Using Pesticides as a Landscaper: Ludovic Maugé’s Story of Occupational Cancer and the Fight for Awareness

2023-06-08 17:17:20

See my news

Ludovic Maugé suffers from blood cancer following using pesticides in his job as a landscaper (employee then self-employed). From now on, there is no longer any question of phytosanitary products to treat the roses in your garden. ©News Morbihan

Ludovic Maugé worked as a landscaper on the peninsula of Quiberon in Brittany. As part of his job, he used pesticides that would be the cause of his cancer you sang. After six months in intensive care, he is currently in remission. But the idea of ​​assisted suicide is still in his head…

Pesticides during his professional activity

For more than twenty years, from 1999 to 2020, Ludovic Maugé used pesticides as part of his job. “I was spraying Roundup. I was using insecticides. There was no mask, no glove. We did it with nothing, without any protection. I was not aware of the risk, ”recalls the fifty-year-old bitterly.

A rare lymphoma

At 48, his health suddenly deteriorated. “I started losing balance on my ladder. I lost consciousness while mowing the lawn, ”he rewinds. Doctors do not find the reason at first.

“Then I had bruises on my stomach. The doctor understood immediately,” he adds. The biopsy reveals a cancer you sang in 2018.

He learns at 48 that he has a rare pathology: intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (LIVB). “This lymphoma attacks all the organs. The last attacked at the level of the heart. I have one in my brain right now. That’s why I’m losing my memory,” he says before continuing with an example:

I have a grandson Mathéo. I know it’s his birthday in March, but I can’t tell you what day. It’s awful.

Ludovic Mauge

Twelve chemotherapies

Ludovic Maugé has come a long way and he knows it:

I carried out 12 chemotherapy. I signed a waiver to do the same. That was it or I would be dead. Then you have to do blood and platelet transfusions.

Another consequence of the pesticides, there is no more feeling in his left leg and a feeling of cold in his right leg. He no longer hears in his left ear. “It’s because of this lymphoma. He attacks piece by piece. He pulverizes me. I have to take pain pills and anesthetics.”

Videos: currently on Actu

A fighter, the 52-year-old gets involved in his training sessions. re-education. He is in the process of obtaining the appropriate driving license at the Center mutualiste de Kerpape in Plœmeur.

Recognized as an occupational disease

His cancer is recognized as an occupational disease by Professor Christophe Paris, from the Occupational Health and Occupational Pathology department of the Rennes University Hospital.

I thank him as well as Dr Belhomme from the University Hospital of Rennes. I came close to death. I stayed six months in intensive care and a year in his service.

Ludovic Mauge
Ludovic Maugé suffers from blood cancer following using pesticides in his job as a landscaper (employee then self-employed).  No more question of phytosanitary products to treat the roses in his garden.
Ludovic Maugé holds in his hands the document certifying that his intravascular large B-cell lymphoma is recognized as an occupational disease. ©News Morbihan

Le Breton is “happy” with this recognition, but the Pesticide Victim Compensation Fund is “derisory” for the price paid for his health.

Talk regarding your illness

Ludovic Maugé needs to talk. For him, but also for others. The click came while he was taking care of his garden:

Recently, I saw at the neighbors a young apprentice processing the hedge without protection. Even if it is hot, you must at least put on a mask and gloves.

Ludovic Mauge

“It must be said that these authorized products are harmful”, insists the one who is a member of the association Phytovictimes.

Assisted suicide in mind

After a first relapse following six months in the past, he has been in remission once more for six months. The Breton hopes that the blood cancer will let him go. But the idea of assisted suicide is always in his head. He has taken steps in Belgium. “I don’t understand why we let people suffer when they are at the end of their life,” he says in despair.

Another fear: memory loss. “At one point, I no longer recognized my children. It was a pain for them. They told me. I’m still sick.” Eternal optimist, the Quiberonnais wants to continue to fight with and for his family.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.

1686246120
#Pesticides #attacks #organs #Ludovics #cancer #recognized #occupational #disease

Leave a Replay