Mara Maionchi directs 12 Stars: They are committed to talking about prevention
Solange Savagnone Sep 12, 2022 at 08:28
The purpose of “Files for Life”Docureality in four episodes, the debuts September 12th on Rai2It is very serious, noble and necessary: to talk about cancer prevention. But all with great irony and lightness, without ever being superficial or banal. The format was born in England, where it had great success and important awards, and from there it has spread to many countries. It is only now arriving in Italy, produced by Blu Yazmine.
In the first two episodes, the protagonists will be six famous men. In the last two six famous women. In both cases we start from the end, that is, we see the VIP group behind the scenes of the Franco Parenti Theater in Milan, waiting to enter the scene. Then the digression begins and the six days of preparation for the show are narrated (three days per episode). From arriving at the Loft in Milan, where they will have to learn a ballet, followed by the choreographer Marcello Sacchetta (former student and pro of “Amici”), to some experiences that will take place outside: the men will try to do synchronized swimming and a calendar without veils, the females “dragon boat”, a kind of long canoe. There will also be a meeting with some specialists. Urologist Bernardo Rocco will speak to men about prostate cancer, while surgeon and breast specialist Daniela Bossi will speak to women about breast cancer prevention.
The characters are accompanied on this six-day “journey”. Mara Maionchi who, after summoning them, will accompany them step by step to the final destination. At the end of the second episode we see the actual show prepared by the protagonists, complete with make-up and stage clothes, in a really original context. The men will perform in a show inspired by the musical ‘Full Monty’ while the women will perform a ‘Moulin Rouge’ style ballet. In both cases, they are all left without clothes at the end of the performance. You won’t see men naked on TV (the women stay topless, covered by a fan). But in the theater it is.
The purpose of “striptease” is to make people understand that they should not be ashamed of showing themselves naked. An important message in terms of prevention, because you have to undress for both the mammography and the visit to the urologist. Learning to overcome our fears is already a victory.
The men of the first two episodes aired September 12 and 13
- Francesco Paulantoni – Actor: “Important messages such as prevention are more appropriate through irony and spectacle”
- Gianluca Gazzoli – Radio announcer: “I got rid of my fears, hoping that the audience will make it with their own”
- Antonio Catalani – Painter: “I would like to thank my traveling companions: it is also thanks to them that the program reaches people’s hearts”
- Gilles Rocca – Actor: «It was a delicate introspective journey, we laughed, danced, rejoiced. You can have fun and prevent at the same time “
- Memo Remigi – Singer: «Health and prevention are essential at any age! I participated with enthusiasm and made new, wonderful friends”
- Gabrielle Cirill – Comic: “I’m honored to have been part of a program that sends an important social message about cancer prevention”
The six protagonists of the evenings of September 19th and 20th
- Maddalena Corvaglia – Moderator: «It was a journey to ourselves. We are strong women who have overcome the challenges of life, who have revealed our weaknesses.
- Corne Clery – Actress: “I took part to honor my parents and husband, who all died of cancer, leaving an indescribable void”
- Alexandra Mussolini – TV Personality: «Fear drives many women not to practice prevention. It is a challenge for all of us and we must win it together, naked for life!”
- Valeria Graci – Comic: “If my work can convince even one single girl to practice prevention, then it was right to get involved!”
- Brenda Lodigiani – Comic: “We never talk enough about prevention and finally this program gave us the opportunity”
- Elizabeth Gregoraci – Moderator: «I dealt with the disease that fought at my mother’s side. This was also a way to feel closer to her.
We will also see doctors informing and visiting VIPs
Bernardo Rocco – Full Professor of Urology at the University of Milan and Director of the UOC Urology Asst Santi Paolo e Carlo.
What role will it play in the program?
«To support the six male VIPs and to provide them with information on the prevention of prostate cancer. Also with me is a former patient of mine who has recovered and recovered very well. We had a good chat and everyone expressed interest. After that I visited some of them ».
Which of the six impressed you the most?
«Paolantoni had already exposed himself to the subject and shot a commercial for Europa Uomo (Association for Information on Prostate Pathologies, editor’s note). Gilles Rocca was very nice and I was impressed by Cirilli: he offered to help me to prevent and in the transmission he showed his faith very strongly ».
At what stage is prostate cancer prevention?
“There is a lot to be done. It is important to raise awareness and knowledge on this issue and to tackle the problem in the right way. For example, for two years there have been very effective new treatments ».
Turn to men.
“It is the most common oncological disease in men. Knowing and mastering them means improving the prognosis. In Italy there were 36,000 new cases in 2020 and more than 7,000 deaths are recorded every year. Only by going to your urologist and deciding how to deal with the problem can this number be reduced. If there are no familiarity issues with prostate cancer, I recommend the first sight at 50 », otherwise already at 45 ».
Daniela Bossi – Breast Surgeon Ics Maugeri Pavia and President Andos Milano.
What role will it play in the program?
“We met the six VIP women in our clinic and told them the right steps to take to prevent breast cancer, talked about the risk factors and the exact way to check them. And then I visited them all. Some of them can be seen from behind during mammography. It was a real moment in which some of them, like Gregoraci, have had familiar experiences with the disease, felt a strong emotional impact. Then there was the meeting with the plastic surgeon and with a recovered patient ».
In your opinion, does the combination of show and medicine work?
“On this show he downplays without being light. So made it serves. If even one woman takes an exam after watching the program, we win.”
At what stage is breast cancer prevention?
“It’s at an excellent level in Italy. Especially in the north there is a large participation in free screening programs: for women between 50 and 70 years there is a free mammogram every two years”.
Reach out to women.
«Around the age of 30 you go to the breast specialist for the first time, who assesses the risk factors and advises you on the examinations to be carried out. I recommend the first ultrasound at the age of 30 and between 35 and 40 every year. First mammography at 40. From now on, the breast specialist will decide on the most appropriate tests for each case, but it will certainly be necessary to proceed with mammography and ultrasound.