2024-01-26 20:15:15
Published on: 01/26/2024 – 9:15 p.m.
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As February 4 approaches, World Cancer Day, the two organizations called on Friday for “general mobilization” to detect more and reduce the growing burden of cancer, the leading cause of death in France.
Detected early, cancer is cured better and with generally fewer treatments and after-effects.
Three national screening programs exist for breast cancer (mammography and clinical examination every two years for women aged 50 to 74), cervical cancer (women aged 25 to 65, different screening before and after 30 years) and colorectal (fecal occult blood test every two years for men and women aged 50 to 74).
If the French largely support the principle, they are too reluctant to take action despite the invitations received, according to the institutions.
“Participation remains insufficient,” regretted Inca general director Thierry Breton during a press conference.
“For breast cancer, we are certainly at 47%, but the trend is downward; for colorectal cancer, we are collectively failing with a participation of 34%, very low compared to the objectives of 60-70% ; for cervical cancer, we are at 60%, but the objective is 80%,” he summarized.
Not only is France far behind other countries, particularly in northern Europe, but its ten-year strategy to combat cancer sets the objective of 1 million additional screenings by 2025.
“The room for improvement is significant,” added Catherine Grenier, director of policyholders at Cnam.
If 65% of eligible French people participated in colorectal cancer screening, 6,600 deaths could be avoided each year.
Removing “brakes”
To remove various “brakes”, the objective is to “work harder” via “a new organization”, according to Thierry Breton.
For invitations and reminders, Health Insurance took over management at the beginning of 2024, previously carried out by the regional cancer screening centers but considered unsatisfactory.
The National Association of Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Centers, however, expressed concern in mid-January about “a disorganization of Health Insurance in the implementation of the new invitation system”, with a risk of “consequences on the population”.
Pathologists study a tumor present in the tissues of a fragment of the breast, at the Paoli-Calmette Institute (IPC) in Marseille, October 9, 2017 © ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP/Archives
By mail, email, SMS, Health Insurance intends to strengthen contacts with the French, if necessary with a “double reminder”, assured Catherine Grenier.
For the most fragile and far from the healthcare system (beneficiaries of the Supplementary Solidarity Health Insurance, insured without a treating doctor, etc.), there will also be calls, according to a “go towards” system like that established for anti-Covid vaccination in 2021.
More than 100 teleadvisors, in seven platforms in mainland France and overseas, have been recruited and trained for support interviews when making an appointment or obtaining a kit.
The Cnam will devote around 30 million euros overall to this double system (invitations and “going towards”), according to the director of policyholders.
In recent years, access to cervical and colorectal cancer screenings has been facilitated, assure the institutions.
For the first, the examination is now also possible with midwives or general practitioners, beyond gynecologists. For the second, the kit has been available since 2022 on the internet or in pharmacies, no longer only from a doctor.
A site (JeFaisMonDepistage.e-cancer.fr) bringing together information on screenings also allows you to order the kits or make an appointment.
Beyond that, other developments are possible, and discussions are underway, on possible national lung cancer screening, according to Thierry Breton. A pilot program will begin this year.
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