La Roche Posay

Is one of the best medical spas I have ever visited.  When my skin was rough, peeling and horrid to look at, from Tamoxifen and the other drugs I was on, their doctors just examined me – sent me off for lovely spa therapies, and put me in the hands of nurses who asked questions, examined my skin again, then finally dispensed a prescription from the doctors that gave me a goodies bag full of La Roche Posay products, specially developed to help cancer skin.

All this whilst I was sharing the experience with Frenchwomen who had been sent by their doctors to sort out side effects from their cancer drugs.  The only difference being that the British have to pay – over 8,000 French people a year will probably get this treatment as part of their health service.

The Spa lies in the Poitou-Charente (in the North West Corner of France), so is less expensive than spas on the fashionable East side, but has lots for the family to do.  Legend has it that in the Middle Ages Bertrand du Guesclin stopped to drink the thermal waters when riding through. His horse, suffering from eczema, immersed itself in the water, and was cured. So if the waters are good enough for horses it must be good enough for us!

In 1617 Pierre Million, doctor to Kings Henry IV and Louis XIII, analysed the water and was so impressed that the newly-founded Science Academy sent people to test the water -and the spa of La Roche Posay was founded. Napoleon built a thermal hospital there for his soldiers, and it has never looked back. In 1913 the Thermal Station was officially declared a Hydrothermal Station by the Academy of Medicine, and today it is the busiest dermatology centre in Europe.

They treat all sorts of skin conditions, including running a marvellous clinic to teach people suffering from burns and birthmarks, how to cover these up with make-up.  But I had come to try those treatments using the soothing Selenium-rich water (probably what cured the horse so it should do for me): fine-jet showers, which play over your body whilst you are massaged lying on a bed underneath, leaving your skin incredibly smooth.  Dermatological wraps and massages are also designed to give us a soft skin, and as they say “improve our daily lives”.

The town is the parent company of the excellent skincare products, La Roche Posay. Their products are only sold via chemists, and there are various ranges tailored to specific skin problems. If your skin is extra-sensitive, they even have a special range – Toleriane. You can now get all of these in Britain, and rumour has it that some patients in UK have been sent here on NHS for treatment for skin problems. Like all such rumours, the NHS doesn’t want this advertised – but it is worth while trying at least!

There is a charming Art Deco hotel, and suites in the hotel are not expensive, but give a touch of Hollywood glamour to a family holiday. There are also more modern hotels in the town, all within a short walk of the thermal treatment centre.

Here I had a ‘massage under water’ where you lie on a waterproof-covered table, with jets of water playing over your body whilst the therapist massages you. Afterwards my skin was incredibly soft (and I felt wonderful). Apparently the minerals in the water help the softening process and are excellent for cancer-stressed skin. The spa has also devised an incredible array of stunning cosmetics for disguise and glamour.

You can get more information from www.france-thermale.org currently only in French – but you never know!  In the meantime if you cut and paste into Google Translation, it will come up with the information in English.

So you don’t have to be a celebrity to go to France for some of the best post cancer treatment in the world for nasty side effects. You don’t have to be rich either, as treatments and hotel packages are designed for French people. They do not like spending too much!

Bon Voyage!

SERENITY SURPASSES SMOKING

A recent poll by Cheapflights.co.uk shows that we are becoming more health conscious.

The UK’s leading flight price comparison website polled Brits on their dream plane facilities.  Results showed that nearly one-third of the population would choose an onboard spa – this more than doubles those who would opt for onboard smoking facilities.

An encouraging result which reflects Britain’s current health-conscious trend, it’s evidence that wellbeing is moving up the UK’s priority list.  Sadly, in these days of Mike O’Leary threatening to charge for loos on board, it seems hardly likely that we will get our spas – but dream on….!

When the new Airbus was on the drawing board, the planners came up with on-board spas – quickly dumped by world’s airlines intent on maximising revenue by seat-cramming.  So it seems we are still going to have to wait for our spa bath until we are at our destination.

For more information on healthy travel – including pregnancy travel tips, staying healthy on holiday and avoiding DVT – visit Cheapflights tips pages at http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/

LATEST INFORMATION ON OBTAINING

TREATMENT IN EU for UK patients

2.  The proposed Directive relates specifically to patients being able to choose where they go for treatment.  Patients will need to pay up-front and are later reimbursed by their home country (national health insurer or health authority) as long as they have a right to this treatment at home, and up to the level of reimbursement for the same or similar treatment in their national health system.

3. In other words, the Directive is about giving patients more choice on where they get the treatment.

4. If patients can’t get treatment on their National Health System because the waiting list is too long or the treatment does not exisist then it is up to the National Health System of the country  to provide prior authorisation to the patient. This will then enable the patient to travel for treatment and they will not need to pay up front.

This refers to  another law that is already in force – the EU regulation on coordination of social security. The case of Avene that you mention might come under this Regulation if patients were sent there by their heath authority without having to pay up front.

More info on http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/doc/crossborder_brochure_en.pdf

or http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_security_schemes/healthcare/e112/conditions_en.htm

and good luck – you need a wet cloth and headache pills to understand these sites!

The Regulation on coordiantion of social security and can be accessed here:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_security_schemes/healthcare/index_en.htm

and also check up-to-date information on www.after-cancer.com/treatmentineurope