this hospital organizes a parade for its breast cancer patients

The Minjoz University Hospital in Besançon (Doubs) organized a pink carpet parade on October 17, 2024 to raise awareness of the fight against breast cancer. A project that helps patients maintain self-confidence in the middle of Pink October.

Company

From daily life to major issues, discover the subjects that make up local society, such as justice, education, health and family.

France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the “Society” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy

Having makeup done, wearing beautiful outfits, then parading in the spotlight… This is the very special experience that several patients at the Minjoz University Hospital in Besançon were able to live on Thursday October 17, 2024. An event organized in this month of October pink to highlight the fight against breast cancer.

Makeup artists were called in to prepare the fashion show • © Guillaume Soudat – France Télévision

Every year, the hospital organizes an event to promote this fight. But this year the will was a little different: “we wanted to put the patient at the heart of our project” explains Jonathan Debauve, communications manager at the hospital.

Self-image at the center of the healing process

Before the parade, patients were offered a “cat walk” class. “We wanted to teach them to walk, to adopt postures that are not ours on a daily basis. Work on their charisma, their presence, their elegance” testifies Romuald Bertrand, master fashion designer, to our journalists Lilia Aoudia and Guillaume Soudat.

A “cat walk” was organized to learn the marches specific to parades • © Guillaume Soudat – France Télévision

The goal: “transform their illness into an asset, because we are not going to erase it, we are not going to try to camouflage it, we are just going to put another image on top” adds Romuald Bertrand. And it seems that the mission was successful: “It allows me to take my mind off things at a time when I’m starting chemotherapy again. Indeed, yes, it feels good. It’s nice to be surrounded by women who are going through the same thing as me” says one of the participants, Sophie Lamblin.

This self-image is central to the healing process, and days like this are just as much a part of care.

Throughout the treatment process we go through multiple stages. And all this support, this supportive care which works on self-image, is very important.

Corinne Pontieux

Patient

If this project provides breathing space for patients, it is also an opportunity to highlight prevention to fight against breast cancer. Because here again, Jonathan Debauve is categorical: “When breast cancer is caught early, 90% of the time, it can be cured.”