Talking “without taboo about menopause” and preventing cancers of the female genital tract: free screening and conferences in the Gard Rhodanien

Doctor Makosso (center), surrounded by the deputy health officer of Bagnols, Michèle Fond-Thurial, and Jean-Christian Rey, president of the Gard Rhodanien agglomeration, co-organizer of the doctor's conferences. C.B.

Doctor Mathieu Makosso, head of the gynecology and obstetrics department at Bagnols hospital, will give conferences on menopause. A free cancer screening campaign will follow in his department for a month.

"Every year there are 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer affecting all ages; 8,000 new cases of endometrial cancer affecting post-menopausal and menopausal women; and 5,000 new cases of ovarian cancer affecting post-menopausal women” recalls Doctor Mathieu Makosso, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Bagnols-sur-Cèze hospital. "Breast cancers affect 58,000 women each year".

To encourage women to seek treatment to avoid these cancers, his department will offer free screening without an appointment between noon and two (1) for women of all ages for one month, from October 17 to November 17, from Monday to Friday."We'll do a smear test if necessary, an ultrasound, make a medical file. Find out if the smear test is up to date or not. A screening lasts fifteen minutes. We get the answer quickly" explains the doctor. "I see far too many women in my office who have gone beyond the screening time" he regrets, sometimes with cancers detected at an advanced stage, which require more severe treatments. "We have cervical specialists at the Bagnols hospital center. We treat benign lesions. Endometrial cancers are treated at the Nîmes hospital" he recalls.

"150 years ago, when you were menopausal, you were considered a grandmother !"

Another lever to raise awareness among women about prevention, Dr. Mathieu Makosso will give a conference on October 16 at 5 p.m. at the Bagnols multicultural hall, which will launch the month of free screening at the hospital. On November 5, at 5 p.m., the doctor will also speak at the Pont-Saint-Esprit community hall. The theme of these conferences is: “Menopause without taboos, let's talk about it.”

“150 years ago, when you were menopausal, you were considered a grandmother!” recalls Michèle Fond-Thurial, deputy delegate for health in Bagnols and community advisor of the Gard rhodanien agglomeration who co-organizes these conferences. “Prevention is important in all areas, we can avoid diseases and treat them in time” underlines Jean-Christian Rey, president of the Agglo. “The subject of menopause must be addressed without taboo. It can cause psychological suffering, greater weakness, and have an impact on work” notes the president of the Agglo who wants the conference to tour the Gard Rhodanien.

“We can improve our quality of life after menopause” insists Dr. Makosso. “We treat the aging of the female genital system. A menopausal woman who is not treated suffers during sexual intercourse. I have many patients who tell me this. While care allows for female well-being during menopause.

(1) To get screened at the obstetrics and gynecology department of Bagnols hospital, registration is required on the department's website: secret-mater@ch-bagnolssurceze.fr
Tel 04 66 79 10 13.

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