France wants to improve screening rates

The director general of the National Cancer Institute calls for a “mobilization of the French people”.

Addressing Insufficient Participation in Organized Screening for Breast, Colorectal, and Cervical Cancers, Health Insurance and National Cancer Institute Wants “Put in extra work” Removing existing brakes with various levers unveiled on Friday 26 January.

“Participation in screening remains insufficient. For breast cancer, we are certainly at 47%, but the trend is downward. For colorectal cancer, we are failing collectively with participation at 34%, which is very low compared to the 60-70 targets. %. For cervical cancer, we are at 60%, but the target is 80%.”Inca General Director Thierry Breton explained.

Launched a website

As the global cancer burden continues to rise, the Director General of the National Cancer Institute launched “A call to the mobilization of the French people, because these screenings make it possible to treat cancer more and with fewer after-effects when it is detected early.”

“We’re trying to make daily life easier to make screening programs more accessible.”

Thierry Breton, director of Inca

to the AFP

For example, for colorectal cancer, the detection of which is based on a test to detect occult blood in the stool, it has been possible to order a kit on the Internet or in pharmacies since 2022. For cervical cancer, screening can be done by midwives or general practitioners in addition to gynecologists.

The website, Jefaismondepistage.e-cancer.fr, also allows you to order colorectal kits or make an appointment. For invitations and reminders for screening, health insurance is now taking over the management, which was earlier done by regional cancer screening centers but was considered unsatisfactory.