Each year, 40,500 new people are affected by the colorectal cancer in France. Taken care of early, it is treated very well but screening, which is still too little practiced, paradoxically makes it the second deadliest cancer with 17,500 deaths per year.
Colorectal cancer: the French poorly informed
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the National Cancer Institute (INCa), in partnership with the Health Insurance (CNAMTS), the Social Regime for the Self-Employed (RSI) and the Agricultural Social Mutuality (MSA) wish to promote colorectal cancer screening in place since 2009 and too little known to the French.
Colorectal cancer is rare before the age of 50, but its frequency then increases rapidly with age. 4 in 100 men and 3 in 100 women will develop colon cancer in their lifetime. Less than one in three people (31.7%) practice the screening test according to the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Invs). And only 10% of those questioned spontaneously declare that this cancer is cured in 90% of cases when it is detected in time.
How is the screening going?
Every two years, if you are between 50 and 74 years old, you will receive by mail an invitation to withdraw the Hemoccult® test see your doctor during a consultation. Taking into account your medical and family history, the doctor will decide if you need to do this screening. If so, all you have to do at home, take a little of your stool and place it on the plate provided for this purpose. Your doctor receives your results and communicates them to you.
If the test is negative (97 to 98% of cases), it is advisable to repeat the test in two years and to monitor and notify your doctor when any warning signs appear (blood in the stool, pain in the stomach, diarrhea or constipation…).
In the event of a positive test
If the result is positive, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer! To determine the origin of the bleeding, the doctor will refer you to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. In more than half of the cases no anomaly is detected. In 30 to 40% it is a polyp that the doctor will decide to remove before it degenerates into Cancer. If it is cancer (10% of cases), know that the earlier it is taken, the greater your chances of recovery. Taken early, it can be treated in 9 out of 10 cases!
Numerous awareness-raising actions will be carried out throughout France in March to promote colorectal cancer screening: TV and radio campaign, animated film online, specific information for health insurance funds, medical practices, associations, etc. On Tuesday March 26, gastroenterologists will open their offices to explain to everyone the personalized colorectal cancer screening and prevention program.
More info on: www.e-cancer.fr or from Cancer Info on: 0810 810 821 (cost of a local call).
