These figures appeared in the weekly epidemiological bulletin of the National Institute for Sanitary Surveillance (Invs). Among these women, only 27.3% participated in the organized screening for breast cancer, offered to all women of this age group by the Health Insurance. This rate is much lower than the national average, which is 47%.
Women who have had organized screening say more than 50% have been motivated by information campaigns, and 20% by a case of cancer in a loved one.
According to this survey, regular gynecological follow-up is “the main determinant of screening”. It has also been found that non-smokers are more involved in screening for breast cancer, as are women who have a high level of education.
According to figures from Invs, throughout France, in 2007, 2.2 million women participated in organized screening for breast cancer. Generalized throughout the territory in 2004, this program offers women aged 50 to 74 a mammogram every two years, reimbursed at 100%. Projections have revealed that if this organized screening were followed by 70% of the women concerned, breast cancer mortality could decrease by 25%.
Each year, 11,000 women die of breast cancer in France, and 50,000 new cases are diagnosed. Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in women.
