Who actually counts time? We do! Already six years ago, the FUJIFILM Europe Business Service (FEBS) in Gdańsk was established as the EU Shared Service Center.
Back in 2016 FUJIFILM Europe GmbH outsourced part of its administrative activities to its European Shared Services Center in Gdańsk, Poland. Starting with only 30 employees, the so-called competence center now offers more than 130 dedicated professionals the opportunity for professional development.
FEBS performs operational activities for FUJIFILM Europe which HQ is located in Ratingen, Germany in particular in the area of Finance, Procurement and Human Relations as a European Shared Services Center.
President and Managing Director of FUJIFILM Europe GmbH Toshi Iida said about his last visit to the Gdańsk office:
“On site, I was able to get an impression of the collaborative office environment in which operational processes are carried out for FUJIFILM in Europe. It was interesting to learn directly from the young and dynamic FEBS team about their current and past years’ achievements. I’m really impressed by their NeverStop attitude.”
Of course, the team in Gdańsk had to share an office tour and an insight into their operations with all of us. Enjoy the video, and we guarantee you, it is a masterpiece. 😉
A few simple gestures can make all the difference in breast cancer prevention.
At a typical time in the daily routine, just a few minutes and proper self-examination can keep potential changes and irregularities in check. Here’s how.
Although breast cancer in its early stages generally causes no discomfort, women can feel changes in their breasts through this periodic self-examination. This should be done between days 7 and 14 of the cycle, when the breasts are less likely to be swollen and sore. For women who no longer menstruate, the advice is to choose a day that is easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.
Special attention should be paid to the following abnormalities:
Changes in breast size or shape
Difference in size between the two breasts that has appeared recently
Retractions, folds or swelling of the breasts
Skin abnormalities, such as redness, inflammation or “orange peel” skin
Hardening or presence of lumps in breast tissue
Nodules or swellings in the axillary cavity
Retraction or redness of the nipples or discharge of fluid
Pain in the breast area
Self-examination is not a substitute for a medical examination or mammogram for early detection of breast cancer. Prevention programs are available in all regions that invite all women aged 50 and older to have mammography screening every two years.
If you notice changes or irregularities in your breasts, do not be alarmed; they may be benign lesions. See a specialist who will direct you to the appropriate tests.
Self-palpation performed once a month facilitates early detection and increases the likelihood of cure. However, this does not mean that every lump that is palpated automatically corresponds to breast cancer; even cysts can be the cause of a mutation. However, every palpable lump should be examined by a specialist.
Adhering to a screening is the first and most important step for a possible early diagnosis: it is essential to talk to your family doctor or a specialist and have the tests done. If there are family risk factors, the recommendation is always to seek advice from your doctor.
Mammography is not usually a painful examination and is therefore performed without hospitalisation, anaesthesia or sedation of the patient. One should not be afraid to have it done and the advice is always to go to specialised centres.
Mammography, what it consists of and who performs it
Mammography is an X-ray examination of the breast, using a low dose of ionising radiation for a few seconds. It allows early detection of breast tumours, as it is able to detect lumps, even small ones, that are not yet perceptible to the touch. Mammography is performed by a specialist doctor in senology on an outpatient basis, so there is no need for admission or day hospital.
No preparation is needed in the hours or the day before the examination, and you can eat and drink. The advice is to wear comfortable clothes and not to apply creams or deodorants to the skin in the area affected by the examination, as they may alter the image available to the doctor for the examination. If you have had previous examinations, starting with the screening mammogram, you should bring them with you and inform your doctor.
Practical information for breast screening
The time of an examination is about 15 minutes, not including the phases of acceptance and interview with the doctor. The examination involves positioning the breast on a plane (detector) and compressing it with a plate (compressor) to ensure immobility during the examination and to obtain sharp, quality images. A total of 4 projections are performed: viewing the breast both from above and from the side.
The actual duration of the examination on the machine is only a few seconds per projection. Greater accuracy in diagnosis is achieved by the evaluation of the mammogram performed separately by 2 radiologist doctors. If the result is positive, you are invited for a second mammography, an ultrasound scan and a clinical examination to confirm or not the actual presence of a tumour.
Mammography, tomosynthesis and ultrasound: how they work
The traditional digital mammogram acquires a single image of the compressed breast. Traditional mammography allows for two-dimensional images of the breast. In newer systems, a three-dimensional acquisition is added to this so-called “traditional” examination, which, by breaking down the breast into thin layers, allows even the most minute structures to be appreciated.
