A year and a half ago, Franck learned he had breast cancer.

He was unaware then that such cancer could also affect men.

At the microphone of Olivier Delacroix, in "La Libre antenna" of Europe 1, Franck explains that he finished his treatments six months ago and says he is in great shape.

TESTIMONY

Franck did not know that breast cancer could also affect men.

He found out when he was diagnosed with one a year and a half ago.

He was then 41 years old.

He underwent a double mastectomy, six months of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

During this difficult period, Franck found refuge in writing.

Six months after having finished his treatments, he shares his experience in "La Libre antenna" in Europe 1.

>> Listen to Franck's testimony in full here

“I'm 42 years old. A little over a year ago, I found out that I had breast cancer. In July 2019, I touched my breast and felt a lump. two days later, she was still there. I went to see a doctor, which is not my habit. A few exams later, mammogram and biopsy, I found out it was cancer. I did not know it was cancer. breast cancer could affect a man. Treatments followed: chemotherapy, mastectomy and radiotherapy. I finished the treatments six months ago. 

With me, there is a percentage of chances that it is of genetic origin, since there are several cases of cancer in my family.

I had a double mastectomy, on one side to remove the tumor and on the other as a preventive measure.

Having cancer at age 41 is not very common.

Now I have lots of cancer buddies.

I realized that there are a lot of young people who are affected.

This is obviously hard news to digest, but it also brings positive things.

"

The cancer was caught on time

"

The moment I hit the ball I knew it was serious.

It didn't look like a cyst.

When I heard the news, I wasn't particularly surprised.

My entourage has collapsed.

Me, I am rather pragmatic.

I took the news like any other.

I was in action rather than feeling and feeling sorry for myself.

We have the advantage of being in France and of having a very good health system.

I was taken in hand very quickly by an incredible team. 

The treatment begins and there is not much time to ask questions.

Rather, it is during chemotherapy, where we take very "dearly" that we begin to really reflect on what we have been through.

It calls into question a lot of patterns that we had pre-established and things that we thought were set in stone.

I think I am totally cured because I have responded very well to the treatments.

The cancer was caught on time, since I'm still alive, but it wouldn't have been another month.

With this disease, the calendar is against you. 

"

At the worst of chemotherapy, I looked like I was 80

"

Normally, we do an operation to remove the tumor, then we do chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

In my case, the cancer was advanced enough to start with chemotherapy.

The advantage of chemotherapy is that it stops the growth of the disease early on.

I took pictures of my torso every day to see the progress.

At the worst of chemotherapy, I looked like I was 80 and that's pretty hard to see. 

Today, I am in great shape.

It's quite enjoyable to have a wave where you are at the lowest and to be able to come back in great shape.

Life is short and you have to take advantage of it.

It's silly to say, but it's true.

I'm halfway through my life.

A human life is about 80 years.

It's very short and yet we have time to do a lot of things.

Noticing this is nice.

I still have plenty of time and I intend to take advantage of it. 

>> Find Olivier Delacroix's Libre antenna in replay and podcast here

The day I found out that I was sick, I immediately explained to my daughter that I had a very serious illness that can or cannot be cured.

She told me she would be my medicine.

I told myself that if I would die of this disease and she considers herself my medicine, she is good for the shrink for life because she will think that she missed her mission ... It is at the time where I told him that I realized that I could die from it, even if the risk is quite low. 

During this year when I could no longer work, I began to write when I had never written in my life. I started a blog and took a monumental footing in telling nonsense, experiences that happened to me and the way I approached things. It revolutionized my life. As I just finished the treatments, I decided to make a book that I released for self-publishing on Amazon to close this chapter. The book is called 'End of the world and goldfish', like the blog. This long illness has an end. Even though the tunnel is long, there is an exit, and the exit is absolutely awesome. "