The cancer patient who inspired French movement to block reintroduction of pesticide

Fleur Breteau tells of how case was merely a symptom of a wider problem contaminating food and water systems

On the day French MPs gave themselves a round of applause for approving legislation to reintroduce a banned pesticide last month, a figure rose from the public gallery to shout: “You are supporters of cancer … and we will make it known.”

Fleur Breteau made it known. Her outburst and appearance – she lost her hair during chemotherapy for breast cancer – boosted a petition against the “Duplomb law” to well over 2m signatures.