The neuro-oncology unit was established at the Eugène Marquis Centre to support patients with brain tumours and their friends and families during their treatment. The unit comprises medical oncologists, radiotherapists, the head of the oncological support care department (DISSPO) [Département de Soins Oncologiques de Support] and a specialist neuro-oncology nurse.
You will be offered an initial consultation with an oncologist or a radiotherapist to answer any questions that you may have and so the stages of treatment may be explained to you.
You will be given a contact file to help you keep in contact with your care providers at the Eugène Marquis Centre and at home (your general practitioner, independents nurse, physiotherapist, speech therapist, etc.). You should bring it with you every time you come to the Eugène Marquis Centre.
If you need to undergo chemotherapy, you will be offered a support consultation with the neuro-oncology nurse to assess your needs and suggest suitable material and human support.
You will also have a consultation with one of our pharmacists to explain the way in which your treatment will work and the side effects that it may have and to make sure that there will be no interactions between your usual medications and the cancer treatment.
Once you have started chemotherapy, the neuro-oncology nurse will call you to check how you are responding to the treatment and to answer any questions you may have. You will receive regular calls for the first three months of treatment.
Workshops (known as AGAPE) are available, as required, for family, friends and carers to give them the confidence needed to better support their loved one. These group workshops, with space for five to eight carers from different families, are led by an oncologist, assisted by a healthcare professional (the neuro-oncology nurse or the head of the oncology patient support care department (DISSPO).
Therapeutic patient education workshops are currently being developed.