It is the most common and deadliest cancer for women (12,000 deaths per year), and yet. Breast cancer screening remains “low” in France, where less than one in two women aged 50 to 74 participate. This is the sad observation drawn up by a study published by Public Health France (SpF) this Thursday.
French women aged 50 to 74 are offered, every two years, a clinical breast examination and a mammogram, followed by a second reading by an expert if the first is normal or a diagnostic assessment in the event of suspicious image. But not all those concerned respond to the call, far from it: some 2.6 million women had an organized screening mammogram in 2023, or 48.2% participation (compared to 44.8% in 2022).
Participation has been declining for ten years
France is struggling to achieve the European target of at least 70%. Worse, the level of participation has tended to decline in the country for around ten years, with, in addition, the repercussions of the Covid crisis. “After increasing until 2011-2012 to reach a peak at 52.3%, participation in the program has since been decreasing, for all age groups and all regions,” underlines the study.
An impact of the Covid crisis “continues”, points out the health agency, according to which “the cycle of invitations” for cancer screening has been “disrupted”, the deadlines for making appointments have been lengthened, and “ therefore the realization mammograms “. What’s more, since around 2015, “the gradual decline in the supply of breast cancer had already led to difficulties in making appointments, with a gradual lengthening”, notes the study.
The rate of cancers detected on the rise
In addition to the Covid crisis, a previous SpF study put forward several hypotheses in July to explain the downward trend in participation in breast cancer screening, including “doubt about the usefulness” or “medical desertification”.
Another lesson: the rate of cancers detected among women undergoing screening is increasing regularly in France, “consistent with the observed increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the population”, particularly among the youngest categories. Mammograms are also done outside of organized screening.