Over 50% of patients are affected by long-term side effects of treatment for gynecopelvic cancers (ovary, endometrium). Offering solutions to these patients is a key objective for the Centre Baclesse.
The list is long: fatigue, pain, sleep disorders, digestive problems, anxiety and depression, lymphedema, sexual difficulties... Withmore and more patients going into long-term remission after treatment for gynaecological-pelvic cancer (ovarian, endometrial), screening and management of the after-effects are essential to improve their quality of life. To optimize support for patients recovering from ovarian or endometrial cancer, it is essential to assess the after-effects and the need for supportive care (SOS) as soon as the initial treatments have been completed, using a multidisciplinary approach.
That is why, in January 2023, the François Baclesse Center launched a new study entitled "AFTERGYN Pilot," which aimsto optimize support for patients with gynecological cancers by providing appropriate supportive care during the recovery period after cancer. This study is above all a team effort bringing together the expertise of various healthcare professionals such as Priscille Lebon, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), gynecology nurses, the supportive care department, brachytherapy, and healthcare research.
The objective?
The aim is to measure the impact of consultations to assess the need for support care, at the end of treatment, and to evaluate their implementation 4 months after delivery of the Personalized Post-Cancer Plan (PPAC), in patients at the end of treatment for ovarian or endometrial cancer. These consultations will take place within the framework of a Day Hospitalization (HDJ), which will enable patients to meet the various healthcare professionals who can refer them on the same day, including to appropriate professionals closer to home.
Thanks to this personalized support, the team hopes to improve care and, above all, quality of life for these patients.
What is the cMYP?
Thepost-cancer phase is the final stage of thecancer journey: returning to a less medicalized daily routine, embarking on new projects, returning to work... All this requires personalized care and support. The patient leaves the curative phase and enters the monitoring phase. The PPAC (Plan Personnalisé Après Cancer - Personalized After-Cancer Plan) is a document given to the patient at the end of this curative phase, containing proposals for alternating medical surveillance between the treating physician and the oncologist. Other professionals outside the care setting also take over, via networks such as Oncodiet (for nutritional monitoring), IMAPAC for physical activity, associations...
The outlook
For the moment, the study is being carried out solely at the Centre François Baclesse, but a second national phase is planned for the first half of 2024. Should the results of the first phase be positive, deployment on other cancer sites could also be envisaged.
For further information, please contact the AFTERGYN project team at 0231454043.
