Published on
Updated
Reading 2 min.
According to a study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer published last April, France has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in the world, despite ongoing progress.
There are more women with breast cancer in France than elsewhere (in relation to the number of inhabitants). This reality was revealed by a study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published last April and identified by The Parisian. And the figure is chilling.
More than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
Concretely, according to data collected in 185 countries during the year 2022, the incidence rate of breast cancer in France peaks at 105.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. But to get an idea, it is useful to compare it to our neighbors with a similar lifestyle. This rate is thus:
- 87 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Italy;
- 81 cases/100,000 inhabitants in Spain;
- 94 cases/100,000 inhabitants in the United Kingdom;
- 77 cases/100,000 inhabitants in Germany.
Behind France are also other Western countries such as Australia (101.5/100,000), and the United States (95.9/100,000). Well ahead of China, for example, which has “only” 33 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Why such an incidence rate?
As the study highlights, this figure comes in a context of increasing breast cancer worldwide. In 2022, with 2.3 million new cases (globally), breast cancer was the second leading cause of cancer incidence worldwide.
But how can such an increase be explained? Researchers have mentioned various factors that could explain this development, such as early puberty, late menopause, a decrease in the number of children per woman, hormone replacement therapy for menopause, oral contraceptives, overweight and obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, etc.
But it is also a question of taking into account a major element: in France in particular, prevention has made it possible to detect many cancers which would have been detected late, notably thanks to mammography.
The only good news in this information is that screening and medical progress have nevertheless allowed progress. In France, mortality (world standardized rate) has decreased (-1.3% per year on average, going from 20.2 deaths from breast cancer per 100,000 women in 1990 to 14.0 in 2018, according to figures from Santé Publique France
Breast cancer: the first signs to recognize
As a reminder, in France there is an organized screening for breast cancer which, since January 2024, concerns women aged 50 to 74 who do not have risk factors. In this context, a screening mammogram, fully covered but not mandatory, must be carried out every two years. Unfortunately, still according to Public Health France, only nearly one in two women were screened in 2023. A shame when we know that one in eight women develops breast cancer during their lifetime, but that early treatment can cure 9 out of 10 cases.
It also remains to be known the signs that may invite you to consult. According to the National Cancer Institute there are 4 in particular that should worry you.
- A lump in the breast;
- Hard lymph nodes in the armpit;
- A change in the skin of the breast, or nipple;
- A change in the size or shape of the breast.
Symptoms to take seriously. In addition to the exams performed in the office, doctors encourage women to perform self-examinations of their breasts regularly. This self-examination can help detect abnormalities early.