Ultrasound, on the other hand, is a diagnostic examination that scans the breasts and axillary cords using a probe that emits ultrasound and allows for the detection of any palpable breast lumps or any changes in the axillary lymph nodes.
In practical terms, breast ultrasound is also used as a second-level examination to complement or supplement an initial diagnosis of mammography, particularly in breasts with particularly dense tissue. Or if the screening mammogram finding presents the need to deepen tissue: this second step should not be frightening, but is precisely a preventive practice to further investigate what may be cancerous lesions still in an early stage. Again, it is good to rely on a specialized center or breast unit that has all the machinery to immediately perform an ultrasound to support a mammogram examination.
Breast cancer is an enemy that can be tackled by anticipating it with healthy lifestyles and without letting your guard down thanks to screening. Mammography is crucial in the prevention of breast cancer, which is the most common cancer disease in the female population. Thanks to early diagnosis and effective treatment, the survival of women with breast cancer has improved, with mortality significantly reduced and estimated 5-year survival increasing.
So here is a list of some good practices to keep in mind when we want to join the screening programme:
Respect the timing of mammography screening according to age and any family predispositions
Always talk to the family doctor or a specialist first to get all the information about the examination and the centres where it can be carried out
Anxiety and fear are often uncomfortable companions on this journey of prevention. However, if the examination requires further investigation, early screening and early diagnosis are the allies that can make the difference in the course of treatment.
Do not procrastinate: therefore write down on your calendar the day and time when you want to have the screening examination in order to have a high probability of booking the examination without procrastination
On the day of the examination, do not apply deodorants or creams to your skin, as these may alter the image of the mammogram
Try to relax; discomfort has been shown to increase a negative psychological state
The doctor is a trustworthy person with whom you can talk and share your anxieties and fears.
In the case of breast implants, let them know when you book: the centre will be able to tell you if they can perform the examination or refer you to another specialised centre
Always go to centres that have the latest generation of equipment, which is more reliable and emits less radiation
Carefully keep your screening records and reports to bring with you to each subsequent medical check-up as the information may be crucial for comparison
*This information is based on European guidelines, check with your doctor the screening programmes are in your country.
How is breast cancer screening done?
Mammography, from a technical point of view, is a radiological examination of the breast that allows early detection of tumours in that part of the body because it is able to detect lumps, even small ones, that are not yet perceptible to the touch. So monthly breast self-examination is a good practice, but it cannot replace mammography screening for women covered by this programme.
It is precisely these organised screening programmes that require the examination to be performed by visualising the breast both top-down and sideways. Greater accuracy in diagnosis is achieved by the evaluation of mammography performed separately by two radiologist physicians.
A positive mammogram is not the same as a definite diagnosis of breast cancer, although it does indicate an increased likelihood of being affected by the disease.
This is why, in the event of a suspicion, the first examination is followed by further diagnostic tests that, again within organised screening programmes, consist of a second mammogram, an ultrasound scan and a clinical examination. These examinations may also be followed by a biopsy to assess the characteristics of any cancer cells. Only upon completion of this pathway is a definite medical response obtained and a course of treatment promptly initiated.
That’s right, grape harvest season is here and it is probably the favorite season of all wine lovers and connoisseurs.
X-Photographer Thomas B. Jones is a German/American photographer specialized in portrait and documentary photography. Meeting interesting people, exploring exciting places and capturing otherwise fleeting moments nourish his passion for photography.
Since July 2020, Maximilian Kusterer has been the owner of the Kusterer Winery in Esslingen, which he took over from his parents. In 2012, he created his first own wine and today, he focuses primarily on elegant fruit and a discreet use of wood.
What an exciting day for our colleagues in Spain – last week’s opening event of Fujifilm’s new office in Alcobendas, Madrid. Both Toshi Ida, President and Managing Director, FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, and the Managing Director of Fujifilm Iberia, Pedro Mesquita, served to officially open Fujifilm’s new facilities. During the event, a press conference was held with healthcare and economic media journalists attending Toshi Iida’s presentation. The Madrid office is the most important in the Iberia region, after the also newly renovated headquarters located in Barcelona, embracing all the company’s areas of work: Healthcare, Photography and Graphic Communication, industrial materials and solutions, business innovation, etc.
Did you know that the most essential area for Fujifilm in Spain is healthcare? During a presentation that day, Toshi Ida confirmed the fact that Healthcare accounts for 45% of business in Spain, compared to 32% worldwide. Overall, all the Fujifilm divisions worldwide recorded almost 18.4 billion euros in annual turnover in March 2022. Of which 82 million euros were generated in the Spanish market, showing its importance.
