Senology

Senology – what is it?

The term senology is derived from the French word sein (breast) and the Greek word logos (study). Senology refers to the medical study of the female breast, encompassing both the normal function of the breast and various diseases.

The Senologic International Society (SIS) was founded for the first time in 1972. Since then, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have also formed their own societies for senology.

The aim of these medical associations is to unite knowledge and experience of doctors from various disciplines to optimize and continuously develop diagnostics and therapy as well as prevention and follow-up care for patients with breast diseases.

Women’s breast health & exchange of expertise among specialists

Given the high incidence of breast cancer in women, senology is primarily concerned with women's breast health. Breast cancer is by far the most frequent type of cancer in women which is why there is a special focus on diagnosis and treatment.

Specialists in oncology (cancer specialists), (plastic) surgery, gynecologists, internal medicine specialists, pathologists and radiologists work closely together.

To ensure that breast cancer patients receive the best possible treatment informed by the latest scientific research, it is crucial to prioritize the exchange of expertise among specialists.

This does not only involve the exchange of experience and the newest expertise between the various specialists in a particular field, but also between the different departments. This guarantees interdisciplinary cooperation. 

Joint experience and current research are then combined in order to achieve effective and holistic care for women. Special areas of interest are the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, as well as aftercare for aesthetic, reconstructive breast surgery following breast removal.

The team also discusses benign tumors, inflammation and painful breast disorders. The focus is on ways to improve surgical techniques, patient training and quality assurance, particularly in the area of mammography (x-ray examination for the early diagnosis of breast cancer).

Range of services in senology

The senology associations are made up of healthcare providers from various medical disciplines. The focus is on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of breast diseases.

Screening and diagnostics in senology

With approximately 65,000 new cases each year, breast cancer is one of the most common diseases of the breast. In this regard, senology focuses on the prevention and earliest possible diagnosis of this disease.

The main focus of prevention is on imparting knowledge. This includes teaching the examination techniques for the female breast to patients themselves and to gynecologists as part of the general preventive examination.

The specialist societies for senology also draw up guidelines and recommendations on the various diagnostic procedures so that a diagnosis can be made as early as possible in the event of a disease. In addition to gynecologists, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons are also involved in this process.

Range of treatments in senology

Although the therapy for breast cancer is highly dependent on the individual condition and the patient's circumstances, following certain guidelines has proven to be very effective in medicine. The professional societies for senology have made it their mission to develop these guidelines and continuously adapt them to the latest research.

Especially in the context of therapy, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential—not only among doctors from various specialties but also with health insurance providers, support groups, and other healthcare professionals—to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Involving psychotherapists is also crucial, as some conditions can cause significant emotional distress, and there is still room for improvement in providing adequate mental health support.

Aftercare in senology

After successful treatment of breast cancer, patient care continues.

Regular medical check-ups to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy provide the basis for recognizing a potential recurrence of the disease as early as possible and, if necessary, initiating further diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

In addition to the psychotherapeutic support for the emotional burden of the illness, there is also a special focus on reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy.

The goal is to improve patients' quality of life by restoring the aesthetic appearance.

Which clinics and doctors specialize in the field of senology?

Senology is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses a variety of specialists. These include specialists in gynecology, oncology, surgery and pathology. The experts come together at “tumor conferences” to discuss individual patient cases and develop a joint treatment strategy.

These different areas of expertise are pooled in a breast cancer center, for instance, so that patients receive an interdisciplinary and holistic treatment concept. Since the focus in these centers is on the treatment of a specific disease, they have extensive experience in their respective fields.

We would like to help you find a competent specialist and present you with selected experts in the field of senology. All of them have been carefully vetted by us to ensure you receive high-quality treatment based on the latest medical research.