2023-07-11 17:16:25
The alert is serious. Breast and colorectal cancers are respectively “the first cause of death by cancer in women” and “the second cause of death by cancer” causing 29,000 deaths each year in France, recalls Public Health France in its two published studies. Tuesday July 11.
In France, in 2021, only 50.6% of women aged 50 to 74 had recourse to breast cancer screening, while the national organized breast cancer screening program (DOCS) offers every two years “a clinical breast examination and mammography.
A figure to be qualified since “the data presented only concern participation in the organized screening program” and therefore do not take into account “outside the program” mammograms.
Regional disparities
While this figure has made it possible to offset the drastic declines of previous years (48.5% in 2019 then 42.6% in 2020), France remains very far from European recommendations in this area, which suggest a minimum screening rate of 70 %.
Geographic disparities remain in participation. The good results of the Centre-Val de Loire (58.7%) and Pays de la Loire (57.8%) regions compensate for those of Guyanese (29.2%) and Ile-de-France (39.2%).
For colorectal cancer screening, the numbers are even lower. Public Health France reveals that “for the period 2020-2021, (…) the rate of participation in the DOCCR program reached 34.6% at the national level”.
Again, the National Organized Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer (DOCCR) offers “a test for the detection of occult blood in the stool (…) every two years to all people aged 50 to 74”.
Cancer screening slowed down by the pandemic
Medical desertification, procedures considered too restrictive, breast cancer medical services at half mast… At the end of its two studies, the health agency revealed a whole series of problems at the origin of the reduction in breast cancer screening rates and colorectal. The only common denominator, the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the discussions of its study, Public Health France recalls the serious consequences that the health crisis has had on breast cancer screening.
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The Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Centers (CRCDC) “closed and interrupted the sending of invitations” and the confinement limited the populations in their movements and the radiology offices in their activities since they had to close.
For colorectal cancer screening, the health impact was more limited. It has, of course, “led to a significant drop in the number of FIT tests (…) but does not seem to have had a major impact on the annual participation rate in the DOCCR program”.
By highlighting a screening rate “well below European recommendations (acceptable target of 45%)”, the study points to “the need to consult your general practitioner to remove a screening kit”.
Public Health France fears, in the coming months, an upsurge in cases of breast cancer and colorectal cancer which, if not detected in time, compromises the chances of survival for patients.
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