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According to new data published by Public Health France on the participation of women in the organized breast cancer screening program for 2021-2022, less than one in two women concerned would have gone to their screening mammogram.
With 60,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths per year, breast cancer is not only the most common cancer in French women but also its leading cause of death from cancer. This is why a national organized screening program for breast cancer has been set up for women aged 50 to 74 in order to detect an anomaly or cancer at an early stage as soon as possible. But according to the latest figures published on June 12 by Santé Publique France, the participation rate is only 47.7% of the women concerned over the period 2021-2022. And even if 11% of women announce that they have a mammogram outside the program, this does not represent enough people.
What is organized breast cancer screening?
Currently in France, women aged 50 to 74 are invited to benefit from a free screening mammogram every two years, in order to detect any abnormality or cancer as early as possible, before the appearance of symptoms. This screening includes a clinical examination carried out by the radiologist and two x-rays per breast (frontal and external oblique), plus an additional x-ray if necessary, as well as a second systematic reading in the event of a normal examination. The examination is covered as part of third-party payment (without advance payment). These mammograms can be performed in public and private radiology practices. The person chooses his radiologist from the list of radiologists participating in the program.
- If the examination reveals no anomaly in the 1st or 2nd reading, it will be proposed to renew it within two years;
- If an anomaly is detected, it is not necessarily a cancer and in this case, appropriate monitoring will be proposed.
Participation still too low in the territory
Public Health France announces: regular screening would significantly reduce the number of cases of breast cancer. But the figure is not there yet today. During the year 2022, 2,424,599 women had an organized screening mammogram, which corresponds to a national participation rate of 44.9% (versus 50.6% in 2021). A low rate which can be partly explained by a catch-up year in 2021 linked to the deficit observed the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and confinements. In addition, very low participation is observed in Ile-de-France, in the South-East and in Corsica. On the other hand, it reaches more than 55% in the Pays de la Loire.
Despite everything, there remains a positive point in these figures: it seems that the 2021-2022 participation is starting to rise slightly with a rate of 47.7% versus 46.6% over the 2020-2021 period for all age groups. , all metropolitan areas and almost all departments. The beginning of a real awareness?