Is working night shifts an aggravating factor in the development of breast cancer? A few weeks ago, the link was officially established in France, thanks to a nurse from Moselle who had just seen her illness recognized as being of occupational origin.
Martine, now retired after twenty-eight years of service at the Sarreguemines hospital center (1981-2009), won her case. Not before the courts but in the circuit specific to the public service, to which she was attached. “An oncologist gave a favorable opinion to his file, like a dedicated medical adviser, then the director of the hospital had the last word”, explains Brigitte Clément. The regional secretary of the CFDT minors of Freyming-Merlebach knows the file perfectly. First, because her union accompanied Martine, who does not currently wish to speak, throughout the process. But also because she has been interested in this subject for almost five years now.
“It all started with a caregiver, an activist with us, who had seen several cases of breast cancer in her department. She was a whistleblower and we started looking for the risk factors for the disease, ”recounts the trade unionist. As often, it was doctor Lucien Privet who was then called upon. “And there was already a good bibliography on the links between breast cancer and night work. There is even an international scientific consensus on this point, ”explains the doctor, citing in particular an Inserm study dating from 2012. In which it appeared that the risk of developing one was increased by around 30% in women. who worked at night compared to other women.
“The International Agency for Research against Cancer (Circ), which depends on the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified night work as probable carcinogenic data, adds Lucien Privet. For what ? We do not yet fully know but it could lead to hormonal imbalances and therefore have an impact on the secretion of melatonin, a hormone which also has anti-carcinogenic effects. »
Changed work schedules?
At the rate of several nights a week then… Martine, she had accumulated 873 during her career. Some of her sisters even more. “We have another case in progress with a woman who has made 3,600”, explains the doctor, who would now like the justice system to recognize this famous link. This will go through another victory, this time within the framework of the general system, not of the public service. “Then the Circ would perhaps be obliged to define night work as a proven carcinogenic risk and this would have serious consequences in terms of the organization of working hours. »
The story is not there. But, already, the CFDT minors of Freyming-Merlebach, launched out in actions of prevention in particular by distributing flyers devoted to the question. “We are also looking into the risks of prostate cancer which could also be linked to night work”, adds Brigitte Clément. A next historic decision could follow.