Living Better with Cancer - Complementary Approaches

Guidance and Support

The “Mieux Vivre le Cancer” guidance and support program was designed to support patients as they navigate their journey with cancer during and after treatment. It offers services and approaches that complement medical care, with the goal of improving quality of life and empowering each individual to take an active role in their own health.

The program is available to patients currently undergoing treatment and for up to 6 months after treatment ends.  

It offers:

• Non-pharmacological complementary care approaches: adapted physical activity programs, yoga, mindfulness meditation
• Acupuncture and hypnosis sessions (by medical prescription only)
• Social and aesthetic care
• Support from community organizations

Registration and participation in program activities are subject to availability.

“Mieux Vivre le Cancer” is a program offered free of charge thanks to financial support from donors and partners committed to promoting interventions that help patients experience their illness and treatments differently and improve their well-being.

 

Complementary Approaches and Non-Pharmacological Therapies

Maintaining quality of life is an important aspect throughout the course of the disease and treatment. That is why Gustave Roussy offers access to certain complementary, non-pharmacological practices whose benefits have been validated in terms of quality of life or in alleviating certain side effects of treatment. Integrated into the Interdisciplinary Department of Patient Care Pathways (DIOPP), which coordinates supportive care, these practices are offered in a supervised and safe manner by healthcare professionals and are regularly evaluated. To ensure they are appropriately indicated, they will be prescribed by your care team or your referring oncologist, who will refer you to a “complementary care approaches” consultation. This consultation will allow us to assess your needs and offer you a personalized support program. 

Adapted Physical Activity

Engaging in physical activity is among the official public health recommendations during and after cancer treatment. Regular exercise helps reduce the risk of relapse, combat certain treatment side effects, reduce fatigue, and, more broadly, improve quality of life. However, realizing these benefits depends on the frequency, intensity, and duration of the sessions.

Adapted Physical Activity Programs at Gustave Roussy:

As part of your care at Gustave Roussy, you have the option to participate in an Adapted Physical Activity program upon a doctor’s recommendation.

In-person:

• MOLITOR Program: a sports therapy program held at the MOLITOR hotel (Paris 16). The program includes two weekly sports therapy sessions: one swimming session and one adapted physical activity session indoors.
  Program duration: 3 months, renewable once. Registration subject to availability.
• Adapted Physical Activity Sessions at Gustave Roussy: APA sessions at the Gustave Roussy My Care facility in Chevilly Larue. The program includes one to two sessions per week.
  Program duration: 3 months, renewable once. Registration subject to availability.

In-person physical activity programs are coordinated by the CAMI Sport&Cancer association.

No transportation vouchers can be issued for participation in adapted physical activity programs.

Via videoconference: 

For patients who are unable to travel or who live too far away, it is possible to participate in an adapted physical activity program via video conference. This program is coordinated by a specialized practitioner. It includes one or two 60-minute sessions per week.

Program duration: 3 months, renewable once.

Mindfulness Meditation Workshops

Mindfulness is the state of attentive presence that arises when one intentionally focuses one’s attention on the present moment, without judgment. It is at the heart of the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) protocol developed by Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn at UMass Medical School (University of Massachusetts Medical School). It involves systematic training of attention through physical and mental exercises that explore the present moment.

The main benefits of regular practice include:

• an improved ability to manage stressful situations,
• a reduction in stress-related symptoms,
• a reduction in fatigue,
• improved sleep.

These effects are not guaranteed but depend on the level of commitment, the duration of practice, and the personal resources each individual draws upon.

Mindfulness Meditation at Gustave Roussy:

As part of your care at Gustave Roussy, mindfulness meditation courses based on the MBSR protocol are offered. Each course consists of 8 sessions, each lasting 2.5 to 3 hours, preceded by an informational session, as well as a full day (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) dedicated to “mindfulness.”

They take place at the Gustave Roussy campus in Chevilly-Larue, with one cycle per quarter (course schedule available upon request). Video conference cycles are also offered (1–2 per year).

Yoga Classes

Yoga is one of the complementary approaches to care recommended for improving quality of life during or after treatment for cancer patients. Yoga is an ancient practice, originating in India, that unites body and mind through postural, breathing, and mental exercises. The primary benefit of the practice is that it helps you refocus by concentrating on your body and your breathing.

