“I’m not worried or optimistic, but I need sympathy”

Even children can fight cancer

Thea is almost 7 years old, and this Saturday morning, she was especially proud to receive her Apprentice Cancer Caregiver Diploma, thanks to one of the many fun activities offered by the Georges-Francois-Leclerc Center in Quetigny. A researcher at CGFL, Alexandra Odott, actually recreated her daily work from a child’s perspective: dosing the right medicine, deciding which would be best for patients…

“Children often enjoy experiencing this playful side, and it also allows us to engage in discussions with parents,” sums up Alexandra Odott.

“Get Out the Feelings”

As for Thea, it was easy because her mother, Anas Dauphin, is a medical assistant at CGFL. So he sees patients every day and is sometimes concerned to see them getting affected by cancer at a younger and younger age.

“But we also benefit from numerous training modules to best accommodate young parents,” she explains. The fact that once she returns home, the support of her partner, Christopher Martin, who comes from a completely different professional background, does not do much to “unload the emotions”.

“When Thea asks me what my job is, I tell her that I help people who have serious illnesses, whom we treat. But I don’t give details, she is still young,” explains her mother. Together with her partner, they also try to adapt “a lifestyle focused on the prevention of diseases, including cancer, especially by ensuring a quality diet.”

F.J.