Trouble concentrating, memorizing, difficulty carrying out certain daily life tasks, etc. After receiving treatment for cancer, whatever it may be, patients are often faced with various problems. “These are frequent complaints,” emphasizes Valentine Disdero, medical oncologist at the Saint-Yves center in Vannes. The disorders take different forms. It’s very uneven. We don’t know who will be affected. But almost 70% of patients are. » The cause: the toxicity of treatments: chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy, but also fatigue linked to the disease and the cancer itself.
To better care for these people, the Onco-gynecological Institute of the Vénètes (Inove), which has existed since 2023 and collaborates with the Océane clinic, offered this Friday, January 10, a first treatment workshop. On the program: cognitive rehabilitation and physical activity. Riding a desk bike while doing exercises on a tablet, balancing on a board while memorizing elements, playing with numbers, letters, symbols and colors… So many exercises that “allow you to accumulate the benefits of cognitive stimulation and those of physical activity,” explains David Le Prénénec, neuro-psychologist, who moderated the session.
“It reassured me”
A very useful session according to two of the four participants. “I found the workshop very good,” enthuses Solenne, who is prone to memory problems following breast cancer. I managed to do the exercises. That reassured me. » Coming to look for tools to better concentrate on a daily basis after breast cancer, Corinne says: “I am willing to continue this workshop. It only brings us positives. »
The initiative is aimed at patients who have followed the care pathway offered by Inove. “There will be one workshop per month,” explains Marina Tempier, nurse coordinator within the Inove association. The first is free. People who wish will be able to continue the sessions. We hope that the workshop will continue over time. »
Another resource, on a national scale this time: the On cogite association. Created in 2019, it offers a course of 22 cognitive remediation sessions, for a membership of €20. “The goal of these sessions is to retrace the paths between the neurons, which may have been damaged by treatment or by the disease,” explains Capucine Vergez, from the On cogite association. When registering, members receive an email explaining their journey. For 1.5 hours each week, the eight to twelve participants are followed by a neuro-psychologist. »
Videoconference sessions
The sessions change every week, so that everyone can start their cycle whenever they want. “In a session, patients who have just started their remediation can exchange with others who have almost finished theirs,” adds Capucine Vergez. In Vannes, sessions are held by videoconference. Others, in person, are organized in Rennes and Nantes. Members also have access to an application allowing them to carry out exercises independently.
Practical
More information on the workshop on inove-vannes.fr
. Contact : tél. 06 59 95 29 00.
