Hi everyone. I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago - have undergone various tests and see the surgeon on Monday for the results. So far the health care has been very good - but I’m really worried about the results - and my French is not good enough to cope with medical speak. I haven’t a clue about the process - i know i’m seeing the aneathatist on Monday - but don’t know why. Is there anyone who has experience of health care in France. simple things like what am i supposed to wear in hospital are concerning me! thanks.
Hi janemolly,
I wanted to respond so you know we are all here to support you but don’t know anything about France and health care. I can tell you that for my lumpectomy and node surgery I was operated on and home on the same day, and they gave me a gown and special socks to wear. I had to take slippers and a dressing gown as had to walk to the operating theatre. Monday I go back in to have the nodes removed, so have been told there will be drains and I will be kept in for a couple of days, so to take nightwear and toiletries. I was told to buy either Simple or Dove products - shower gel, shampoo, conditioner - as these would be fine and gentle on the wounds. It must be scary being in France where your language is not yet able to cope with what is being said to you, but I can’t imagine that it is that different in terms of treatment. I am going through this with a French lady and she tells me things are quite similar where she comes from.
Very best of luck with the surgery.
P xx
Hello Janemolly,
So sorry you’re a member of our horrible club, and hopefully you’ll find support on the forums. My experiences of health care in France are limited to abad fall I had a year or two ago, with xrays and stitches, and my husband falling ill with his gall bladder last year and admitted to a clinic in Nimes for 5 nights - all very good care from medical staff, although not from admin staff!
There is an organisation in France called CSF, Cancer Support France. They took advice from Macmillan when they were setting up originally in the north-west of France, and are there to help any English speakers of whatever nationality in need of support when going through cancer in France. I spend half of each year in our apartment not far from Nimes, and had a Macmillan coffee morning 5 years ago, but also did it for CSF and those donating had a choice of which box they put their money into. That was just a fortnight beforemy hospital in England found that I had a problem - which turned out to be cancer, with 3 lumpectomies folowed by radiotherapy.
I believe there is a CSF group in the Toulouse area - they are listed as a an association in league with Institut Claudius Regaud:
claudiusregaud.fr/L-accueil/Les-associations
and there’s an email address on the list for any enquiries.
The aim of CSF is to give support with such things as attending appointments if necessary, translating documentation etc if needed, and a shoulder to lean on when wanted. But of course all of this depends on people volunteering and others raising money for training and publicity; I know they are keen to keep building up in our area.
I hope you can get in touch with CSF to see if they can help you.Keep coming to the forum with any questions, even if we’re in a different country, there are lots of helpful ladies here and it’s wonderful for moral!
Best wishes, Jo x