More efficient, more reliable and easier to use, the immunological test should allow millions of people to have access to organized screening.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Marisol Touraine officially announced the launch of new colorectal cancer screening tests. More efficient than its predecessor, the Hémoccult test, the new will also be easier to use in order to facilitate access to as many people as possible. During her speech, the Minister of Health insisted on the importance of screening for this disease. “Even though death rates are dropping sharply, by around 25% in twenty years, it is the second deadliest cancer: more than 17,500 patients die from it each year. “
Since 2009, French people aged 50 to 74 have received an invitation every two years to participate in organized screening for colorectal cancer. Currently, less than 32% of those affected choose to undergo this screening. A participation rate which is stagnating, and which is above all “too low to allow the achievement of the public health objectives of reducing mortality”, underlines the National Cancer Institute (INCa)
However detected early, colorectal cancer is well treated (9 out of 10 cases on average), hence the interest of these new immunological tests, the sensitivity of which is increased. They should thus make it possible to detect 2 to 2.5 times more cancers than the old model. These tests are also more reliable, in particular thanks to the much easier and above all automated reading of the results. Finally, it is simple because only one sample is required for this test. Previously, six samples had to be taken from the patient.
A simpler test to use
To increase awareness among the target population, the Ministry of Health has also released an infographic that highlights important figures for the disease. A strong statistic: the implementation of organized screening (in 2009) made it possible to reduce the number of deaths due to colorectal cancer by 15%. Last year, nearly 42,000 people (18,900 women for 23,200 men) were still affected.
People who screened in early 2015 with the old Hemoccult II protocol, and whose tests could not be analyzed, should receive a specific letter inviting them as a priority to use the new test.
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