occur in around two to five out of every 100 people and are often discovered by chance during imaging examinations of the head. They are assessed at the USZ by a team of specialists in neuroradiology and neurosurgery. A decision is made as to whether a randomly found aneurysm should be treated or observed.
If there is a risk of the aneurysm rupturing, it must be treated. “An elastic tube, a stent or microcoils can often be placed in the right place in a minimally invasive way with a catheter from the groin via the bloodstream,” explains Zsolt Kulcsár. This is done under constant fluoroscopy in neuroangiography to ensure that the implant is in the right place. Depending on the location and size of the aneurysm, surgery may be necessary.
In the case of aneurysms in the head, this is separated from the healthy vessel wall using clips. “These operations are performed under a microscope so that the highest precision can be achieved. The USZ is a national and international reference center in this field,” explains Luca Regli. Aneurysms in the abdominal and thoracic cavities are treated with customized prostheses. Vascular surgery at the USZ offers a specialty in these prostheses: it is one of the few hospitals in Europe that can also place large prostheses that replace the entire aorta using minimally invasive techniques. This means that people who cannot be operated on due to poor health can also be helped.
Unique procedure at the USZThe vast experience of the numerous specialists involved is crucial for the structured, innovative and therefore very successful treatment of aneurysms at the USZ. A large number of aneurysm operations are performed at the USZ. Thanks to this routine, a high level of patient safety is achieved. For Alexander Zimmermann, what is still missing is a standard for early detection: “Regular screening of the aorta with an ultrasound device would be desirable from a certain age and could save lives. Unfortunately, this has not yet been standard practice in Switzerland.”
Preventive screening is also an issue in the case of brain aneurysms. “We recommend it for familial clustering. As today’s globally established gold standard for the treatment of brain aneurysms was developed at the USZ, our patients benefit from a wealth of experience,” adds Luca Regli.
Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that produces estrogens and inflammatory messengers. Oestrogens can drive the growth of some types of cancer. Chronic low-threshold inflammation is also considered to be cancer-promoting. In addition, obesity causes the body to release more insulin, which is suspected of promoting the growth of cancer cells. The interrelationships are complex and not yet fully understood. The immune system also appears to be impaired by severe obesity.
The early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer can also be more difficult if you are overweight. In addition, overweight patients show an altered drug metabolism. Effective prevention therefore aims to avoid obesity from the outset or to systematically reduce it.
Endometrial cancer, cancer of the uterus, is a particularly impressive example. For this highly hormone-dependent type of cancer, the risk increases in parallel with the BMI, up to a seven-fold risk in patients with grade 3 obesity (BMI > 40). However, it is particularly important to note that being overweight increases the risk of developing many of the most common types of cancer, such as bowel, breast and pancreatic cancer. Excess weight also plays a role in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Important preventive examinations such as colonoscopy can be more difficult to perform. Studies also show that severely overweight patients are less likely to take part in preventive programs such as mammography screening. Early detection is key here. In turn, therapy can be complicated if the patient is very overweight. For example, complications occur more frequently during surgical procedures, and the optimal dosage of cancer drugs is more difficult.
This is also higher for at least some types of cancer. This has been proven for bowel and breast cancer, for example. It is therefore important to tackle obesity after successful treatment in order to reduce the risk of a relapse. It makes particular sense for those affected to seek medical help from specialists.
That is a false conclusion. On the one hand because of the risks mentioned above, on the other hand, severe weight loss due to cancer is an unfavorable prognostic sign regardless of the initial weight.
Obesity is often a question of lifestyle: too much red meat, too much processed food, too much alcohol. Added to this is a lack of exercise. A holistic approach is therefore needed: nutrition, muscle building, psychological support. Accordingly, we work closely together at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the USZ. All expertise is combined in one place. That is a great advantage.
This is based on the very good intention of contributing to the success of cancer therapy by changing the diet. It is important to approach nutrition during cancer therapy together with our nutrition specialists. There are no patent solutions that are right for all cancer patients, only principles on which a nutrition plan should be based. However, deficiency symptoms must be avoided at all costs in cancer therapy. We also advise against more radical, scientifically insufficiently proven dietary measures. We are fully committed to science.
Avoiding obesity from the outset is the best prevention. To achieve this, we need to start with children and young people. But it is never too late in life. Cancer is just one of the many health risks associated with being overweight. The quality of life suffers in many different ways.
