During the three days leading up to the IBCPC 2026 Participatory Dragon Boat Festival,
one-hour film screening and discussion sessions will be offered to participants.
From Screen to Scene
25 minutes of film screening, 25 minutes of presentation by a specialist on a specific topic, 10 minutes of discussion with the audience.
Screening of the film United Ladies
Each session will be introduced by a screening of the film ‘United Ladies’:
A film that recounts the adventure of women from all walks of life who gathered for 15 days on the Loire River to paddle 750 kilometres. What they have in common is a life journey that has confronted them with illness, breast cancer that they have decided to overcome and about which they hardly speak. What unites them is their desire to live and share. The sporting challenge becomes an excuse to escape from everyday life and cities in order to reconnect with nature and each other.
Medical conferences
Then a doctor will discuss a specific topic related to sport and breast cancer.
A question and answer session and discussion with the audience will then be held. The participating doctors and topics presented are introduced below.
You have your say!
It’s up to you to tell us which topics you would like to see discussed during one of these sessions. Vote here:
Speakers and topics covered
Dr Alexandre TESSIER
MD – PharmD – MSc
Radiation oncologist, specialising in the treatment of cancer using radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
High-level triathlete and swimrunner.
1. “From Challenge to Performance” – Competitive sport before, during and after breast cancer: a journey of resilience, adaptation and personal victory(🇬🇧)
Dr Christine JANIN
Doctor and mountaineer.
First French woman to climb Everest in 1990 before completing the Seven Summits in 1992.
Founder of ‘A chacun son Everest’ (To each their own Everest). Objective: to learn to live with illness and to live afterwards, free, proud and light-hearted.
2. “Living WITH and AFTER breast cancer — From the climb to the descent“ (🇬🇧)
Dr Bruno CUTULI
Oncologist – radiotherapist specialising in breast cancer.
Involved in cancer prevention and supportive care.
Founder of the first French BCP team.
3. “Nutritional benefits for women undergoing breast cancer treatment” (🇬🇧)
4. “Breast cancer and returning to work” (🇬🇧)
> Breast cancer in France and worldwide: epidemiological data / treatment methods (🇫🇷)
> Benefits of physical activity in breast cancer (🇫🇷)
Dr Hala AKKAWI
Doctor of Sports Medicine and Chinese Medicine (acupuncture).
Supports patients in managing the side effects of cancer treatments.
Contributed to the founding of a BCP club in Saumur.
5. “Benefits of acupuncture in supporting chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy treatments” (🇫🇷&🇬🇧)
6. “Post-treatment abandonment syndrome” (🇬🇧)
7. “How breast cancer affects couples and families” (🇬🇧)
Dr Laetitia STEFANI
Oncologist.
Committed to the practice of physical and sporting activities, both for patients and healthcare professionals.
8. “Contraception and fertility after breast cancer” (🇬🇧)
> “Sexuality after breast cancer” (🇫🇷)
Dr Charles MERCIER-GUYON
MD
Doctor qualified in emergency medicine, forensic medicine,
sports medicine and traumatology
Vice-chairman of CDOS 74 in charge of health and sport.
9. “Compare care systems” (🇬🇧)
10. “Mental preparation and breast cancer” (🇬🇧)
Dr Florence Van de Velde
Pain and supportive care physician at Aix Les Bains Hospital.
She founded the association ‘Bivouac et moi’ in 2022, convinced of the benefits of reconnecting with nature for cancer patients.
11. The impact of group immersion in the mountains on the support of patients with metastatic cancer (🇬🇧)
Dr Isabelle Flandin
Oncologist – Radiotherapist
Chairperson of the ITS (Institute of Sports Therapy) association.
A former cross-country skier, she is aware of the benefits of sport for everyone. Her experience at the Vogalonga alongside a team of BCS was very rewarding.
12. Breast cancer, relationships and intimacy (🇬🇧)
13. Breast cancer and family (🇬🇧)
“I have been treated for breast cancer. Does this change anything for my loved ones?”
14. Breast cancer and genetics: genetic risks in terms of family history (🇬🇧)
Dr Aurélie Carey
Psychiatrist
BCS member of ‘Lille aux Pagaies’ club.
Convinced of the physical and psychological benefits of sport, she discovered dragon boating during her breast cancer treatment.
> Psychosocial and psychiatric benefits of health-related sports in breast cancer (🇫🇷)
Dr Maxime Chevreau
Rheumatologist specialising in the treatment of musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders, including arthritis and osteoporosis.
He founded and developed the Fracture Liaison Service for osteoporosis in order to improve bone health prevention.
> Bone health in women with breast cancer (🇫🇷)