2023-10-30 13:22:18
Integrating paramedical professions more fully into the cancer care pathway, preventing and raising awareness among patients, and supporting them with the side effects of treatments are essential actions. A real medical synergy makes it possible to improve the patient’s well-being during this difficult period. Because yes, the care of patients with breast cancer is teamwork to be defended and strengthened!
The foot: forgotten victim of cancer treatments
Nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss, intense fatigue… most of the side effects of cancer treatments are known to everyone. But the consequences on the feet are less present in the minds of patients. Ranging from inflammation of the skin to damage to the nails or the nail area, podiatric syndromes linked to anticancer treatments are common and can have serious consequences. Hand-foot syndromes, cracks, blisters, redness and swelling can cause intense pain and degrade the quality of life of patients in severe forms. Walking sometimes becomes impossible, further isolating patients in their fight against the disease. This may lead the oncologist to modify the patient’s treatment regimen, by reducing the prescribed doses or by suspending it temporarily or permanently.
If the development of oral treatments allows patients to stay at home more, clinical evaluations in hospital are less frequent, which does not favor the detection of podiatric side effects. Prevention is essential, and regular assessment necessary, even before the appearance of pain. In cases of metastatic disease, treatment is given to patients as long as it is effective against the cancer. Some people may take it for long periods of time. The higher the doses administered and the longer the treatment, the more damage to the skin and/or appendages sets in and requires significant recovery time. Let’s not trivialize the side effects on the feet. It is time to anticipate them by improving foot care during antitumor treatments.
A complementarity of skills at the service of the patient
In the patient’s cancer care journey, the chiropodist-podiatrist is an important player. Cooperation between the different expertise always takes place for the benefit of the patient, each plays a role before, during and after treatment. Quality of life, continuity of treatment, gain in opportunity: interdisciplinarity is the guarantee of good overall patient care. As soon as cancer is detected, the prevention and care role of the paramedical professions must be strengthened, including in the city to support home care.
In this equation, the strength of the chiropodist-podiatrist lies in his expertise: the consultation focuses on diagnosis, screening and treatment. Not only will the practitioner be able to anticipate and treat ailments (in particular thanks to various devices such as foot orthotics for example), but he also participates in the overall therapeutic education of the patient, which allows him to better manage his life with the side effects of his treatment.
In diabetology, the chiropodist-podiatrist regularly intervenes to treat the frequent complications of the disease on the feet. In the care of cancer patients too, the foot specialist must be integrated more systematically.
Pedicure and podiatry: a public health issue
During the 1is quarter of 2024, cancer patients will be able to benefit from the intervention – covered by health insurance – of chiropodists-podiatrists before and during anti-cancer treatments. This amendment to the National Convention is a crucial first step in recognizing the importance of the role of the profession in the prevention and monitoring of hand-foot syndrome in particular.
This first strong act must not remain isolated. It is through the organic universityization of the training of paramedical professions that cooperation between different health professionals can be strengthened. It is time to encourage multidisciplinary teaching and to set up specific teaching units at universities to meet specific medical needs (such as the various podiatric side effects in cancer patients).
Recent advances in prevention and monitoring, as well as the prospects for universalization of paramedical professions, have only one common objective: to optimize patient care. In cases of breast cancer, untreated side effects or treated too late are a double whammy for an already weakened patient. Let’s not just focus on the disease. Integrating podiatric expertise strengthens the chances of recovery and also makes it possible to improve the patient care pathway.
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