“BEFORE it was always my mother who took me out, but at a certain point she started to feel bad. Since then, my father has been taking the walk with me and has also taken care of the family. They spoke of cancer, but also of hope, among themselves. Mum is always beautiful, even if sometimes she is very tired, she smiles at me if she can; dad is not that bad, he tries to carry on everything with a smile “. The perspective of the story is that of Yago, a little dog whose family is going through a particular moment: his “mother” has been diagnosed with a tumor. His story, written by his “dad”, Attilio Pozzi, won the fourth edition of the #afiancodelcoraggio award, a literary competition conceived and promoted by Roche that collects real-life stories told by men – companions, brothers, children, friends – who have lived next to a woman with a serious illness. The award ceremony, which took place last night in the presence of the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism Dario Franceschini, was the occasion to launch the fifth edition of the award, also this year dedicated to oncological and oncohematological diseases .
The caregiver is not a hero
“The work of assisting the cancer patient is very demanding, sometimes all-encompassing. The caregiver often neglects their own health because all of their attention is paid to the health of their loved one with cancer. It is very important that the stories of these people whose humanity is a virtuous and irreplaceable example of daily commitment alongside women affected by cancer are made known and valued “, says Elisabetta Iannelli, lawyer and Secretary General Favo and member of the jury of the award. . In Italy over 3,600,000 people live with a diagnosis of cancer. During 2020, approximately 377,000 new cases were recorded, of which approximately 182,000 involved women. Advances in research and therapies have increased median survival, now reached at 5 years by 59.4% of men and 65% of women. Numbers that confirm the not only epidemiological but also social relevance of tumors, increased when a woman is affected by the disease, often a lintel and a point of reference in the family and social sphere.
PATIENT REVOLUTION
#afiancodelcoraggio, three finalist stories to give voice to caregivers
by Elisa Manacorda
“We know well how important it is for a patient affected by a tumor to have a loved one next to him to accompany him on the long and tiring path of treatment which in many cases, as happens with some forms of blood cancer, becomes chronic. The male figure who supports the sick woman assumes, in this case, an immense value and meaning, an irreplaceable precious asset, especially since in the common sense men are perceived as unable to care for and assist a patient with cancer, second-rate figures slowly, always behind the scenes in the most difficult moments. This is not the case ”, affirms Emanuela Zocaro, Head of the National AIL Press Office and Presidential Spokesperson, member of the jury.
Tratti di Respiro: illustrated stories to tell about lung cancer
The story on the big screen
From the winning story a short film and a commercial “Il cane Yago” were born, starring Giulio Corso and Federica De Benedittis, directed by Alessandro Guida, which will be broadcast on the Iris and La5 television networks and in the cinema circuits partners of the initiative . The same award also for the story that will win the fifth edition which, however, makes use of a new collaboration with the Anica Academy Foundation, the high school of specialization in cinema, audiovisual and media entertainment. “We want to bring our training experience in the film and audiovisual professions to this initiative, in the belief that through creativity and stories we can deeply sensitize people also on issues related to the disease”, said Francesco Rutelli, president of Anica Academy.
Precision medicine: handbook for the cancer patient
by Simone Valesini
How to participate
Participation in the competition is reserved for all adult male Italian citizens who want to share their life experience next to a patient. There is time until February 28, 2022 to send the story; from 1 March, the public will be able to express their preference by attributing a like to a story on the website www.afiancodelcoraggio.it. After a month, the three stories that have received the most likes will become the subject of a project as part of the writing course for young screenwriters of the Anica Academy Foundation who will have to develop three subjects for the realization of a short / commercial. The jury will then decide the winner.
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