Interview with Françoise Sellin, Patient Partner Consultant

Hello Françoise. Could you tell us about your role as a “patient-partner consultant”?

I have been involved in the fight against cancer for over 25 years. I co-founded several associations to support patients and also trained at the Sorbonne University of Patients and as a self-employed entrepreneur.
Today, I am convinced that patients have a key role to play, not only as recipients of care, but also as active participants in their own care. This approach must also be extended to healthcare innovation companies and the field of cancer.
I work with the entire ecosystem as a patient partner, trainer, consultant and project manager for the GPS Cancer coalition. So I have one foot in the business world – with the creation of my company – and another in the non-profit world, so that I can continue to help patients and improve their care pathways.

How did the collaboration with the TIDE team come about? What did your support involve?

I met Julien Payen at a professional conference. We discussed the importance of the role of patients in research and innovation. He was already convinced of this necessity, but I helped him with the practical aspects of integrating patients into the project.

Then I worked with Emanuela, my main contact, to map out solutions and identify needs.
The main objective was to raise awareness of this solution among patient associations: to enable associations to understand existing techniques.

You are very involved in Pink October. What does this campaign mean to you?

I was one of the first people to organise a Pink October event in France, with Ruban de l’Espoir, and I was part of the INCa steering committee from 2004-2005.
But for me, breast cancer shouldn’t only be talked about in October. Awareness, prevention and action are needed all year round.
The WHO predicts a 70% increase in cancer cases by 2050, which is a major public health issue.
We also need to go beyond screening and known factors (smoking, alcohol) to study environmental causes, such as pollution. For example, in certain highly industrialised areas in the north, there are real clusters of cancer cases.
It is time to investigate these external factors and try to understand why France is now one of the countries most affected by breast cancer.

What role do patient organisations play in this fight?

Associations are essential: they raise awareness, provide information and act as a link with the field.
They are often made up of people directly affected by the disease, so their words carry great weight. We are ambassadors for health.
And it is important to remember that having cancer does not mean you have led an unhealthy lifestyle. Certain cancers, such as lung cancer and cancers of the ear, nose and throat, are still highly stigmatised. Associations help to break down taboos and spread a message of prevention without guilt.

What message would you like to send to women affected by cancer?

‘Illness has taught me to live in the moment.’
It is a life lesson, a call to enjoy every moment.

Thank you, Françoise.