A victory for the workers. An expert doctor’s opinion has just closed the court case of Martine, 62, a recently retired night nurse, whose breast cancer was recognized as an occupational disease last January. The conclusions of the specialist leave no room for doubt: It can be said that there is a direct and essential link between the breast cancer she suffered and the work she had done before. “.
A link between night shifting and breast cancer
In total, Martine spent 873 nights in the hospital before learning in 2009 that she had breast cancer. Like our colleagues from the Parisianthis sad news marks the beginning of a long medical and legal journey:
His report acknowledging the link between illness and work, initially deposited at the Sarreguemines hospital. It then passed into the hands of a committee of doctors and staff representatives. Then on the desk of an experienced doctor. Before ending up, almost a year later, before the medical advice of his employer.
Le Parisien, March 27, 2023
Very quickly, working conditions were questioned in medical diagnosis: shift work and night shifts would contribute to disrupting the biological clock and interrupting the development of melatonin, which helps fight cancer. Extensive investigative work supports this contention:
The Inserm (National Institute for Medical Research and Health) argues “the hypothesis that night work increases the risk of cancer in premenopausal women, particularly in those with a high frequency and long duration of ‘exposure”. The INRS (National Institute for Research and Safety) believes that, at night, “exposure to shift work is associated with a statistically significant increase in breast cancer”. Finally, the IARC (International Agency for Research against Cancer) states that “shift work induces disruption of circadian rhythms”.
Le Parisien, March 27, 2023
A decision that could set a precedent
Throughout the procedure, the nurse was also supported by the CFDT Minors union of Freyming-Merlebach, which fights for the recognition of the occupational origin of cancer and requests its registration in the register of occupational diseases. Because behind Martine’s story hides that of many other employees, whose jobs are not, to date, recognized as a real risk to health.
“It can actually set a precedent, both for nursing and other trades, in all types of companies” said Maître Élisabeth Leroux, specializing in the defense of night workers, to our colleagues at BFM extension. In Martine’s wake, several similar dossiers appeared in Marseille, Metz or Agen.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
