On Friday, October 8 at 10 a.m., at the Department Hotel, a project for the creation of a Departmental Cancer Institute was announced.
In France, more than 3.8 million people live or have lived with cancer. Every day, about 1,000 new cases are diagnosed. In the Alpes Maritimes, approximately 40,000 patients were being treated for cancer in 2020.
To combat this scourge, a very special new establishment will be created in the Alpes Maritimes in 2022. This creation comes from an unprecedented initiative in France, as this establishment will bring together three entities: The Department of Alpes Maritimes, the Alpes Maritimes League Against Cancer, and the Antoine-Lacassagne Center.
Thus, the prominent figures of these institutions were present at the Department Hotel for this announcement: Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department, Thierry Pattou, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Committee of the League Against Cancer, Professor Emmanuel Barranger, General Director of the Antoine-Lacassagne Center, and also Eric Ciotti, deputy of the Alpes Maritimes.
As Charles-Ange Ginesy said, «This is a battle long fought by the Department of Alpes-Maritimes», which is pursuing a proactive policy in the fight against cancer. It is for this purpose that the community is partnering with these two historical partners, the Antoine-Lacassagne Center and the League Against Cancer, to create this unique association.
With the creation of this institute, several objectives are targeted: accelerating screening, supporting research, promoting prevention, better supporting patients and their families, and improving quality of life.
The Department of Alpes Maritimes will take charge of the architectural component by providing a space of at least 800 m² to consolidate all activities and ensure equitable access to care by setting up a medical-social reception and support module.
The Antoine-Lacassagne Center will be responsible for developing specialized consultations and treatments and also acting in prevention and screening.
The League Against Cancer will develop and expand on this site its mission of supporting patients and their loved ones, with additional and complementary care offerings.
With the announcement of this new institute, the timeline for this creation will be established:
End of October 2021: Drafting of the Action Plan
November 2021: Drafting of the terms of reference
January-June 2022: Implementation work (buildings and recruitment)
September 2022: Opening of the site
The location of the Institute has not yet been chosen but it will be “in Nice and its surroundings.” However, the name it will bear has been announced; it will be called “Institut Axel Kahn” in tribute “to this great scientist, essayist, and humanist, former president of the League Against Cancer, who passed away last July”.
