A study by Inca reveals that 76% of French people will pay more attention to their health following the crisis linked to Covid-19, but that 54% of them consider themselves ill-informed about other pathologies.
- 54% of French people believe they lack information on pathologies other than Covid-19
- The Inca is launching two devices to encourage screening for breast and colorectal cancers and to remind people of barrier gestures against the sun
- For 95% of French people “prevention is a very effective way to limit the risk of illness”
The health crisis seems to have pushed the French to be more concerned about their health. In any case, this is what emerges from a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute (Inca), in conjunction with BVA* among a representative sample of the population: 76% of them claim that they will pay more attention to their health following the Covid-19 crisis.
Cancer screening program relaunched
Nevertheless, more than half of the people questioned (54%) say they lack information on other pathologies as the crisis linked to the new coronavirus occupies the media space. As a result, INCa launched two new information devices on June 22: one inviting the French to take part in the screening program for breast and colorectal cancers, which has now resumed, and the second, relating to the sun prevention as the summer holidays approach. The objective of the Inca is to train in “protective gestures to protect your skin from the risk of cancer linked to UV rays”. For 95% of French people “prevention is a very effective way to limit the risk of disease”.
Offered every 2 years to a category of people at risk (especially 50-74 year olds), organized screening aims to detect cancers at an early stage and consider possible treatments generally less heavy and better chances of recovery. More than 5 million French people take part in this screening program each year. While France is now completely deconfined and the prevalence of Covid-19 is decreasing, the Inca invites the French who have received an invitation to go get tested.
The importance of early detection
As a reminder, organized breast cancer screening is aimed at women aged 50 to 74 every two years and consists of carrying out ado mammography and a clinical breast examination (palpation). An appointment not to be missed when you know that more than 55,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in France and that 80% of them develop after 50 years. Diagnosed at an early stage, breast cancer heals well in 9 out of 10 cases.”In 2018 and 2019, 5.2 million women were screened, i.e. 49.3% participation”specifies the Inca.
Screening for colorectal cancer concerns women and men aged 50 to 74 (without personal or family risk factors, or symptoms) and consists of carrying out a screening test at home every two years. Again, screening is essential because the rate of colorectal cancer in France is high, with 44,872 new cases and 17,684 deaths in 2017.”In 2018 and 2019, 5.0 million people took a test, i.e. 30.5% participation.”
The risks associated with the sun
Each year, 80,000 new cases of skin cancer are also diagnosed in France. Although unknown to the general public, there are three types of skin cancer, all of which have different survival statistics. “They generally occur after the age of 50, on exposed areas of the body (face, neck, shoulders, forearms, legs, etc.). In 2017, this cancer affected 15,404 people and caused 1,783 deaths. Protecting your skin from UV radiation (solar or artificial) is therefore essential regardless of your age”. Early detection increases the chances of recovery and survival.
Nevertheless, in order to guard against it, the Inca recalls the four essential preventive actions during exposure to the sun:
– avoid exposure between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. and seek shade;
– systematically protect children’s skin;
– cover up by wearing a T-shirt, glasses and a hat;
– apply generously to the uncovered parts of the cream (index 50).
* Quantitative study carried out from April 24 to 28, 2020 with a sample of 1,000 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.
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