Weekly Brief · 17. August 2026

Breast health news

Studies, policy and care. Gathered automatically, curated by Radiosa.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Schaffhausen: PINK CUBE on site, screening from the end of the year

On August 13 the PINK CUBE stood on Fronwagplatz, offering free advice and clinical breast exams by gynaecologists from the Schaffhausen hospitals. At the same time it was confirmed that from late December 2026 the canton will introduce an organised mammography screening programme for women aged 50 to 74, exempt from the deductible and with a co-payment of around 15 francs. Figures from the roadshow show how large the gap still is: 31 percent of visitors skip regular screening.

PINK CUBE / Presseportal · 13. August 2026Learn more

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

International

JAMA Oncology / Charité Berlin · International · 16. August 2026

PRO B study: a weekly app check-in eases fatigue

At 52 German breast centres, 924 women with metastatic breast cancer answered short questions each week through an app. If something worsened, a health professional got in touch within 48 hours. After six months fatigue was measurably lower and physical functioning better. The benefit came not from earlier changes of therapy, but from earlier contact.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover / DGP · International · 14. August 2026

Familial breast cancer: new candidate genes identified

A team from Hannover Medical School and the University of Augsburg has identified further genes and gene variants linked to clustered breast and ovarian cancer in 134 people whose cause had been unexplained. So far a clear genetic cause can be found in only about 20 percent of those seeking counselling. Calm, hopeful research news on the topic of heritability.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Microbiologia Italia · Italy · 14. August 2026

Italy: screening from 45 and AI as a first filter

Italy is the first country in Europe with guidelines on the use of AI in mammography screening. The AI is meant to pre-sort which images need double reading. In parallel, funding was approved to extend free screening to the 45 to 49 and 70 to 74 age groups, some two million additional women. Full coverage, however, has so far been implemented in only six regions.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

WashU Medicine / JAMA Network Open · International · 6. August 2026

USA: fewer mammograms among uninsured women

An analysis of 20 years of US mammography data shows a mixed picture. Overall the screening rate stayed stable, but it dropped markedly among white women aged 40 to 49, among smokers and above all among women without health insurance. Those without a regular medical point of contact consistently attend screening less often. Access is more than an available service.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

EUROPA DONNA Schweiz · Switzerland · 14. Juni 2026

Cancer Survivor Day in Zürich: lucky stones with a message

At Cancer Survivor Day at the University of Zürich, participants painted stones together. The stones go to breast care nurses in hospitals, so that a woman who has just received a first diagnosis can choose one. At the EUROPA DONNA Switzerland stand the talk also turned to the PINK CUBE roadshow, the Tavola Rosa Zürich and the push for nationwide screening programmes.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Schaffhauser Nachrichten · Switzerland · 24. Februar 2026

Schaffhausen breast centre now holds a double certification

The breast centre of the Schaffhausen hospitals now carries two quality labels: recertification by the Swiss Cancer League and, for the first time, the seal of the German Cancer Society. Treatment pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, case volumes and quality controls are reviewed, and the certificate is valid for four years. Good prevention does not end with the mammogram, treatment is a quality question too.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

SRF News · Switzerland · 22. Juni 2026

Lucerne launches breast cancer screening, Thurgau weighs an exit

From July 2026, the canton of Lucerne will for the first time personally invite all women aged 50 to 74 for a mammogram, closing a gap that had persisted for years in central Switzerland. At the same time, the canton of Thurgau is considering ending its programme to save costs. The cantonal patchwork of prevention remains a central issue.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Presseportal / PINK CUBE · Switzerland · 25. Juni 2026

PINK CUBE in Liestal: a convincing first review from Basel-Landschaft

On June 25 the PINK CUBE stopped in Liestal and presented the first interim review of the programme running since January: 1,625 women took part over five months. Fewer than five percent of cases needed further assessment, and in nine out of ten breast cancer could then be ruled out. An encouraging start.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

NZZ · Switzerland · 1. Juni 2026

Gene test spares younger women chemotherapy too

A gene test on tumour tissue calculates the risk of recurrence and shows who really needs chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy. New data now extend this option to younger patients as well. In the study, after four years 94 percent without chemotherapy were free of breast cancer, versus 95 percent with it, a small difference with a big effect on quality of life.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

