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Santé Publique France published yesterday its report on participation in the organized cervical cancer screening program in France. While some figures are encouraging, the strategy (by invitation) is still too timid and the coverage threshold to be reached is still far away.
Every year, cervical cancer affects nearly 3,000 new women in France and causes around 1,100 deaths. A public health issue that is not inevitable: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), this type of cancer could be eradicated through screening and vaccination against the human papillomavirus. It is in this sense that organized screening has been planned since 2018. But is it bearing fruit? Santé Publique France published yesterday, July 4, 2024, the progressions observed between 2014 and 2023.
An ambitious organized screening program
In 2018, the National Organized Screening Program for Cervical Cancer (PNDOCCU) was therefore set up, with the aim of reducing the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer by 30% in ten years.
To achieve this objective, the PNDOCCU aims to increase the screening coverage rate at 80%, to reduce social and territorial inequalities in screening and to improve the quality of professional practices.
The screening and monitoring modalities for cervical cancer are based on the recommendations of the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) and the Institut national du Cancer (INCa). The target population includes immunocompetent women aged 25 to 65 who have not undergone a total hysterectomy, whether or not they are vaccinated against HPV. Screening cytology is recommended for women aged 25 to 29 every three years, while HPV testing is recommended every five years for women aged 30 to 65.
What are the results today?
Since the introduction of organized screening, things have moved forward, but not enough, the report details.
The national standardized coverage rate is 59.5% (about 6 out of 10 women), up one point from the previous three-year period (for 2019-2021). Still far from the 80% hoped for.
In mainland France, however, four departments have rates close to, or even higher than, acceptable European coverage rates (which aim for 70%): Isère (70.8%), Morbihan (69.3%), Rhône (69.1%), Finistère (69.1%). The Ile de France and the overseas regions are, on the other hand, among the lowest rates.
Screening by invitation still timid
On the other hand, among the women screened, the proportion of women who took a test following an invitation letter was 11.6% over the period 2020-2022. A figure that is still low, but is still constantly evolving, since they were only 7.5% in 2019-2021 and 3.3% in 2018-2020.This highlights the gradual increase in the organized screening program and the adoption of new scoring methods by health professionals (samplers, biologists, pathologists).” the report highlights.
Biologists will be able to carry out these tests
A rate that could however increase, thanks to the latest simplification measures permitted by Health Insurance. Last week, the latter announced that biologists will now be authorized to carry out this screening without a medical prescription and upon simple presentation of the DOCCU invitation letter, sent by Health Insurance by email or by paper mail.
For more information you can also go to https://jefaismondepistage.e-cancer.fr/cancer-du-cer-de-l-uterus/