Coordinator of the Breast Unit of Asl3 Villa Scassi, Genoa
It is a small THING that we have achieved, because we have to start with what is easier. Like a phone number and an email dedicated to metastatic patients, to which the case manager and a nurse respond. Two wonderful people who fit holidays and shifts in order to be always available, and in turn sort the questions to the most suitable doctors to answer, according to the requests and problems. We always try to call or write back within a few hours, and never more than 72. If the patient has an emergency at night and on weekends for which it is necessary to intervene immediately, obviously she must go to the emergency room, but oncologists are always available and very often they participate in active guards. There will soon also be a structured psycho-oncologist to support all patients, but with ad hoc training for metastatic patients. We started with the most immediate needs, but with the firm intention of widening this ‘preferential lane’ of support. For example, with the opening of a counter for palliative care in each district office: we are defining the project to create a sort of support points for metastatic people.
THE BLOG – FIGHT, LIVE, SMILE
Breast Health, the newsletter is born
A path born on October 13th three years ago
They may seem trivial and maybe they are. But it would not have been possible if on October 13th three years ago we had not started a great action to raise awareness towards public opinion, health professionals and institutions, together with the National Association of Metastatic Breast Cancer We Are Here – MBC Italy. If we had not prepared the ground, there would be none of this today. We need to make noise, critical mass, stir the waters.
Metastatic breast cancer: 30% of patients live at 5 years, but dedicated paths are needed
by Irma D’Aria
Patient “lessons” for hospital staff
This is why, in order to expand this ward more and more, in the coming months we will start with a compulsory awareness and training project, with training credits, on metastatic breast cancer. It will be addressed to all hospital staff: administrators, doctors and all health professionals, but also to the public assistance staff who accompany our patients every day in their care path, to explain and tell what is not taken for granted: that those living with cancer need time, attention and codified ways. There will be lectures, but not only: with the members of the Breast Unit and the women of the association we will go to all the districts of ASL3, to bring experiences. I strongly believe that raising people’s awareness is the starting point for improving the quality of life of patients. Ours is a beautiful job but it also involves you a lot. An operator who is very good at his job may not be ready to assist patients in the best way. But you can learn, with time and above all with information. We can cry together, but we must remain lucid to give strength and support to those who need us, to those who lean on us.
ITHE STORY – NO PORT, NO PARTY
To achieve this requires a huge amount of training. Maybe there will be another beautiful event on October 13th at the Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa to bring this message and say that nothing has been lost in recent years despite the pandemic, which we have continued. And for others to replicate it. Small things, I said, but big if you think about the resources we have to deal with. Above all, things that can be easily integrated and reproduced.
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