A successful collaboration
- Manja Gideon Foundation
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
September 10th, 2025
In a joint initiative, Krebsliga Ostschweiz (Eastern Switzerland Cancer League), the Simon and Hildegard Rothschild Foundation and the Manja Gideon Foundation organized an evening info event on hereditary ovarian cancer at which the new support group FamEredita was introduced. It was a great way to foster meaningful networking and one-on-one exchange.
St. Gallen. Sometimes a small nuisance can provide an unexpected moment of lightness in a tense situation. Manja Gideon Foundation board member Gabriella Rabner-Gideon brought her large, white dog Vito to the recent evening info session in St. Gallen. He didn’t really belong there, yet he fit right in, eliciting surprised smiles from the attendees – thus providing that needed bit of lightness.
In his hour-long lecture, Prof. Dr Hornung, Head of the Department of Gynecology at Kantonsspital St. Gallen (Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen), not only addressed the challenges of early detection, the role of BRCA mutations and the importance of examining one’s family history: he also focused in particular on diagnostics and treatment. What is a tumor board and how does it work? What makes treatment so challenging? Why should it take place in centers for specialized medicine?
The info event, held at the Krebsliga Ostschweiz premises, drew a crowd of approximately 20 people. The aim was to create an intimate setting for sharing information and facilitating dialogue. “It was the first time I heard explanations about the different treatment options in such detail,” one attendee said. Patients and their relatives, interested parties and patient group representatives were able to do what they couldn’t do a larger events: ask very personal questions. Not just during the lecture, but also during the cocktail hour that followed.
Support groups are becoming increasingly important for educating patients. They provide something that the medical environment rarely can: a space for emotions and honest advice from fellow patients and survivors. Along with Ursula Ganz-Blättler and Jasmin von Wartburg, Marija Brankovic-Eschenbrücher has initiated a new support group in Eastern Switzerland. She publicly presented her work for the first time at the info event. “FamEredita” is for people with a genetic predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer and offers “a safe space for exchange, understanding and community”. Starting this past summer, the group has been meeting regularly at the Krebsliga Ostschweiz premises.
And as for Vito, the evening’s dog of honor? He didn’t “woof” once the whole evening. He was just there – like the hope that is always grows in good company.
Contact the Eastern Switzerland support group: fameredita.ch
Contact the Krebsliga Ostschweiz: ostschweiz.krebsliga.ch
