Knowing how to manage the symptoms of the aftereffects of treatments, identifying a reference person in medical care teams to provide follow-up once the disease is overcome, implementing protocols to manage the return to work and studies, and ensuring the availability of psycho-oncologists in all centers are some of the main conclusions drawn from the 3rd edition of the “Celebra la vida després del càncer” event, organized by the Federació Catalana d’Entitats contra el Càncer (FECEC).
The event aimed to raise societal awareness about the difficulties faced by people who have overcome or managed cancer as a chronic condition; to provide patients with updated and useful information about this new stage; and to identify the needs of this group, as well as those of their caregivers.
This event was part of the Després del Càncer program by FECEC Junts contra el Càncer, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, and which includes information and awareness-raising activities, among others, to improve the quality of life for people once they have overcome the disease.
The 3rd edition was hosted by the Communications Manager of Vilassar de Dalt contra el Càncer, Manel Brun, and inaugurated by the president of FECEC Junts contra el Càncer, Maria Assumpció Vilà, and the Secretary of Healthcare and Participation of the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Gloria Gálvez. Vilà emphasized the significance of this 3rd edition, which was used to give a voice to patients in order to understand their difficulties and needs after treatments, as was evident in the last edition. Gálvez, for her part, called for empathy and the involvement of all of society to support people who overcome cancer. She also highlighted that the Generalitat de Catalunya is working to provide comprehensive care to this group and to chronic patients.
The event addressed these and other aspects through expert talks, experience-sharing groups, and live music. In this regard, in the Perspectives section, the insights of six experts were featured, addressing different aspects of the stage that begins once the disease is overcome, depending on whether it affects chronic patients, adolescents and young people, adults, or caregivers. The various professionals who contributed their expertise were Mariona Vilaclara, a psycho-oncologist from the Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, who spoke about the psychological aspects of living with chronic cancer; Eduardo Brignani, a psychologist and psychotherapist specialized in family, disability, and rare diseases, Marc Sánchez, a social worker, and Estela López, a neuropsychologist from AFANOC and the Pediatric Oncohematology Service of Hospital Vall d’Hebron, who addressed care for young people and adolescents with cancer; Alicia Noguera, a case management nurse from Hospital del Mar, who discussed the return to everyday life; and Assumpta Soler, coordinator of the Care and Integrated Attention Program of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, who shared her knowledge about the role of the caregiver during an oncological process.
In the section Fem camí per avançar després del càncer, the attendees were divided into these four groups to listen to and share their experiences with the disease, and to understand the needs of each group. From the conclusions drawn, the FECEC Junts contra el Càncer and its federated entities will be able to improve the services they offer to people with cancer and their families, and will continue to advocate with administrations for the defense of their rights. These focus groups were supported by Nephila Health Partnership.
The event concluded with a performance by Symbios Duo, featuring singer Laia Puy and keyboardist Sergi Rodríguez.
This event has been supported by the Departaments de Drets Socials i Inclusió and Salut of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Fundació “la Caixa”, and Pierre Fabre laboratories; and with the collaboration of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the Col·legi de Farmacèutics de Barcelona, RAC1, and Flors Noè Germans.
Check out the video summary of the day.