For health professionals, associations devoted to rare diseases are “a real plus”

Dr. Ioana Hrab is a medical oncologist at the François Baclesse de Caen center (Calvados), center of fight against cancer reference for Penguin patientse.

It enlightens us on the glioblastoma, which Catherine Levieux suffers in particular, who is also departmental referent of the association of stars in the sea. All a few days from “May in gray”, this awareness -raising month dedicated to brain tumors.

The tumor

The glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor. ” There difficulty of this cancer East Its very rapid evolutionshe describes. It leaves us time to anticipate. ” THE First symptoms are headaches, speech disorders, epilepsy …

Signs that can recall those of a stroke. The range of symptoms is wide and brutal and as there is no surveillance MRI, it is discovered too late.

The François Baclesse Center follows 100 new patients per year after their operation at the CAEN CHU, most of them. In France3,000 to 3,500 new cases are recorded each year, for an average age of 60 to 70 yearsmostly men.

“What I see personally, without it being statistically proven,” specifies the medical oncologist, these are patients younger Today, from 30 or 40 years old, which have brain tumors. We didn’t see that 10 years ago. »»

Treatments

” Despite Studies conducted For several years, the treatments remain limited, explains Dr. Hrab. There is surgery But it often allows you to withdraw only part of the tumor. Then there is radiotherapy in association with chemotherapy. Despite this, this cancer does not repeat in the majority of patients within 12 months of le diagnostic. Et the chances of survival do not exceed an average of two years. »»

The same therapeutic arsenal has been in place for 25 years.

Research

” A clinical study Request for time, means, an investment from pharmaceutical laboratories and the mobilization of associations, says Dr. Hrab. The mobilization around brain tumors is unfortunately almost invisible today. In terms of research, we advance very slowly because, in particular, the state of health already degraded to patients. It’s necessary International mobilization. We explore targeted therapies and there are currently international discussions on the methods of clinical studies, towards a possibility of testing several drugs per patient to see which he can be the most sensitive. »»

The center

The François Baclesse Center has courses.

“Each patient has his referent,” explains Dr. Hrab. The idea is not to leave a patient alone. He can contact her, ask her advice. She makes the link with doctorshealth professionals, they can be present during Consultations Or a key moment, at the request of patients and caregivers. In case of home supportthey can solicit social services. They help us accelerate requests. »

The association

“The interest of associative world is sensitize the population and other health professionals in this pathology. Apart from therapeutic questions, associations are useful to support patients and caregivers. »»

The specialist regrets that there is no rehabilitation centers specific to brain tumors, like what exists after a AVC or a road accident. Dr. Hrab “hopes that we will arrive at hope to patients ”and other therapies allowing prolong life Patients can be found.

Associations can also bring us another vision of care, tracks on what we can improve. Their point of view is very important. They have other ideas that can lead us to do differently and that is a real plus.

Donations are possible online on the sites of the François Baclesse Center and the association “Stars in the sea”.

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