Visit of the Oncology department in the District Hospital of Salzburg 

Besides gaining theoretical medical know-how about cancer we were allowed to get in contact with affected patients and to learn about every day life in a hospital.

Mr. Primarius Univ. Prof. Dr. Greil and his team of physicians were very friendly and explained us the different types of tumours and effects of therapies, their drawbacks and risks.

Some of us could see a bone marrow biopsy, others could do an ultrasound scan themselves.
Mr. Primarius Univ. Doz. Dr. F. Sedlmayer’s explanations about radiotherapy and radio-oncology were highly interesting. He spoke about the application of different instruments and how to calculate and apply exactly a required dose of radiation.
We also learned about the work with cancer patients. In small groups we could join the physicians when visiting their patients and could even talk to them. We were mentally deeply touched getting to know the people behind the bio molecular results of complicated lab tests and moved the human aspect into the main focus. It is unbelievable what some people have to go through and what they are able to cope with!

The pain and suffering of the patients touched us deeply and we decided to organise a little Christmas event for those of them who could not go home for Christmas. We went as “Anklöpfler” (an old Austrian tradition at Christmas time) from room to room and sang Christmas carols, trying to bring a little bit of Christmas atmosphere into the patients’ wards. Our hope was to let them forget their illness and pain for a few moments.