There are still very few women who undergo testing, laments Public Health France. In a statement published this Tuesday, April 30, the health organization reports that 5,045,065 women in France underwent a screening mammogram in 2022 or 2023. This is 46.5% of people affected nationwide.
In fact, all women between 50 and 74 years old are invited to undergo this screening, complemented by a clinical breast examination, every two years, to detect an abnormality or cancer in an early phase and thus increase the chances of remission.
10 million women affected
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death in France. In 2023, 61,214 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in mainland France, according to the National Cancer Institute. Breast cancer is responsible for the deaths of approximately 12,000 people each year.
Of the target population of around 10 million women, less than one in two were screened during the period 2022-2023. This rate is lower than that of the previous period (47.7% in 2021-2022).
According to figures from Public Health France, participation rates are highest in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Normandy and Brittany, while the lowest are found in Guyana, Corsica and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
As the organization recalls, after having increased until 2011-2012 to reach a maximum of 52.3%, the number of women who participated in organized screening examinations, since then this rate has been decreasing, for all age groups affected and in all regions.
More and more cancers
However, the rate of cancer detection among women who undergo screening is increasing. An increase consistent with that of the incidence of breast cancer in the general population.
According to the National Cancer Institute, between 1990 and 2018, the number of new cases of breast cancer each year increased from 29,970 to 58,400. We also see an increase in the number of young women suffering from breast cancer, but this is not specific to these age groups but rather linked to an increase in the general population.
“Among the known risk factors for breast cancer, lifestyle factors have been identified, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, overweight/obesity and lack of physical activity,” notes Public Health France.
The importance of early detection
Every two years, women ages 50 to 74 are invited to have a clinical breast examination and screening mammogram. “It offers an immediate diagnostic evaluation in case of suspicious results and a second reading of each normal mammogram after the first reading,” explains Public Health France.
It is also recommended that your treating doctor, gynecologist or midwife examine your breasts (observation and palpation) at least once a year.
This involves remaining alert to any changes in appearance to detect an abnormality as quickly as possible. To do this, health professionals invite women to get to know their breasts well. It is also possible to perform self-palpations to check, for example, spots, small lumps or asymmetry between both breasts.
When detected at an early stage, breast cancer is more likely to be cured. This makes it possible to limit treatments, increase the chances of remission and reduce mortality related to this cancer.
Source: BFM TV
