2023-09-27 06:11:00
When cancer decides to cling to the destiny of a patient, it also attacks that of an entire family and those around them. It is with this in mind that Pink Ribbon, the national organization dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, launched its new annual campaign this Tuesday to mark International Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
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This year, the campaign centers around the announcement of the results of a new large-scale survey into the experiences and needs of those close to a breast cancer patient.
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When one person is affected by the disease, an entire network of loved ones is also affected.
The non-profit organization and the IVOX design office therefore looked into the issue and submitted a questionnaire to 1,000 Belgians who have a person affected by the disease in their entourage. And unsurprisingly, the results demonstrate the extent to which the disease has a considerable impact on those close to patients. Although 65% of survey participants indicate having benefited from the support of their family and loved ones, the diagnosis of breast cancer nonetheless puts a strain on the patient’s network. A little less than half of those close to them say they are overcome by grief (44%) and a feeling of helplessness (42%). And nearly one in three (30%) members of the patient’s network are literally in shock.
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An invisible but essential help
“When a person is affected by the disease, an entire network of loved ones is also affected,” recalls Dr. Marleen Finoulst of the Breast Cancer Knowledge Center regarding the study. They form a network on which the patient can rely and this is something that is often underestimated in society. However, the emotional and financial impact is very strong within this entourage, one in two families also say they are impacted in the medium and long term at this level. This is the first time that we have studied this specific area and we see that their presence and support are essential during the care process”.
When we know that one in 9 women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime and that 900,000 women are currently fighting the disease in Belgium, it seems essential to support families and caregivers who devote all their energy to this battle which feels like a marathon most of the time. Moreover, according to the survey, we learn that 52% of respondents believe that society does not pay enough attention to breast cancer and for 56%, saying that the disease still kills remains taboo.
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Even more worrying, no less than 75% of relatives of a patient with breast cancer believe that breast cancer is presented in an overly optimistic manner, especially in the media. “This is a fairly strong figure which says a lot about the perception of this disease within society,” she emphasizes. We have the impression that it is a cancer that has become commonplace even though the disease can be fatal; it seems that the simple fact of saying that it kills has become taboo. We often hear that 80% of affected women will recover but we forget to remember that 20% of them will lose their lives”.
“The sky falling on your head”
Anne-Catherine Werner, ex-patient, is one of the five designers of the Pink Ribbon 2023. It was in June 2021 and completely by chance that she learned that she was suffering from breast cancer. “I felt a mass while getting dressed and the diagnosis came quickly, we had to act quickly given the progress of the tumor,” recalls the 34-year-old young woman. When the news breaks, you feel like the sky is falling on your head and you feel very guilty at the idea of putting those around you through all this. But in the end, their support was essential, whether through their presence or their listening.” For Mathieu, her partner, the aftermath of the bad news was the hardest to live with.
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“No matter how serious the cancer is, you put your life on hold for several months and it remains a traumatic event,” says this professional graphic designer. The image conveyed is that the disease has become almost banal and very common or even less serious without taking into account the different degrees of seriousness. Furthermore, we don’t know when it will stop, we are always in uncertainty. When you support someone, you don’t know what you’re getting into, it’s like a marathon in which you try to support your partner as best you can”.
Because it must be remembered, the diagnosis of breast cancer is bad news which has enormous repercussions. Including those close to the patient affected by the disease, as confirmed by people who have been or who are still confronted with it up close.
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Hence the slogan chosen to accompany the Pink Ribbon: “The ribbon that is one”. At the end of the workshop, the textile designer transcribed the creations of the five designers into a ribbon representing hands and faces symbolizing solidarity. “The ribbon will be sold from September 27, 2023 at the price of €4 (of which €2.80 will be donated to Pink Ribbon), notably at Ava, Carrefour, Club, Hunkemöller, Multipharma, Standaard Boekhandel, Torfs, Medi-Market, CKS, JBC, Mayerline and Colora,” reports the association.
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