” Oh dear. It did good to my completely tense body”. Carole rolls her eyes when she thinks back to her appointment with an osteopath, taken the day of the opening, in the premises of the association “La Maison autour”, in Nogent-sur-Marne.
This Friday, this 49-year-old Fontenaysienne, suffering from breast cancer since September 2021, returned for an art therapy course, before heading to a sophrology session. “Before I was speed. I am a former dancer and with the disease you feel like you no longer control your body, she explains, wearing a black scarf on her head to hide the hair loss. It’s weird but my body held on. »
Hearing it, Violaine Djen, founder and president of the association, in remission from cancer, smiles. “I discovered that supportive care helped me a lot, explains this sophrologist who had noticed that many patients did not necessarily have the means to pay for a session or did not think of certain practices. It’s important for morale and it’s a budget. And in no case should it replace treatment. »
These treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, damage physically and mentally. Suddenly, the founder spoke to her friend, Elisabeth Bossetti, municipal councilor (SE) in Nogent-sur-Marne, who worked for 30 years in the medical world.
“I immediately thought of the urologist and president of the Autour du patient 94 association, Frédéric Thibault, who let us take over the ground floor of his premises, opposite the Armand Brillard clinic, avenue Watteau, summarizes Elisabeth Bossetti, also treasurer of the association which benefits from the premises, Monday all day and Friday morning.
Professionals, “all volunteers” specify the two women, allow patients wherever they come from to access socio-aesthetic care, adapted physical practices, osteopathy, art therapy and sophrology. All for free in a warm environment, with neutral colors, beautiful wooden floors, with access to a wooded area. The ideal way to find a little serenity.
“We hope to welcome a naturopath, a plantar reflexologist and a music therapist, explains Violaine Djen who does not want to replace the work of doctors and oncologists in any way. We want to accompany the sick, man or woman, during the treatment and after. Moreover, this period is not easy, you can feel lost, have trouble resuming a normal life. »
Sophrology “to work on muscular and mental pain”
For example, sophrology, “allows you to work on muscular and mental pain, explains Claude Sonalier, sophrologist who works on visualization and breathing, before looking back on her experience: “a patient, phobic of injections, was able to gradually manage stress and pain. At the end she was hardly in pain anymore. The practitioner gives tools, keys that can then be used on a daily basis if desired.
Art therapy also leads to reconnecting in a different way. “We express what we feel on the sheet. There I thought of a painting that I redid by adding other elements. I was no longer thinking of anything,” Carole spontaneously blurts out after her first session, visibly delighted. I did not understand why I associated the elements! “It was very cool”, spontaneously releases another patient, preferring to remain anonymous.
Since its opening, about fifteen people have already contacted the association. “We are in well-being, concludes Violaine Djen. It is intended to be a place of exchange, to meet and feel less alone. »
To contact “The House around”: 06.16.99.00.93 or by email: [email protected]
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