A first in France, which could launch many others. In January 2023, a 61-year-old former nurse obtained the recognition of her breast cancer as an occupational disease. Since being diagnosed with her illness in 2009, the now retired nurse has undergone delicate surgery for a partial mastectomyas well as heavy sessions of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
“She feels that all these steps in which we have supported her have made it possible to support the cause of employees and women in particular. And in a way, the fight against cancer”admitted Brigitte Clément, regional secretary of the CFDT who carried the legal file of Martine.
Why was the disease recognized as an occupational disease? Between 1982 and 2009, she worked 873 nights according to her record of recognition of the link between illness and work. And according to Inserm, night work could increase the risk of cancer in women before menopause, “especially in those with high frequency and long duration of exposure“. For its part, the INRS concluded that the night, “exposure to shift work is associated with a statistically significant increase in breast cancer“. Finally, the IARC (international center for research against cancer) mentions a disruption of circadian rhythm in case of night work.
“This addition of factors contributes to disrupting the biological clock and reducing the defensesconfirms Brigitte Clément at Parisian. The development of melatonin, which helps fight cancer, is disrupted.”
Soon new cases of recognition?
“We hope from now on that greater attention will be paid to them.“, recognizes Brigitte Clément, as well as an entry in the register of occupational diseases, while other files similar to that of Martine have appeared elsewhere in France, in particular in Marseilles and Metz.
“With this decision, it is all personal damages that must be compensated by the administration, even in the absence of fault on the part of the latter, in the event of an accident or illness attributable to the service.recognizes the patient’s lawyer.
