2024-04-03 01:30:09
For two years, the Association of Cancer Caregivers (ASCA) has been organizing prevention and solidarity action for cancer patients. Thus, Tuesday April 2 and Wednesday April 3, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., ASCA representatives and members of the mobile palliative care team are mobilized to raise public awareness and transmit preventive messages regarding cancer.
In certain cosmetic products, such as deodorants, aluminum salts are present. Currently, although they are suspected of promoting the development of cancer, they are not officially considered a risk factor.
“It’s difficult to make people understand what cancer is (…) With games, we attract children as much as adults. This allows us to remove taboos and help understand complicated things with images and simple words,” declared Anrifia Ali Hamadi, medical and administrative assistance at CHM and president of the ACSA of Mayotte. On this stand at the main entrance of the CHM, several frames with images were placed on the table. The aim is to question the public, asking them if the theme of the image corresponds to a “received idea” or a “risk factor” for cancer. Our editorial staff entered the public to carry out this test.
” Right answer ! » declared the president of the ACSA, before continuing: “A poor diet, a lack of sporting activity, as well as tobacco, are factors that can increase the risk of developing cancer in one’s life. » On the other hand, telephones, microwaves and even deodorants are at this stage only preconceived ideas, as long as studies have not formally demonstrated a causal link between these objects and the development of cancer.
Supporting patients hospitalized at the CHM and who have escaped to Reunion
In 2023, 433,136 cancers were recorded in France.
To raise funds for cancer patients, ASCA organized a double collection. The public can thus donate money to the association in exchange for a surprise package: “The surprise bags are offered at 30 euros for adults and 20 euros for children. We made sure that people liked them, so that this gift went both ways. » But the association also encourages the public to donate non-perishable food products, such as rice, pasta, cans of food, etc. These funds aim to improve the daily lives of patients hospitalized at the CHM and patients in care. in Reunion, in reception structures, such as the Sainte Clotilde clinic house or the Indian Ocean Parents’ House. “It’s important that patients see that we are there for them, even if they have escaped to Reunion Island,” declared the president of the ASCA. In 2023, the association had collected 3,000 euros.
Support straddling two departments
“Tumors” represent 19% of medical evacuations in 2020 (ARS 2023 health overview)
For the treatment of cancer, although some patients can undergo chemotherapy in Mayotte, the majority of patients are then transferred to health establishments in Reunion. “Some patients are evacuated directly, others can have chemotherapy in Mayotte and leave for Reunion followingwards, the departure can be done very quickly,” commented the President of the ASCA. These medical evacuations can be so sudden that teams regularly distribute a hygiene kit with toiletries for patients who may not have had time to return home or collect some of their belongings before leaving. As Dr. Ransay-Colle declared last March on the management of breast cancer, “as soon as we have a suspicion of cancer, we will quickly run out of skills to characterize and take into account burden of this cancer (…) we are very often forced to refer patients to Reunion Island. »
But cancer patients in Mayotte can also benefit from the support and care provided by a mobile palliative care support team (EMASP), whose strength is to travel directly to the patient’s bedside at the CHM, in other structures or directly at home. This multidisciplinary team, made up of doctors, nurses, caregivers, a psychologist, a religious and cultural referent, a social worker, a service manager, a secretary and a logistician, allows in particular to support the patient in the different stages of their illness by allowing them to stay at home, surrounded by their loved ones. In 2022, more than 500 patients were treated by EMASP.
Mathilde Hangard
1712112498
#Cancer #days #prevention #solidarity #CHM
