2023-07-04 08:00:35
Every two years, women between the ages of 50 and 74 are invited to undergo a screening mammogram and a clinical breast examination as part of organized breast cancer screening. But it is clear that the participation of women in this program was not very significant for the period 2021-2022. This is underlined by the new report from Public Health France. We take stock.
The importance of breast cancer screening
The most common cancer in women in France, breast cancer causes nearly 12,000 deaths per year. Hence the importance of detecting it as early as possible, before the onset of symptoms, for more effective management and lower mortality.
This is the objective of the national organized screening program for breast cancer. This program encourages women aged 50 to 74 to undergo a free check-up every two years including:
A screening mammogram with two x-rays per breast (frontal and external oblique), plus an additional x-ray if necessary. A clinical breast examination (observation and palpation).
To know ! The examination is covered under third-party payment (without upfront costs).
To perform this screening, patients will have to go to a public or private radiology practice participating in the program. If the examination does not reveal any abnormality on first or second reading, the patient will be asked to renew it within two years. If, on the contrary, an anomaly is detected, appropriate monitoring will be put in place to check whether it is cancer.
Read also – Breast cancer, better fight against recurrences…
Low participation of women in the breast cancer screening program
According to data collected by Santé Publique France, 2,424,599 women underwent organized screening mammography during 2022. This figure corresponds to a national participation rate of 44.9% while it is amounted to 50.6% in 2021. The results of this survey thus indicate that less than half of women have taken part in screening for the most common cancer in the female population.
This lower figure in 2022 can be explained by the fact that 2021 will have been a year of catch-up following the COVID-19 pandemic and the successive confinements. Several years will certainly be needed to smooth out the consequences of the disruptions linked to COVID-19.
In the meantime, preventing cases of breast cancer also involves taking into account modifiable risk factors. Several lifestyle-related risk factors have been identified, including:
Alcohol consumption Smoking Overweight and obesity Sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity.
Thus, a healthy lifestyle and regular physical exercise should allow women to limit the risk of developing this disease.
Read also – Progestogen contraception: what about the risk of breast cancer?
Published by Julie P., June 16, 2020. Updated by Alexia F., June 24, 2022. Updated by Déborah L., Dr in Pharmacy, June 19, 2023.
Sources
– Less than one in two women had an organized screening mammogram for breast cancer in 2021-2022. www.santepubliquefrance.fr. Accessed June 21, 2023.
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