Paris by Christophe Rivard Published on May 7, 2026 at 7:35 pm
From Caen (Calvados), the “Normandie sporte contre le cancer” operation is well established at the Jacques-Monod hospital in Flers (Orne). It is led by Dr. Paola Fara, a surgeon, and health manager Sandrine Pottier, who herself was a victim of cancer at the end of the 2010s.
Sport is Health
It is no longer a secret. Sport, and more generally physical activity, is highly recommended both for cancer patients and as a preventive measure. For those affected by this terrible disease, there are structures that allow for Adapted Physical Activity (APA) practice.
This is what Dr. Paola Fara, a surgeon, and health manager Sandrine Pottier aim to show on Thursday, May 21 at Flers hospital through stands set up in the hospital’s hall.
“Our Lifestyle Has an Impact”
“We know that currently, in France, physical activity is decreasing in the general population, and this has an impact on the spread of several cancer risk factors,” Dr. Fara explains.
“Our lifestyle has an impact on cancer genesis; being active has a positive impact on several factors, especially fatigue and the risk of recurrence.”
It’s why she emphasizes the importance of engaging in physical activity, even during cancer treatment.
“In the case of breast cancer, it is estimated to prevent 50% of recurrences. This is an impact that is quite important due to various actions at the neurochemical, neurobiological, and metabolic levels, which make the body more resistant and improve immune system action,” attests Dr. Paola Fara, a surgeon.
Sandrine Pottier: “100% Physically and Psychologically”
Among the individuals participating in this awareness day is Sandrine Pottier, a health manager at the hospital, who herself had breast cancer in the late 2010s and joined an adapted sports group around tennis in Briouze. She recalls, “I went there the day after my first chemotherapy. It wasn’t easy. You have to leave home, travel twenty kilometers in my case, and embark on a new adventure while feeling unwell, experiencing nausea, not eating, and having stomach pain.”
Meeting others in similar situations was a source of comfort for Sandrine, who found solace in the group activities she participated in.
IMAPAC: Initiating and Maintaining Adapted Physical Activity with Cancer
Dr. Fara explains, “IMAPAC, in 2019, established activities related to breast cancer, especially focusing on arm mobility and reducing lymphedema. Tennis was chosen for its broad movements.”
The IMAPAC program provides financial support for adapted sports sessions based on the individual’s health, fatigue, and physical potential, supervised by a professional and close to home.
Practical details: Thursday, May 21, 2026, starting at 1:30 pm at the Flers hospital hall (Orne).
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