Pink October, a month traditionally dedicated to breast cancer prevention, was marked by collaboration and took place amid a public health context that required adjustments to various initiatives.
This year, Hôpital de La Tour partnered with the Breast Center at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), the Geneva League Against Cancer, the Geneva Foundation for Cancer Screening, and the OTIUM Center to offer a program featuring online workshops as well as testimonial and informational videos. This partnership reflected, on the one hand, an existing collaboration in the field of oncology between the two hospitals; and on the other hand, the importance of partners in the Geneva healthcare network in the management of breast cancer.
Unfortunately, the public health situation did not allow for in-person events, but the online workshops—focused on well-being and reclaiming one’s self-image—enabled patients to explore the services offered by the healthcare network’s partners, with whom they were able to interact by asking numerous questions following the presentations. Throughout the month, the public also learned, through short videos, about the vital role of referral nurses in breast cancer care and heard the testimony of a man living with the disease, serving as a reminder that it does not affect only women.
Below you’ll find the archives of these workshops as well as other videos that marked this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
We thank everyone who participated in the online workshops and shared their stories, as well as our teams and those of all our partners, for their wonderful commitment throughout the month.
Videos - The Role of Primary Nurses
Primary care nurses play a central role in the care of patients with breast cancer. As a constant presence throughout their care journey, they provide information, advice, and support to women at every key stage. Learn about their role in 9 videos:
Online Workshop Archives
Organized by partners in the healthcare network in collaboration with nurses from both facilities, these workshops allowed patients—despite the public health situation—to seek support and answers to their questions on specific topics.
View the archives of the various workshops:
- Workshop 1: Skin Pigmentation (Amandine Gourmet, OTIUM Center)
- Workshop 2: Meditation (Yvan Leuridan, OTIUM Center)
- Workshop 3: Hair Prostheses (Murielle Volo, OTIUM Center)
- Workshop 4: Prosthetics and Lingerie (Emily Hollender, Almatila)
- Workshop 5: Image Coaching (Isabelle Vallon, Sublimance)
- Workshop 6: Makeup (Isabelle Vallon and Florence Rochon, Look Good, Feel Better)
- Workshop 7: Foot and Nail Care (Audrey Blanc, accompanied by two students from the Geneva School of Podiatry)
Personal Story - Breast cancer affects men, too—let's talk about it!
Although breast cancer overwhelmingly affects women, about 50 men are diagnosed with it in Switzerland each year. Laurent Saltini is one of them, and he agreed to share his positive and hopeful story with us:
Laurent S. - Fighting Breast Cancer