Their names are Lucas, Nadia, Alexandre, Charlotte… At the age of 20 or so, they should have their lives ahead of them and a carefree mindset. But fate caught up with them in the form of lymphoma, ovarian sarcoma, cancer testicle or breast. So inevitably, the relationship to the world and to their body has changed. They tell it in a web series of seven short episodes, called Without taboo.
These characters are all actors, but the reality is there, rooted in the daily lives of doctors and psychologists at the Oscar-Lambret cancer center in Lille, in the North. In France, approximately 1,900 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year among adolescents and young adults.
Is cancer contagious?
For these patients, sexuality is an essential issue, as reminded the 3rd cancer plan initiated by the government for the period 2014-2019. “Caring about sexual health and intimate life is an integral part of care,” confirms Doctor Cyril Lervat, pediatric oncologist at the Oscar-Lambret center.
Is cancer contagious? Can we make love during the treatments? Wouldn’t that make the disease worse? The clinic of the Lille hospital center has decided to free speech on the subject, by producing this web series with the help of the northern company La Belle Histoire. A theater group that knows the hospital world well since its artistic director, Stéphane Van de Rosieren, is the founder of clowns of hope.
About 300 young people followed for cancer
Le first episode has been released, Wednesday, on Oscar-Lambret’s YouTube channel. “The six other episodes will be broadcast in the fall, the time to assess and test their effectiveness with patients at Oscar-Lambret”, explains Cyril Lervat. Then, health professionals are free to use this educational tool to explore different sexual situations and orientations.
At Oscar-Lambret, about 300 young people are followed for cancer. “It is also a question of combating received ideas, slips in Dr. Lervat. Amorous fulfillment is necessary for healing. Disease certainly has repercussions, but it should not take over. »