Nathalie, a resident of Fuveau, has always been sensitive to breast cancer patients, although no member of her family has it. Discovering the Seintinelles association around ten years ago via social networks and being able to help medical research motivated him to become actively involved.
“The concept immediately spoke to me, I wanted to make my contribution by becoming a Seintinelle and I registered on their site.“Membership is open to everyone, sick or not. Seintinelles works on all cancers. With more than 42,000 citizen volunteers, the association provides an intuitive platform, a source of valuable time savings for researchers who recruit volunteers to participate in their studies.
“I had been Seintinelle for years when I learned that I had breast cancer. After the period of operations, reconstructions and heavy treatments, I told myself that I wanted to make something of what had happened to me, so that it could be useful for others. Recently, the association offered a program called the Girl Scouts. It is these members who represent the association and make it known, I signed up.“As such, Nathalie is committed to participating in events such as Pink October but also by leaving flyers and posters in health centers, with healthcare personnel and hospitals contacted.
“Gain power over illness”
By registering with Seintinelles, volunteers are kept informed via a newsletter of research needs and must respond quickly. “It is not because you are registered in the database that you necessarily have the time or the desire to respond to the study, so in fact it is a commitment which must be followed up over time.“, remarks Nathalie.
Since its creation in 2012, Seintinelles has already contributed to 69 scientific studies and generated more than 114,000 participations. The studies are not only interested in medical fields but also in personal, professional, family life, etc. A broader vision of the disease which improves the quality of life of patients and invites them to actively contribute to research.
This lasting civic commitment has enabled it to “gain power over the disease. I am an actor in what happens to me, I project myself into something positive, I am not only turned towards myself but also towards others, towards a community and I feel useful. And then, this community of people of which I am a part shares a mutual understanding, almost without speaking to each other. It’s unconditional support, we no longer feel alone. Talking about it with other patients who have recovered also gives hope.“The Ruban Rose association recently awarded the “quality of life” prize to Seintinelles for its long-lasting commitment.
