Loire Atlantique. Resuming work after breast cancer "it's complex" | Ocean Press

After the terrible breast cancer test, returning to work is often difficult. Patients and professionals will speak about it on Saturday as part of National Metastatic Breast Cancer Day.

When we are better, we think of the resumption of work. We return to normalcy. And here, we will face the difficulties. How to have a therapeutic half-time? What are my rights ? Bad advice has serious consequences on the ability to bounce back, compensation, retirement, "notes Fabienne Renaud, president of Europa Donna 44.

Mobilized against breast cancer, the association organizes "Patient Days", this Friday at the Western Cancer Institute, Saint-Herblain, and Saturday at the exhibition center of Nantes metropolis. " Situations diverge in the private, the public, the liberal, the unemployed, and so on. ".

"For society, once you are no longer bald, you can work".

Magali Gourdon, 44, who is fighting against metastatic breast cancer, will testify on Saturday.

" We are all different. Four months after the end of my treatments, I reworked 40 hours a week, without RTT. I had just found a job, I did not have much choice. Level fatigability, it was about. But other women, even after a year, can not recover . "

Today, Magali wants to get a message across. " People summarize the disease with chemo. For society, once you are no longer bald, you can work . " But things are not so simple.

" The consequences of breast cancer are felt in the long term. There are scars, re-education, moral and physical reconstruction , "says Magali.

" In fact, there is the time of the patient, who diverges according to the type of treatment, the medical time, and the time of the employer who is in the management of his company. These times are not always consistent, "says Fabienne Renaud.

Returning to work is even more complicated for women with metastatic breast cancer, such as Magali Gourdon: " You know you will never get better ."

Once on a permanent contract, she learned that she had metastases. " I was alone on my post in a small structure. I'm off for a year. I understand the problem of the company that had trouble finding a replacement and took it on a permanent contract. For my resumption, we discuss the creation of a part-time. It's not simple. But I am no longer able to be full time .

These questions generate stress. " In my case, even if my employer supports me, he does not know how long he can count on me. Me neither. In one year off, I have already changed treatment. My illness has got worse. In chronic diseases, we know that one day treatments will not work anymore . "

Do not go too fast

For women, recovery can be too precipitous. " A person I know was encouraged to take over by the medical adviser of the welfare organization, who saw it only once. We can look good. But it's the appearance. We try to give a better face in public .

In the association or in hospitals, Magali Gourdon and Fabienne Renaud encounter desperate situations. The refusal of a therapeutic half-time, financial complications. " In the public, at the end of three months, you have only half a salary if you have no foresight. People find themselves sick and precarious, "notes Fabienne Renaud. In the private or the public, " single people can sink ".

Convenient

Patient days

On October 11th, conference on the progress of treatments at 7:30 pm, at the Western Cancer Institute, with Dr. Carole Gourmelon, oncologist. On October 12, at the Nantes metropolis exhibition center: at 9 am, dietician, at 10 am, round table on the resumption of work, then workshop on the mind. Open to all, on registration: europadonna44@orange.fr or by SMS at 06 80 32 58 51.

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