Par Eloise Aube
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A little sweetness and escape in a often difficult course of care. This is what the CeriCa (Centre for Meetings and Information on Cancer) offers at the Ormeaux clinic in Le Havre.
Initially, it was a question of proposing cancer patients care supports (compulsory) “but we have done more”, signals to 76 currentlynurse and referent within CeriCa.
Thus, in 2013, the CeriCa became an association offering various workshops to patients, whether women or men.
Patchwork, pilates classes, modeling on land and even sessions with a virtual reality helmet… like a moment to escape from everyday life where illness and treatments are omnipresent, as explained by Marine, socio-esthetician:
These activities change their minds and also create a bond. The disease can isolate and here the patients observe that they are all going through the same thing.
A loop-hole
On the fourth floor of the clinic this Thursday morning, Nadine, Martine and Fabienne are taking a pilates class given by Vincent, a physical educator. All suffer from cancer.
Fabienne, 61, was struck by breast cancer and had surgery at the end of 2022. The activities offered by CeriCa allowed her to escape from this painful daily life and meet people with whom to share this ordeal.
“I didn’t know CeriCa existed and I haven’t been coming for long,” she explains, sitting on her exercise ball, “you need activities like that, especially when you’re sick. I met some great people there and it feels good to talk to each other”.
Same speech for Martine, 70 years old and Nadine, 60 years old, respectively suffering from breast cancer and generalized cancer.
I come regularly and it does me a lot of good. Here, we are well supervised and everyone is listening.
To benefit from these workshops, it is mandatory tobe followed in medical oncology at the Ormeaux clinic.
Outings in Paris, spas and treatments during chemotherapy
In addition to the workshops offered on the fourth floor of the Ormeaux clinic, the Cerica organizes outings. Recently, they went to the Senate in Paris with some patients. But also at the Pasino du Havre to benefit from a few hours of spa. “We have also set up a room in the chemotherapy department (on the floor below Editor’s note) where during the treatment, the patient can benefit from care such as plantar reflexology”, explains Marine.
“As long as there is treatment, there is hope”
If these workshops are a bubble of oxygen for the sick, it is because the course of cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy) is long and painful. That periods of remission can be interspersed with relapses and that for some, there is no way out.
“There can be a chronicity in the disease, explains Joëlle, so here he is talking regarding other things”.
At the time of the announcement of the disease, the two referents regularly go to the bedside of the patients, still in shock to explain the activities offered by the center. Because morale is important in this kind of events. As a weapon once morest the disease.
And even if “as long as there is treatment, there is hope”, breathes Marine, mutual aid plays (also) an important role.
Practical information : the workshops offered by CeriCa are free for patients. Within the center, there is also a sophrologist, a psychologist, a nurse nutritionist and a sexologist. More info 02.32.74.30.70
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