There's a method of breast examination that works with bare hands, completely without any device. It's performed by women who can't see, or can see only very little. That's exactly what makes it so precise. Discovering Hands. Still getting established in Switzerland, and one of the most striking stories in breast care.
The idea in one sentence
Visually impaired and blind women are trained to examine the breast with their hands. Their sense of touch is more trained, more refined, and more systematic than that of a sighted person. What's a limitation in everyday life becomes an advantage in screening.
These women are called Manual Tactile Examiners, or MTEs for short. They palpate methodically, in a fixed grid, and in doing so find changes that aren't visible to the naked eye and would often still be too small to catch in a doctor's manual exam.
+30%
more changes detected by touch than a doctor finds in the same amount of time
−50%
smaller lumps detected, often down to just a few millimeters
How accurate is this?
Discovering Hands cites a clear figure: MTEs detect roughly 30 percent more changes and 50 percent smaller lumps than a doctor in the same amount of time. In concrete terms, that means where a skilled hand reaches its limit at about one centimeter, an MTE can already feel changes of just a few millimeters.
This is no substitute for mammography or ultrasound. Imaging sees through the tissue and uncovers changes that no one can feel. But MTEs close a gap that opens up between self-examination and mammography. A gap that's especially relevant for younger women, for whom mammography screening isn't yet routinely offered.
"What we can't see can be surprisingly clear to the touch. Discovering Hands shows just how much precision lies in a trained hand." Radiosa
Who's behind it
The method was developed in Germany by gynecologist Frank Hoffmann, with the idea of bringing a systematic approach to a medical examination that often otherwise gets done routinely, almost as an afterthought. The concept has grown into a standalone training program, a profession, and a social innovation that has won numerous awards, including the BBGM Innovation Prize, the 2018 Corporate Design Prize, the Deutsche Initiative Land der Ideen award, and the European Commission's EESC Award.
In Switzerland, the method is currently supported by the nonprofit association PreTac+, based in Geneva. PreTac+ trains visually impaired and blind women to become MTEs and is building the first locations where the examination is offered.
Where it's available in Switzerland
As of today, the pilot project is running in Geneva. A certified MTE is also getting started in Lausanne. PreTac+ can be reached in German and French and plans to expand into German-speaking Switzerland as soon as enough trained examiners are available.
The Swiss Society of Senology officially lists Discovering Hands among its complementary methods. That's an important signal. It means the method is taken seriously, placed in context, and professionally supported.
What an examination is like
An MTE examination takes considerably longer than a classic manual exam at the doctor's office. Instead of the often just a few minutes, the MTE takes about half an hour. There are several reasons for this:
- The examination follows a fixed grid, with fine adhesive strips for orientation. Every area is systematically palpated, and nothing is left out.
- The MTE documents what she feels step by step. Consistency, mobility, shape. The report then goes to your doctor.
- If something is unusual, the MTE knows exactly where. Position, depth, and character are clearly described. That gives the treating physician a map to work from.
Throughout, you stay in a calm setting. No devices, no rush, no medical apparatus over you. Many women describe the examination as pleasantly focused and respectful.
Who the method is for
Discovering Hands is generally aimed at adult women who want to take an active role in caring for their breast health. The method is especially relevant for:
- Women under 50, for whom official mammography screening isn't yet offered
- Women with dense breast tissue, for whom mammography is of limited diagnostic value
- Women who want an additional layer of examination between screening intervals
- Women who want to improve their self-examination and would like to be systematically guided by an MTE
The MTE examination replaces neither the annual gynecological appointment nor age-appropriate imaging. It complements both.
What it costs, what insurance covers
In Germany, several health insurers now cover the MTE examination as a preventive service, depending on the region and plan. In Switzerland, the question of coverage is still open, because the offering is still getting established and the method is so far classified here as complementary rather than as a mandatory service. If you'd like to have the examination, it's best to ask PreTac+ directly about current terms.
If you have supplemental insurance that includes prevention, you can also check whether it will contribute to the cost.
Why this method is a double story
Discovering Hands isn't only a breast care method. It's also a social movement. Women who otherwise tend to face barriers in the job market become specialists in a highly precise medical activity. A disability becomes an ability that saves lives. It's a story that empowers twice over: the women who do the examining, and the women who are examined.
It's exactly this twofold effect that makes the approach interesting for Radiosa. Breast health isn't only a medical question. It's also a space where visibility, responsibility, and solidarity among women take shape.
What you can take away right now
You don't have to drive to Geneva tomorrow to do something. But Discovering Hands is a good occasion to check three things:
- Self-examination. Do you examine yourself regularly, once a month, always at the same point in your cycle? An MTE works in a grid. You can too.
- Annual appointment. Have you already scheduled your gynecological checkup this year? One examination a year is the foundation; everything else comes on top of that.
- Knowing your options early. If you're under 50, can't take part in a screening program, and want to have a good sense of your body, it's valuable to know about methods like Discovering Hands. Even if you're not using them yet.
The most important thing, last
Discovering Hands shows something that matters to us at Radiosa: breast care isn't a single examination. It's a system made up of several layers. The self-examination. The regular medical checkup. Imaging at the right age. And sometimes one additional, very fine hand.
The more women know about everything that's out there, the better they can decide for themselves. That's exactly the idea. Clarity in BreastCare. Confidence in Women's Health.