The Cancer League is expanding to better support patients

On June 18, the Cancer League inaugurated its new premises at Franklin Square. Designed to provide more soothing and comprehensive support to sick people, this place brings together spaces for supportive care, psychological follow-up and wellness, in order to strengthen the welcome, support and quality of life of beneficiaries.

Guests were able to listen to the speeches of Laurence Cressin Bensa (Departmental President of the League), Valérie Beauchamp (one of the League’s beneficiaries), Eric Ciotti (Mayor of Nice) and Philippe Bergerot (National President of the League). Subsequently, a tour of the building was offered.

The architecture and decoration were “designed to soothe, reassure and humanize the journey of each person affected by the disease“. Thus there are six rooms dedicated to “supportive care.”

A socio-aesthetic care room and oncology hairdressing:

Socio-aesthetics is a specialization of the beautician profession. It is aimed at anyone weakened by physical harm, psychological distress and/or social distress. These treatments notably allow people to feel heard, to regain self-esteem and to feel better in their skin. This can take the form of relaxation treatments, corrective makeup or advice and skincare treatments.

A psychology room

Psychological follow-up is crucial for people with cancer. Indeed, this disease involves heavy examinations and treatments but also negative thoughts that can greatly affect the physical and mental health of patients. Having access to personalized follow-up and listening is more than important. Furthermore, League staff and volunteers also undergo a psychological examination before being recruited.

A foot reflexology room and a global reflexology room

Global and foot reflexology is a practice that is based on the stimulation of reflex zones located on the feet, hands, face or ears. These zones correspond to organs, glands or physiological functions. By acting on them, the reflexologist promotes relaxation, balance and harmony of the body. Foot reflexology, the most common, uses specific pressure and massage to act on overall balance, not just one symptom.

A sophrology room

Sophrology is a psychocorporeal method that aims to strengthen the harmony between the body, emotions and thoughts. It is based on conscious and voluntary interoception, and seeks to restore balance between the body and the brain by acting on stress and emotional regulation. Thanks to these treatments, beneficiaries leave sessions with tools to better manage stressful situations (e.g. MRI), in particular breathing exercises.

There is also a common room hosting adapted physical activity, creative arts, group workshops and training.

Committed speeches

Laurence Cressin Bensa, the Departmental President of the Cancer League, spoke first to explain: “Our space on Alfred Mortier Street was no longer suitable for caring for sick people, […], I should clarify that this acquisition was financed largely by a bank loan, the repayment of which will be equivalent to the amount of rent that we were paying at a loss previously.” She then stated with emotion: “This place was designed and arranged like a cocoon, a space of conviviality and human warmth. […] Cancer exhausts strength and breaks the soul. And beyond medical care, everyone knows how taxing the course of illness can be. Here, each person affected by cancer is welcomed with kindness, respect and humanity.” She clarified that this new Nice space, equipped with a garden and five treatment cabins, improves the welcome of their 660 beneficiaries through outdoor workshops and individual follow-ups. After thanking partners and donors, she gave the floor to beneficiary Valérie Beauchamp.

The latter testified to the comfort provided by supportive care in the face of the stress of medical appointments, describing the facility as a place of meeting and absolute understanding. She confided: “At my first cancer, I hesitated to open the door to the League because I thought we only cried. I had a completely false idea of this place and I’m really glad I did it the second time“.

Subsequently, Éric Ciotti intervened to describe the association’s action as “exemplary“. He stressed that this site will provide “additional means, additional consideration, additional care for the sick“, before reminding of the financial support of local authorities and the societal challenge related to the “cost of these treatments today, because they must remain accessible to all“.

Finally, Philippe Bergerot, President of the League, concluded the speeches by greeting the local team: “And here we have an example of a committee that is dynamic, committed, a committee that in fact concretely acts on behalf of sick people“. Mentioning the fact that Nice benefited from the “business league label“, he insisted on the need to “increase the prevention budget“, regretting that “prevention is the poor relation. We always talk about prevention as a cost but not as an investment “. Wondering what “the league would be without its volunteers“, he recalled that “without donors the league would be nothing” because “behind every action, there is a life. A life accompanied, a life supported, a life sometimes transformed, and that is what gives meaning to what we do“. The President then presented to the City of Nice the label “My city teams up”.

This transition to a more modern infrastructure offers the League a lasting and functional asset, enabling it to sustain its actions on a departmental scale. For sick people, access to these optimized facilities guarantees comprehensive strengthened support, conducive to psychological and physical well-being throughout their treatment. This new foundation thus infuses renewed human momentum, essential for breaking the isolation of patients and concretely improving their chances of remission.