“The word cancer is a scary word”: the difficult ordeal of the announcement

“The word cancer is a scary word”: the difficult ordeal of the announcement
“The word cancer is a scary word”: the difficult ordeal of the announcement

The news of cancer always remains a painful ordeal regardless of the person. Reducing this pain as much as possible is the role of doctors who follow a very specific protocol. For Guérétois gynecologist Michel Kapella, the moment of announcement is an integral part of healing.

Each year, Operation Pink October raises awareness of breast cancer, the most common among women (around 33% of female cancers). And to remember that these are so many people who see themselves one day, confronted with the shock of the announcement. Between fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, but also denial or the feeling of injustice, receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is a profoundly upsetting experience although the reporting system has evolved greatly since the Plan cancer 2003-2007.

“We have put in place a notification system,” explains gynecologist Michel Kapella. Because patients always take a blow of bamboo on the day of the announcement. The same evening, they forget everything we could have said to them. We must repeat what was said the next day or the day after that. This can be done with a nurse for example. »

Explain the treatment

During this consultation, the doctor takes the time to explain the specificities of cancer and describe the treatments chosen by a team of specialists assembled beforehand. Indeed, the Cancer Plan provides for a multidisciplinary consultation meeting (RCP) to be held every week in order to propose the most suitable anti-cancer treatment for each patient. This RCP brings together at least three specialists in the cancer pathology concerning the patient.

“When I tell someone about cancer, I go down to the cell types so that people understand that there can also be very good prognoses,” explains the Guérétois doctor. When we make the announcement, we always talk about the therapeutic process behind it. The announcement is 50% of the cure. Depending on how you introduce the disease, this is what will determine the rest of the treatment. People must be able to accept the treatment. »

The Sainte-Feyre library takes on the colors of Pink October

A long wait beforehand

However, if the announcement is made during a specific consultation, the wait between the first symptoms and confirmation of the diagnosis can be quite long. “In general, it starts with a lump that the woman finds in her breast,” explains Michel Kapella. We never say right away that it is breast cancer. It is explained that there are anomalies that require verification. Because you should know that only one in five lumps is cancerous. »
A biopsy is then performed of the detected anomaly, the results of which are returned within approximately 10 days. If the tumor is malignant, the patient must be recognized as suffering from a long-term condition (ALD) before an RCP meets in order to offer her the best therapy. All of these steps can be lengthy. “There are always delays between each stage which can worry patients a little,” agrees the caregiver, also founder of the Rose en Marche association.

Fear of the word cancer in society

If this whole announcement scheme is intended to be the most transparent for the patient since the Cancer Plan initiated at the time by Jacques Chirac, the moment of the announcement will always remain a shock. This, in particular because of society’s biased relationship to cancer. “The problem is that cancer is a generic word that scares people,” agrees Michel Kapella. There is always the specter of death. If we tell someone that their sugar level is a little too high, it’s called diabetes. And diabetes kills as much as cancer. It is the culture of cancer that needs to be reviewed. Whereas breast cancer in the majority of cases, we remove the lump and it’s resolved. »

Breast cancer disrupts the lives of many women every year. Support is essential to get through this ordeal. Many associations or support groups exist which allow you to share your experiences and benefit from the support of others. “Because cancer is also a social illness,” concedes gynecologist Michel Kapella.

Vincent Faure

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