For two years, 17 patients affected by metastasized breast cancer and followed by the Cario (Armorican center for radiotherapy, medical imaging and oncology) of the Côtes-d’Armor private hospital (HPCA), in Plérin , were able to benefit from the application MyCharlotte. Like eleven other health centers in France. “The feedback has been very positive,” says oncologist Jérôme Martin-Babau. So much so that the management of the private hospital recently decided to extend the system to all patients followed for cancer. He is the first in France to perpetuate this experiment.
Care at your fingertips
MyCharlotte? This is an application designed by Charlotte Mahr, affected by two breast cancers, and her husband, Grégoire Nedelec. “When we designed the application, there was a double challenge”, explains the co-founder. “First, the idea of having an active approach as a patient. Then respond to the problem of having to return to the hospital several times, for supportive care”.
With more than 200 audio or video content, the application allows patients to have “resource activities” at their fingertips. “There are plenty of things on offer at the hospital, but the sophrologist will not necessarily be available in the middle of the night when the patient needs it. The application, yes”, explains Charlotte Mahr. Which recalls that “the content has been worked on with professionals”.
It contributed enormously to my well-being on the day of the operation.
A service from which Loeza Henry, who was part of the program set up by the HPCA, was able to benefit. “I was very stressed by the general anesthesia. I took advantage of the self-hypnosis program offered by the app. And it contributed enormously to my well-being on the day of the operation”.
The patient-partner asset
Loeza Henry is now one of the patient partners who can support users of the application in their treatment program. A role for which she took a university degree. Just like Charlotte Mahr, also a patient partner. “For the moment, we are five but it is something that is developing more and more”, exposes the latter.
Their role ? “We work on a non-drug care program with the patient,” explains Charlotte Mahr. “We always stay within our framework, which is not that of the caregiver. But we are also bound by medical secrecy”. In the same way, the objective of the application is not to replace the hospital’s proposals but to provide a complement.
Some 400 patients from the private hospital will now benefit from this supplement free of charge, including 50 accompanied by a partner patient.
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