2024-02-23 09:47:49
“Don’t play, don’t play like that…“ You remember, it was the hit of the summer of 89, performed by the duo François Feldman and Joniece Jamison. But, who might have imagined that thirty-five years later, this refrain would echo the colorectal cancer screening campaign which starts at the beginning of March and whose godfather of the Paca region is none other than the singer.
His revisited song might even become the anthem intended for all those who do not dare or do not think regarding going for testing. Because, let’s not forget that when it comes to cancer, the game is not yet won. Let’s put our cards on the table, the numbers are there. The disease remains the leading cause of death in France. In detail, with 47,582 new cases per year and 17,100 deaths, colorectal cancer is the most common following prostate and breast cancer and the second cause of cancer mortality following lung.
In the Paca region, 3,600 new cases per year (1,900 men/1,700 women) are diagnosed and around 1,320 deaths per year (690 men/630 women) are recorded. And to complete this black picture drawn up by the regional cancer screening coordination center (CRCDC) Paca, on the occasion of the launch of the campaign “blue mars“, the incidence has been decreasing slowly in men since 1990 (-0.3% per year), but is increasing moderately in women (+0.2% per year).
French people aged 50 to 74 are invited every year to get tested
To reverse the curves, French people aged 50 to 74 are therefore invited every year to be screened. But it is clear that since its generalization in 2009, the national organized screening program for colorectal cancer (DOCCR) still remains insufficient. Worse, France receives a red card every year. The participation rate is low, around 35% and 32.6% in Paca, well below the European recommendations of 65% with a minimum acceptable participation threshold of 45%. Far from 70% in the Netherlands even though the campaign was only launched in 2014.
“Most other countries are doing better than us and have seen a drop in the number of colorectal cancers, underlines Professor Jean-François Seitz, gastroenterologist and oncologist at Timone hospital. And to remember that “the number of deaths from colorectal cancer represents five times as many deaths from road accidents. That’s one death every thirty minutes!“
In 9 out of 10 cases, detected early, colorectal cancer is curable
How to explain this bad position? “The need to consult your general practitioner to collect a screening kit appears to constitute one of the obstacles to an increase in participationestimated Public Health France.
It took 4 letters of invitation to be tested for Carlos Cardoso, research director at Inserm, to decide to carry out the test which turned out to be positive. “It’s a hammer falling on your head. I had polyps removed. I’m fine but I no longer hesitate to talk regarding it to those around me.“
Cyril Sarrante was less lucky. With simplicity, he recounts his encounter with a colon polyp which turned out to be cancerous, the treatments but also this stoma which he kept attached to him for several months. He has since co-founded the Mon Réseau Colorectal Cancer association dedicated to prevention and screening. “Talking regarding colorectal cancer breaks the myth of virility. And yet, talking regarding it can save lives. Take your test too.“
The examination whichconsists of looking for traces of blood in the stools“, is offered to people aged 50 to 74, every two years. “80% of colon cancers occur in a population where there is no risk. In 9 out of 10 cases, detected early, colorectal cancer is curable but also and above all the removal of precancerous lesions during a colonoscopy helps prevent the subsequent appearance of cancer.recalls Yves Rinaldi, gastroenterologist at the European hospital in Marseille.
In Paca, the latest campaign made it possible to detect 632 cancers at early stages and nearly 5,000 adenomas, including nearly 3,000 advanced adenomas. In 2024, invitations will now be sent by health insurance. “100 telephone advisors will send SMS messages to remind policyholders of the importance of screening.”
For its part, the ARS wants to emphasize “on the go towards“the public. For the Region which launched its Cancer plan, “you have to play as a team to win.” At the beginning of March, we understood, let’s all be in the saddle to put cancer out of the game.
1708682779
#colorectal #cancer #screening #campaign #begins #March #play #win
