SANTÉ • HEALTH
Cancer
Survivor’s Corner
A SENIOR’S STRENGTH, INSIDE AND OUT
A
ccording to Canadian statistics, it’s estimated
that 28 percent of new cancers affect people
aged 60 to 69 years and 43 percent in people aged 70
years or older.
More senior survivors are living with cancer as a
chronic and non-curable disease. In turn, they have par-
ticular needs beyond those of their cancer and its treat-
ments. Seniors commonly have other health conditions
prior to cancer, such as congestive heart failure, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, which can
be worsened by cancer treatments. Aging and cancer can
sometimes lead to other problems, including a decline in
physical functioning.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with 79-year-
Chronique des
survivants du cancer old Erma, a wonderful and witty retired teacher and a
LA FORCE D’UNE PERSONNE ÂGÉE,
À L’INTÉRIEUR COMME À L’EXTÉRIEUR moving into a senior residence next month. I inquire
Par | By Geneviève Chaput, M.D.
S
elon des statistiques canadiennes, on estime que 28 pour cent des nou-
veaux cancers affectent les personnes âgées de 60 à 69 ans, et 43 pour
cent affectent les personnes de 70 ans et plus.
metastatic cancer survivor. I also met her caring daugh-
ter-in-law Josée. Both women gave me some insight on
what it’s like to live with advanced cancer as a senior.
Erma’s home is surprisingly tidy, given she will be
about this. Josée admits that a year ago, she gladly re-
adjusted her own agenda since a move wasn’t on Erma’s
radar. A few months later, on a particularly difficult mor-
ning for Erma, Josée asked the inevitable: “What’s going
to be our plan?” It was a catalyst moment in Erma’s deci-
sion to move.
A positive outlook, open communication with family,
Un plus grand nombre de personnes âgées vivent avec le cancer en tant que and careful planning has helped Erma feel ready for
liers qui vont au-delà du cancer et de ses traitements. Généralement, ces per- been fortunate to fall into it gradually,” she said. While
maladie chronique et incurable. En conséquence, ils ont des besoins particu-
sonnes souffraient déjà de troubles de santé, tels que l’insuffisance cardiaque,
la maladie pulmonaire obstructive chronique et le diabète, et ces conditions
peuvent empirer avec les traitements du cancer. Le vieillissement et le cancer
peuvent souvent engendrer d’autres problèmes, notamment le déclin du fonc-
tionnement physique.
J’ai récemment eu l’occasion de rencontrer Erma, une merveilleuse et amu-
what’s ahead. “Last year, I would have been sad, but I’ve
her son, Glen, manages the family business, Josée helps
her pack. Erma tells me about precious heirlooms she’s
passing on to her children and grandchildren. It’s almost
as though the move has become a secondary goal: Erma’s
legacy process is shining in the forefront.
To state Erma’s cancer has minimally affected her
sante enseignante à la retraite et survivante d’un cancer métastatique âgée would be untrue. Still, as she proudly talks about mini-
femmes m’ont donné un aperçu de ce que signifie vivre avec un cancer avancé help but ask her secret to being so vibrant in spite of her
de 79 ans. J’ai également rencontré sa belle-fille attentionnée, Josée. Les deux
lorsqu’on est une personne âgée.
La maison d’Erma est étonnamment à l’ordre étant donné qu’elle démé-
nagera dans une résidence pour personnes âgées le mois prochain. Je me ren-
seigne à ce sujet. Josée avoue qu’il y a un an, elle avait volontiers réajusté son
propre agenda, puisqu’un déménagement n’était pas dans les plans d’Erma. g
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MONTRÉAL enSANTÉ HIVER 2017
atures, a hobby she shared with her late husband, I can’t
health odds. “As a little girl, my mother felt it was her
duty that we learn to knit, crochet, quilt,” she said. “I wish
I could talk to her today because four weeks ago I was so
low I couldn’t get out of bed. But I thought, ‘I bet I could
knit in bed.’ I got out the wool and made an afghan.” gg