Welcoming and more than comforting words – By Gérard Talbot
Welcoming and more than comforting words - By Gérard Talbot
I would like to humbly express my gratitude and appreciation to PROCURE, and particularly to two individuals who welcomed me over the phone and listened to my suffering. About a month and a half ago, Marie Christine answered my call with great empathy and humanity while I was distressed after the announcement of prostate cancer and the delays in tests to assess the extent of the disease.
On the same day, Marie Christine put me in touch with Suzanne, with whom I had a lengthy conversation where I was able to express my concerns and ask all the questions that were troubling me. Suzanne’s listening skills, her extensive experience, her vivid language, her clear and honest answers, her empathy, her total dedication to others, her patience in calling me back to reach me—all these qualities were extremely valuable in helping me speak up, express all the anxiety and concerns that were eating away at me, and in doing so, reduce them to make things more bearable.
After providing the details about the nature of my cancer, Suzanne told me not to worry because it was almost impossible for the cancer to be spread to other parts of the body. Indeed, I received the results of all my tests on July 26, 2018, and the cancer is well localized to the prostate.
Waiting for the Results
I managed to get through the seven weeks of waiting for the results partly thanks to the support I received over the phone and the conversation with Suzanne.
During this seemingly endless wait, I often thought about and internalized all of Suzanne’s true, comforting, and reassuring words.
On days when my morale was very low, it was with these words that I managed to control my anxiety, fears, and stress.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Without the phone call to PROCURE, the support from Marie Christine, and all of Suzanne’s words, this uncertain waiting period would have completely overwhelmed me, and I would have had a hard time recovering, I am convinced.
A heartfelt thank you to PROCURE, Marie Christine, and Suzanne. It is thanks to you that I am finding the energy and strength to continue on the path to recovery.
Marie Christine Beauchemin
is part of the PROCURE team and is responsible for the Information and Support section for people affected by prostate cancer, for healthcare professionals, and for employers and their employees.
Suzanne Thibeault
is part of PROCURE’s specialized uro-oncology team and acts as a key oncology nurse.
Sources and references
Last medical and editorial review: April 2024. See our web page validation committee and our collaborators by clicking here.