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Don’t be afraid of the mammography"  – Janette Bertrand, surviving of the breast cancer,

During the last years, so much Janette Bertrand that his/her/its daughter, Dominique Lajeunesse, surrendered with assiduity to the tests of tracking of the breast cancer. It is what allowed them to be treated quickly when they learned, to some weeks of interval, that they were all two attacks of a breast cancer. It was in 2006.

Janette Bertrand and Dominique Lajeunesse testified for the first time of their fight against the cancer, in the setting of the launching of the first campaign of financing of the research Group in cancer (GRSC), connected in the center of research of the academic hospitable Center of Montreal (CRCHUM).

" When the diagnosis fell, I was under the shock. I believed that I was going to die, that all was finished… I was afraid! ", confided Janette Bertrand, austere of numerous dramatic for the television and very known coordinator.

For his/her/its part, Dominique Lajeunesse felt a lot of anger when she learned – some weeks after his/her/its mother – that she also had the cancer. " I was annoyed. I could not believe that that hit us all two", she/it has told.

Then they have been taken in charge by the GRCS. To the departure, they were all two skeptics with regard to the Quebecois health system, but the experience made them change opinion. They only have some praises to formulate at the place of the people who treated them and of the care that they received.

The tracking sulked by the women

If their reaction to the diagnosis was different, Mmes Bertrand and Lajeunesses are okay on one point:  the importance to submit regularly to the program of tracking of the breast cancer.

Put on foot has ten years by the ministry of Health and the social Services (MSSS), this program applies to all Quebecois aged of 50 years to 69 years.

" In the region of Montreal, only 30% participate in the tests of tracking, deplore Janette Bertrand. The women are afraid of the tests, fear to be diagnosed. "

" In the different countries that I visited, I noted that the women affected by a breast cancer are without resources. Here, the services are accessible in all regions and, yet, one underused them. It is shocking! ", exclaim Dominique Lajeunesse.

According to her, the women must not fear to submit to the mammography. " The tests are not painful. or so little – and the hasty tracking permits to be taken quickly in charge, to be treated more efficiently and to live longer. "

The two women are unanimous:  it is thanks to the precocious tracking as well as to the care specialized of the GRCS that they could avoid the ablation of a breast. " And maybe same to die", slip, touched, Janette Bertrand.

To integrate care and research

Every ten minutes, a woman dies of the continuations of a breast cancer in North America", indicate the Dr Andre Robidoux, medical director of the GRCS since 20 years.

If the survival of the children affected by a cancer knew important gains, it is thanks to their involvement to clinical studies, sustains the surgeon-oncologist.

" Today, the rate of involvement to the clinical studies at these children is of 90%, but at the women affected by a breast cancer, this rate is only of 30%", affirm the Dr Robidoux while insisting on the importance on contributing to the advancement of the science.

According to him, the last 20 years of research permitted to make previously operable a breast cancer inoperable and to make 25% pass the death rate attributable to this cancer of 50%.

" It is important to encourage the treatment of the breast cancer in specialized centers, where research is integrated to the care – as it is the case for the children", he/it adds.

And the range of the clinical studies led to the GRCS is very large. " Our research touch all stages of the illness, active of the prevention to compassion, in order to improve the quality of life as well as the longevity of the victims of the breast cancer", concludes the Dr Robidoux.

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