Dressed as a radiologist behind her desk, Nina C. explains, pointing to her computer screen: “There is a mass. What worries me a little is that it is characteristic of something nasty. And unfortunately, some cells have migrated into the liver. − Is it serious? the woman in front of her worries. − Yes, it’s serious », confirms Nina, who knows well what metastasized pancreatic cancer means. Curtain. The patient is an actress and the “radiologist”, a sixth-year medical student, participates in a theater workshop lasting a few hours which introduces future caregivers to the announcement of cancer, in partnership with the National School of Medicine. dramatic art of Montpellier. She had fifteen minutes to prepare based on a scenario drawn at random.
“There were a lot of good things, but we have to avoid certain words: serious, nasty, unfortunately…underlines Marc Ychou, professor of digestive oncology. For example, you can say that “it’s serious”. » At the initiative of this workshop at the medical faculty of Montpellier-Nîmes, this theater enthusiast adds to the attention of the other students present that day: “The medical elements given suggest that the patient is doomed. Be careful, it’s a first date: you shouldn’t say too much. » He insists: during a consultation, patients are particularly sensitive to the attitude of the healthcare professional. Especially since this meeting will change their lives, and many of them find themselves in a state of astonishment.
According to the survey “Facing cancer, the test of the care pathway”, carried out by The League against cancer in 2018the announcement is the moment “the hardest thing to live with” of the care pathway for a third of those surveyed. She emphasizes “lack of listening on the part of caregivers”which focus their information on the medical aspects of cancer, to the detriment of other components of patients’ lives.
Body language
Alongside Professor Ychou, director Serge Ouaknine, 80 years old – he looks ten years younger –, several of whose relatives are doctors or have been affected by cancer. The two have known each other for around twenty years. When he was younger, the specialist took theater classes at the conservatory. “Theatre has taught me a lot about managing my relationship with patients and their families, and thus being empathetic while maintaining a clinical distance. Serge and I agreed that we needed to train doctors in the issues of non-verbal communication during the announcement. »
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