the reconquest of machines, the quest for men

“This mammograph is the symbol of the reconquest to offer the same care to all residents. » The words of Dr. Jean-Christophe Lecomte reveal the importance of the device inaugurated Tuesday, October 15 at the Saint-Jean-d’Angély hospital center. In 2023, the Vals de Saintonge had the worst prevention rate in all of New Aquitaine for the prevention of breast cancer. Only 38.1% of the target population, women aged 50 to 74, are up to date with the exam. Well below the departmental average, 45%, and regional average, 47%. Very far from the national objective set between 60 and 70%.

“Screening is considered non-urgent. By delaying, we end up with excess mortality. In Saint-Jean-d’Angély, I was annoyed by the proportion of cancers at stage T4, when the tumor has evolved so much that it has an impact on the skin. Unfortunately, mortality is much higher,” continues Dr Lecomte, head of the radiology and medical engineering department of the Saintes/Saint-Jean-d’Angély hospital group.

Local financing

Saint-Jean-d’Angély no longer had a mammograph since the switch to digital technology twenty years ago. The new senology unit finally offers local women local, quality care, with state-of-the-art technology. The development cost 367,978 euros, including 204,000 euros for the mammograph and 38,000 euros for the ultrasound machine, which is used to refine the diagnosis.

The residents went to look for this material. The mayor, Françoise Mesnard, was shocked by the low prevention rate. “I proposed that it be the Pink October fight in 2023. The entire territory was mobilized. » A donation campaign raised 12,000 euros. The economic and associative community contributed 8,000 euros. The League Against Cancer 17 paid 20,000 euros. The Saintes Saint-Jean-d’Angély hospital group injected 150,000 euros in self-financing, with the regional health agency awarding a subsidy of the same amount.

The Angère hospital has integrated this service into a “women’s health center” which offers a global approach. Screening for breast cancer can be combined with screening for cervical cancer.

“Equality in access to care for all is a 20-year fight”

A third MRI in 2026

“Equality in access to care for all is a twenty-year fight,” expands Françoise Mesnard. About ten years ago, Aunis had a total of seven MRIs and scanners, compared to two in Saintonge. The territory is gradually catching up. The Saintes hospital center now has two MRIs and two scanners, plus a third on the Saint-Jean-d’Angély site. “We launched into interventional radiology, a scanner in a block which allows us to treat the pathology. Since 2020, we have moved upmarket,” comments the director, Fabrice Leburgue.

A third MRI will be installed in Saintes in 2026. “The objective is to have a full-body MRI appointment in less than 20 days. » For Fabrice Leburgue, the improvement of equipment has a lot to do with the health cooperation group and collaboration with the private sector.

The Saintes hospital center was undersized since its opening in 2007. Investments have continued in recent years to raise the site to its ambition of “referral hospital”. “You must have all the level 2 specialties, between the local hospital and the CHU,” said Fabrice Leburgue on September 23. That day, we celebrated the redevelopment of the oncology day hospital, which welcomes chemotherapy patients. From ten places and four beds in 2007, it increased to a capacity of 26 beds. This is all the more necessary as the number of patients increases, notably due to better screening.

Quick, a school of radio manipulators!

The material is there. There is a lack of specialists to fully exploit it. Doctors, of course, but not only. The hospital needs radiologists and radio technicians. This three-year post-baccalaureate training does not exist in Charente-Maritime. The Saintes hospital group has been working on the creation of a sector for two years. “Between 30 and 40 students would already be very good. You have to decide in which city to do it. We think we have a good project. The sooner the better,” says Fabrice Leburgue. The Saintes hospital will have eight positions to fill within two years. In Saint-Jean-d’Angély, Jean-Christophe Lecompte would easily have enough to occupy three positions. For the moment, the mammograph only operates four half-days per week, for a capacity of 40 people per day.