Information network would coordinate care.("Patient Accompanying Documentation" would enable the transfer of breast cancer patient data over the Internet)

2003 JAN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mammary carcinoma is a direct and brutal affront to the feminine identity - especially when the diagnosis is made in the later stages of development, which can require a mastectomy.

"We estimate that 1 in 10 women in Germany will be confronted with this disease," said Dr. Dieter Alt, who directs a nationwide education campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. "This is a disturbing trend. With approximately 20,000 cases each year, breast cancer is the most prevalent cause of death in women over 40."

The campaign, supported financially by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, also stresses the critical importance of screening and early diagnosis. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery.

Several physicians and clinics are often involved in the follow-up treatment. Shared access to electronic records documenting the patient's medical history and treatment plan would optimize the therapy. The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT has developed a means to accomplish this.

There are plans to implement the system, known as "Patient Accompanying Documentation" or PaDok, by the end of this year as part of the mammary carcinoma project initiated by the North Rhine-Westphalian branch of the National Association of Statutory ...