If 90 % of French people are convinced by the importance of screening for colon and rectum cancer, 40 % are refractory, because they consider that this examination consisting in analyzing the stool is embarrassing.
- Detected early, colorectal cancer which is the second most frequent cancer in France, is cured in 90 % of cases.
- Today, only 34.5 % of French people participate in screening, because the others are afraid of the result, are reluctant to the idea of aging or are embarrassed by this levy.
- The encouragement of loved ones, encouraging 11% of French people to take the test, is restricted by the idea that the screening that involves the analysis of the stool remains still taboo for this reason.
Frequent in both men and women, colorectal cancer affects 47,000 new people each year, making it the second more common cancer all sexes in France. In 9 out of 10 cases, this disease can be healed if it is detected early. Problem: currently, only 34.2 % of eligible people (50 to 74) participate in organized screening, which has been carried out since 2015 and is based on an immunological, simpler and more sensitive, search for hidden bleeding in the stool. This figure is “Still far from the national target of 65 %. If this objective was achieved, it would be 6,600 deaths that could be avoided each year”, report The Arc Foundation.
“Talking about your stool remains a taboo subject for 54 % of French people aged 45 and over”
In order to understand why the participation rate in organized screening is so low, it has, in addition to launching an awareness campaign on the subject of colorectal cancer animated by a bot nicknamed Mr Popo, conducted a study with the Verian cabinet. The latter became interested in the relationship of adults 45 years and over in colorectal cancer screening: “Are they sufficiently informed? Do they talk about it freely with their doctor or loved ones? What are the reasons that brake them? “ According to the results, the participants feel rather well informed about the screening of colorectal cancer and are convinced of its importance (90 %) and its reliability (84 %).
However, fear of the result prevents 57 % of French people to be tested. The reluctance of the idea of aging has also often returned as a major obstacle. The other reason underlined by the ARC Foundation is the discomfort linked to screening, 40 % of the volunteers, have expressed. For 42 % of people, this examination, causing a feeling of discomfort, is disgusting. “Talking about your stool remains a taboo subject for 54 % of French people aged 45 and over, and the situation is even more worrying among 45-54 year olds (61 %)”, Can we read in research.
Colorectal cancer: the encouragement of relatives, an “essential lever” in the participation of screening
If this taboo slows down personal initiatives, it also limits collective speech. As proof: 45 % of French people say they are embarrassed at the idea of approaching this subject with their friends. Screening remains a subject still too limited to the medical and intimate sphere. It is mainly encouraged by doctors (56 %) or symptoms (46 %). “This restraint deprives the screening of an essential lever: the encouragement of loved ones, which encourages only 11 % of French people to take the test. Their speech is however essential because very often more listened to than individual speech on the questions of health.”
