Key Points

• The national organized breast cancer screening program was expanded to cover the entire country in 2004, and Santé publique France is responsible for the national epidemiological evaluation of the program.

• The quality of the screening process is constantly improving, and the program’s performance criteria are in line with European recommendations.

• After rising through 2011–2012 to a peak of 52.3%, participation in the program has gradually declined across all age groups and regions.

• A significant drop in participation was observed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a recovery in 2021.

• In 2022–2023, participation stands at 46.5%, lower than in 2021–2022. Over the past few years, interpreting trends in participation rates remains challenging due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to disrupt the schedule for sending invitations to participate in the organized screening program.

• Participation in this program remains insufficient but is supplemented by approximately 10% of women undergoing screening outside the program, resulting in a breast cancer screening coverage rate of nearly 60%, close to the 70% recommended by European authorities.

• It is important that women who wish to be screened be directed toward the national organized screening program, which is more effective because it includes a second review of the results and a higher overall quality of the procedure.