International

OncLive · International · 15. Juni 2026

AI tool Clairity Breast added to US guidelines

The NCCN guidelines in the US recommend an artificial intelligence tool for risk assessment in screening for the first time. Clairity Breast uses the mammogram to calculate the risk of breast cancer over the next five years and helps identify high-risk patients earlier. A topic that is gaining relevance for Switzerland too.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

ASCO Post · International · 25. Juni 2026

US: dispute over new screening recommendations

The American College of Physicians recommends far fewer mammograms than previous standards. Radiology and breast cancer associations have sharply criticised the new guidelines, warning they could cost lives. The debate shows how contested the question of when and how often remains.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

ANSA Salute · Italy · 18. Juni 2026

In seno al futuro: Italy's campaign for metastatic breast cancer

Around 55,000 women in Italy live with metastatic breast cancer. The campaign In seno al futuro is now in its second edition and aims to show that metastatic breast cancer can increasingly be treated as a chronic condition. Relevant for the Italian-speaking community in Switzerland too.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Press release · Switzerland · 28. Mai 2026

PINK CUBE Roadshow 2026 kicks off

The bright pink container is touring ten cantons that have no mammography screening. Four-year tally: 1,650 exams, 5 confirmed cancer diagnoses. Next stops: Sarnen on June 12, Stans on June 19.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Nau.ch · Switzerland · 1. Juni 2026

Schaffhausen: cantonal council approves funding for screening

A 55 to 0 vote, with a 1.28 million franc budget. Launch in Q4 2026 or early 2027. Schaffhausen closes the last big gap in screening coverage in German-speaking Switzerland.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

SRF Wissen · International · Juni 2026

ASCO 2026: gene test could spare 2 in 3 patients chemotherapy

A 12-gene test on tumor tissue shows who really needs chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy. For two out of three patients, chemo turned out to be unnecessary, with no drop in their chances of recovery. Included for the first time: patients with four or more affected lymph nodes.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Deutsches Gesundheitsportal · International · 29. Mai 2026

CDK4/6 resistance: energy metabolism as a new point of attack

Resistant breast cancer cells develop a metabolic vulnerability. Drugs like metformin could tap into this energy stress and trigger cell death. This affects 70% of all breast cancer subtypes.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Antenna Sud · Italy · 12. Mai 2026

LILT Taranto: free mammograms for women on low incomes

In May 2026, LILT in Taranto offered free screenings for women with a low ISEE score. Age groups 39 to 49 and 69 to 75. Relevant to Radiosa's community work with the Italian-speaking population in Switzerland.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

MedWiss.Online · Lifestyle · 4. Mai 2026

Nutrition: a Mediterranean diet lowers breast cancer risk

Mediterranean and plant-based diets came out on top. A healthy body weight could prevent around 13,000 cases a year.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Switzerland

Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Senologie · Switzerland · Mai 2026

Screening from 45: three medical societies call for earlier invitations

In May, SGS, SGR-SSR, and SGGG jointly recommended inviting women to mammography starting at age 45. For women between 40 and 49, breast cancer is already the second most common cause of death. International data show up to 25% lower mortality with earlier screening.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

CancerNetwork · International · Juni 2026

SERENA-6: switching early with an ESR1 mutation extends survival by 6.8 months

A phase 3 study at ASCO 2026: switching to camizestrant right when an ESR1 mutation shows up in a blood test, instead of waiting for clinical relapse, cuts the risk of progression by 55%. Median PFS: 16 versus 9.2 months. ctDNA monitoring as a guide for treatment decisions.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Donna in Salute · Italy · Februar 2026

Italy: breast cancer mortality falls, but inequalities remain

Mortality from tumore al seno in Italy has dropped 6% over five years. Early detection and treatment advances are paying off. But the decline isn't reaching every region equally, and the South in particular is lagging behind. Relevant to Radiosa and the Italian-speaking community in Switzerland.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Quotidiano di Ragusa · Italy · 1. Juni 2026

ASCO study from Pascale Napoli: Mediterranean diet and exercise cut relapse risk in half

The Istituto Pascale presented data at ASCO 2026: women with breast cancer who followed a structured program of a Mediterranean diet, daily exercise, and vitamin D supplements had far fewer metastases and recurrences. The effect was especially strong in younger patients.

This article is for information purposes and does not replace medical advice.