Regular practice allows certain benefits to gradually emerge, both physically and mentally, including:

• Reduced tension in the body
• Improved management of stress and anxiety
• Reduced fatigue
• Improved sleep

Yoga at Gustave Roussy:

As part of your care at Gustave Roussy, you have the opportunity to participate in yoga sessions. The sessions take place on Tuesday afternoons at the Gustave Roussy campus in Chevilly-Larue. They are led by a yoga instructor and yoga therapist. The sessions focus on well-being and physical, emotional, and mental recovery. Emphasis is placed on breathing through simple movements synchronized with the breath, relaxation, and/or meditation, all of which are alternated to ensure each sequence of the session is fully integrated.

Visual Arts Workshop

The “Sur Un Lit de Couleurs” workshop is an artistic creation workshop—with no therapeutic intent—that contributes to the care of patients treated at Gustave Roussy by providing guidance and support outside of their treatment schedule.

No prior experience is required.

The workshop takes place every Wednesday afternoon at the Gustave Roussy campus in Chevilly-Larue. It is open to patients currently undergoing treatment and for up to 6 months after treatment ends.

Dance Workshop

When practiced regularly, dance offers numerous benefits for both the body and the mind. A group dance class is an excellent way to reconnect with your body, to reconcile with yourself and others, to overcome challenges, to socialize, and to rediscover joy and confidence.

The Elles dansent association offers dance classes as part of its support and guidance program.

The classes are structured around:

• a brief period of listening and sharing
• a musical warm-up guided by free and spontaneous body movement
• learning a dance inspired by salsa and Afro-Caribbean dances.

While challenging memory and coordination, these lively classes offer a real burst of positive energy!

Classes are held on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Chevilly Larue location.

Reminder: No transportation vouchers can be issued for travel to the activity locations.

Social and Aesthetic Support

Taking care of yourself during illness and treatment is not a luxury—quite the opposite. To help you cope with the physical changes associated with illness and treatment, you have the option of receiving support from various professionals. Beauty treatments can positively impact both your physical and emotional well-being by helping you feel better and contributing to a positive self-image.

Image Consultant

An image consultant supports you as you navigate the physical changes resulting from illness and treatment. She provides free assistance and practical advice on all aspects of personal image.

Appointments are available Monday through Friday at the Villejuif location (1st floor, supportive care department). Consultations are one-on-one.

To schedule an appointment, call: 01 42 11 63 31.

Estheticians from the CEW Association

Estheticians from the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) association are available every day at Gustave Roussy. They offer free beauty treatments, either in a treatment room or at your bedside.

Information and appointments: Individual sessions, by appointment only—call 01 42 11 50 69 (please leave a message on the voicemail).

Sessions are reserved for patients who are hospitalized or on-site for a consultation or medical appointment

Belle et Bien Makeup Workshops

The Belle et Bien association offers free educational workshops to learn or relearn skincare and makeup techniques.

For information on workshops in the Paris region, call 07 69 03 56 85

Hair Salon

Experienced hairstylists and hair prosthesis specialists will help you choose wigs, turbans, and specific treatments. They also offer traditional hair care services.

Because feeling good is the first step to feeling better…

This service requires a fee. Prices are posted on the salon door.
By appointment: 01 42 11 50 28

 

Support from Nonprofit Organizations

Thanks to their diversity, availability, and expertise, these organizations can provide invaluable support throughout your care journey. Many organizations have long-standing relationships with Gustave Roussy, whether through collaborations with medical teams or by making time to meet with patients.

For more information on the list of organizations with agreements with Gustave Roussy or on the organizations’ presence at the hospital’s campuses.

For any questions or requests regarding these organizations, please send an email to: contact.associations@gustaveroussy.fr

“Piano at the Hospital” Concerts

The association “Un Piano à l’hôpital” organizes concerts on the Consultation Level (Villejuif campus). Professional and amateur musicians are invited to come and play, bringing a special atmosphere to the hospital.

Concerts are held every third Sunday of the month at 3:00 p.m. on the Outpatient Floor.

For more information, contact the associationhttp://www.unpianoalhopital.org/