Several health actors are organizing a debate-theatre evening around the theme of prostate cancer, this Wednesday, November 23. Doctor Matthieu Caubet, oncologist-radiation therapist at the Burgundy Cancer Institute, wants to break taboos around the impact of treatments on sexuality. Maintenance.
What exactly is this play, L’Ablation, adapted from Tahar Ben Jelloun’s novel and performed by Robert Benoît, regarding? This is the story, the experience of one man. That of the care of his prostate cancer and the impact it may have had on his personal life, his intimacy. The piece highlights the adverse effects. The words are believed, no subject is eluded.
Icaunais are more likely to die of cancer than the average of metropolitan French people
This event at the Auxerre theater is not common for health actors. How was such a project born and why? Doctor Anne-Laure Villing, medical oncologist, had seen the piece in Avignon a few years ago. She had brought the actor to Auxerre and the evening had been a success. The Burgundy Cancer Institute, in partnership with the Hospital Center and the Urology Institute of Auxerre, is only reviving the evening.
The idea is to hold a small event, as may exist for other cancers, in order to be able to talk regarding the treatment as a whole, psychological, nutritional, sports… We tend to focus too much on the treatment. But we take care of a patient as a whole, not just the disease. Hence the name of the conference scheduled following the play: “Psychic and somatic experience of the treatment of prostate cancer”.
We tend to focus too much on treatment. But we take care of a patient as a whole, not just the disease.
It is proposed in full Movember, an operation relatively unknown in France. What does it consist of? Indeed, this is not a French initiative. This is Male Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, hence the initiative to grow a mustache in at least November and the name of the operation, “Movember”. In France, we know rather blue March, for colorectal cancer, and pink October for breast cancer. There, it is rather regarding the so-called urological cancers, of which belong for example the cancer of the testicles or that of the prostate.
[Vidéo] A month of male cancer awareness with Movember
Why do we hear less regarding this operation? These cancers affect intimacy, so we tend not to want to talk regarding it. Prostate cancer affects people differently, depending on where they are in their romantic life, if sexuality is important in their relationship. And that, the doctor cannot know, he must be told. Sexual activity may be affected by treatment. And it’s not a matter of age. Hormone therapy, or chemical castration, results in the loss of libido, erection and desire. Despite what you might think, an 80-year-old patient, married for 60 years, whose sexual balance with his wife is disturbed, can be a real upheaval.
Do you hope to be able to bring up these topics during the debate? The play can be used to desacralize these problems of impotence, to break the taboo around prostate cancer, and the conference-debate to say that there are solutions, for patients undergoing treatment as well as for patients already treated. Solutions reimbursed by Social Security, to limit side effects. We obviously invite our patients to come and discuss it at the theater, we have put up posters in our departments. We also rely on word of mouth.
Between 1990 and 2015, the chances of survival at 5 years increased by 21%, compared to 9% for breast cancer.
This prostate cancer, which we talk regarding so little, is however very common in men. Is he taking good care of himself? It is the most common cancer in men, ahead of colorectal cancer. It accounts for 25% of male cancers, i.e., in France, 50,000 new cases per year. But if this seems alarming, it is indeed one of the cancers which is best cured, on which science has made the most progress, in particular concerning diagnosis, which is earlier. Between 1990 and 2015, the chances of survival at 5 years increased by 21%, compared to 9% for breast cancer. The overall survival chance of developing prostate cancer is 93%, according to the National Cancer Institute.
From what age and what symptoms should we consider screening?Unlike breast cancer, which benefits from organized screening, prostate cancer is subject to individual screening. It is recommended to ask your doctor from the age of 50 if there are no particular risks, such as family history for example. The doctor should also suggest. Screening is simply a blood test. We check the PSA level, for “Prostate Specific Antigen” in English. A rise in the PSA level shows an abnormality. Otherwise, you have to think regarding consulting if you notice the slightest change: if you get up more and more at night to go pee, if the urine stream is modified, if the area is irritated… Sometimes, it is quite benign.
Practice. Wednesday November 23 at 8 p.m., at the Auxerre theatre, 54 rue Joubert. Free admission, online reservation required. To book, click here.
Luseful Valuable
lucile.preux@centrefrance.com