A person made aware is potentially a person saved. The Saint-Gaudens hospital center therefore organized a day where interested people were able to interact with the healthcare personnel concerned: midwives, manipulators, pharmacists and oncologists.
Around a table covered with documentation, everyone was able to explain their work.
Elodie is a midwife and emphasizes the importance of self-palpation and vigilance regarding the slightest change in the appearance of the breasts. Marion and Fanny are radio technicians and talk about the procedure of a mammogram. “It’s not painful, just uncomfortable. The compression time is very quick and we do two x-rays for each breast. The x-ray is often supplemented by an ultrasound, without there being any cause for concern. The images are read by two different radiologists. And one thing is very important: come with your old exams. Mammography allows very early detection and therefore better prognoses. It is also good to share family history without taboo to establish a genetic profile. There are two types of screening, the first prescribed by the doctor or gynecologist based on observations or the family context. The second is to be done every two years free of charge systematically and as a preventative measure for people aged 50 to 74. It is good to remember that breast cancer can also affect men.
The nurses from the oncology department explained the means of prevention and presented the possible treatments at the University Hospital. There is no surgery or radiotherapy department in Saint-Gaudens for breast cancer, but all post-operation medical monitoring can be carried out there with all the necessary skills and protocols, in constant contact with the operating services. where the patients went.
On the other hand, there is a chemotherapy service in the oncology day hospital. Marie is a pharmacy technician and explains the process of chemo and preparation for treatment. Pharmacists and preparers work in conjunction with oncologists and Toulouse. They follow a very strict procedure, following the oncologist’s prescription. The pharmacist validates the preparation sheet, which will be checked by two people. It is a very secure circuit and the manipulations are carried out under a laminar flow hood which maintains a sterile environment. These are the injectable doses which are manufactured with molecules determined for each type of cancer. Supportive care is possible for patients, this year Shiatsu and socio-aesthetics, thanks to funds raised by Sein Go Rose, €4,000 in 2023.
The Saint-Gaudens oncology department is a small family structure close to patients. The bond between caregiver and patient is more personal and allows for moral support that goes well beyond the course of care.
