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The RESTART programme

News (03/03/2022)

The RESTART programme: personalised follow-up for persons with breast cancer in remission.  

programme RESTART

The RESTART programme offers patients with breast cancer in remission a multidisciplinary and personalised follow-up that combines consultations, physical activities, physiotherapy and educational workshops. The first patients joined the project at the beginning of January 2022 and have participated in the first workshops on the benefits of physical activity and diet. 

                "It is essential to accompany persons with or recovering from cancer throughout their combat: both during the period of anticancer treatment and when they return to social and professional life following treatment." Caroline Defays, "survivorship" nurse.

More and more cancer survivors
Thanks to improved screening and treatment, more and more patients are being cured of cancer. Nevertheless, the effects of the disease and its treatment can endure for months or even years after treatment ends. To give patients the keys to regaining confidence and autonomy during this post-cancer period, the Jules Bordet Institute offers support in the form of global and personalised accompaniment.

The multidisciplinary RESTART programme is designed for patients with breast cancer in remission who completed their chemotherapy, surgical or radiotherapy treatment less than three months previously. "Offering global and personalised accompaniment is essential as it favours a more rapid and lasting rehabilitation. This programme therefore complements the medical care and treatment," explains Dr Polastro, survivorship project coordinator.

The RESTART programme:  follow-up in three stages
The programme consists of three stages. First, each patient attends a survivorship consultation with   Caroline Defays, "survivorship" nurse, and Dr Polastro. At this consultation the programme is presented and the patient's specific needs defined as the basis for drawing up the appropriate follow-up plan. The patient then attends 10 educational workshops. Including diet, return to work, sexuality and parenting, for example, the topics covered give these patients the keys to increasing their autonomy and well-being during the remission process. A physical rehabilitation programme is provided by the Institute's physiotherapy service with group pilates and yoga classes and also cardiovascular training sessions. Patients are also invited to download the Resilience mobile application, co-developed with the Gustave Roussy Institute. This gives them access to scientific information through articles, videos and podcasts. 

A project destined to last  
The first patients joined the project at the beginning of January 2022 and have attended the first educational workshops on the benefits of physical activity and diet during the post-cancer period. After five months of support they will provide feedback so that the benefits of such a programme can be assessed and a lasting organisational model defined. 

What are the conditions for participating in the RESTART programme?
The programme is designed for you if:

  • You have a localised breast cancer and completed chemotherapy, surgical or radiotherapy treatment less than three months ago. 
  • You have been treated at the Jules Bordet Institute

Do you meet these conditions? Are you interested in this support programme? 
Discus sit with your medical consultant at the Institute or with your coordination nurse (ISCO). 

The RESTART programme was developed in cooperation with Oncobulle

restart