Nancy CHRU undertakes prevention and screening actions as part of the European ENT Cancer Awareness Week, Make Sense. This Wednesday, her doctors will be at the Nancy center to offer free, painless upper aerodigestive tract (VADS) exams. Everyone is impressed. Especially since, like most cancers, those in the head and neck regions silently advance. They are barely noticeable in the embryonic state. “Unfortunately, they are often diagnosed late,” says Bruno Toussaint, a hospital doctor in the ENT department at CHRU de Nancy. With his colleague, Patrice Gallet, Bruno Toussaint launched an operation this Wednesday 21 September (a bus will be parked in Saint-Sébastien square, from 10:00 to 16:00, in Nancy) to raise awareness of the danger of these ENT cancers affecting nearly 15,000 new people each year and causing nearly 4,000 deaths.
As you can imagine, alcohol and tobacco are the breeding ground for these cancers. But another risk factor is emerging and exploding around the world: the papillomavirus or the papilloma virus. “It is well known at the gynecological level, as it is responsible for almost 100% of uterine cancers, but much less in ENT, explains Bruno Toussaint. However, we now know that it is involved in tumors of the back of the mouth (oropharynx). You can then have a severe tumor, as if you had been drinking and smoking. It is a so-called “squamous cell” cancer. “Cancer preventable with vaccination, remembers Patrice Gallet:“ We forget it a bit, but the papillomavirus vaccine is not just for girls. Boys can also be vaccinated. “
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“Early diagnosis is essential”
Among the symptoms not to be overlooked and to be considered as warning signs there are obviously bleeding from the mouth, but also repetitive mouth ulcers, persistent discomfort in the throat or swallowing, aphonia … “When you have a problem at this level and the prescribed treatments the family doctor does not work, you have to go to an otolaryngologist ”, advises Bruno Toussaint. In general, after two ineffective treatments, it is recommended to consult a specialist. “Early diagnosis is essential because it is necessary to be aware that the sequelae are greater in this type of cancer,” continues Patrice Gallet. With heavy treatments, we will influence the sense of smell, voice, breathing, taste, sometimes sight … “
The consequences of cancer are sometimes just as painful, if not more so, than the disease itself. The risk of recurrence remains high. And it is often necessary to relearn to exist socially with physical and psychological alterations. This part will be addressed during a public lecture entitled “(Re) living after ENT cancer”. Led by the CHRU ENT team, it will bring together patient and witness associations in the Raugraff room in Nancy this Wednesday from 7pm. A second screening day in the ENT department of the CHRU will follow on Wednesday 28 September. All you have to do is go to the ground floor of the Louis-Mathieu building, door 1, from 9am to 4pm. Note that the Lorraine Cancer Institute (ICL) in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy is also participating in the Make Sense campaign. It proposes, this Wednesday, from 14:00 to 16:00, a meeting with the association “Les Mutilés de la voix de Lorraine” in its meeting and information space, as well as a debate with ENT specialists on Thursday 22 September, at 20: 00. , salle Pergaud (1, place de la Liberté in Laxou) and a screening day this Friday, September 23, from 9:00 to 15:00, with registration on 03. 83. 59. 85. 66.
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