Headlines

Participation Data for the Organized Breast Cancer Screening Program, 2015–2016

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in France. As it does every year, Santé publique France publishes data on women’s participation in the organized breast cancer screening program. Every two years, this program invites women aged 50 to 74 to undergo a screening mammogram, supplemented by a clinical breast exam.With more than 5 million women screened during the 2015–2016 period, participation in the organized breast cancer screening program in France stands at 51%, a slight decrease compared to the period of stabilization in participation around 52% between 2008 and 2014. This decline is observed across all age groups except for those aged 70–74, and across all regions of mainland France. In 2015–2016, the geographical variation in participation observed in previous years persisted, with disparities between departments ranging from 27% in Paris to 63% in Loire-Atlantique. This geographic variation is also evident at the regional level (new regions), with participation rates ranging from 36% in Corsica to 60% in the Pays de la Loire (Figure). The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region recorded a participation rate of 57% for 2015–2016, with a high of 61% in Côte-d’Or and a low of 55% in Haute-Saône.Several hypotheses can be put forward regarding the slight decline in participation observed in recent years, such as the impact of national and international controversy over the effectiveness of breast cancer screening, a potential reduction in medical services for breast health, and a possible increase in individual screening efforts due to tomosynthesis not being included in the organized program. However, it is not possible to precisely calculate the extent of this individual screening or its evolution over time. It remains necessary to improve participation in organized screening by raising awareness among women—particularly those who never undergo mammography—about the quality offered by this screening, which is available free of charge. These new data enable the monitoring and evaluation of progress on the actions of the 2014–2019 Cancer Plan related to breast cancer screening, and in particular the fight against inequalities in access to and use of screening programs (Action 1.8).