Headlines - Colorectal Cancer Screening

In France, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and the second most common among women. The organized colorectal cancer screening program was expanded to cover the entire country in 2009. European guidelines recommend a participation rate of at least 45% among the target population for the screening program to be cost-effective. In 2012–13, the participation rate in Burgundy was 42.2% and 34.4% in Franche-Comté. As at the national level, women participate in the program more than men. In Burgundy, Saône-et-Loire, a pioneer in screening (since 1988), has a participation rate above the recommended minimum threshold (50.1%); Côte-d’Or and Yonne have rates close to this, while Nièvre has a rate below 30%. The departments of Franche-Comté have rates ranging from 32.6% (Haute-Saône) to 35.5% (Jura). Compared to the previous period, Franche-Comté is among the regions with the sharpest declines (approximately 5–6%). Regional disparities can certainly be explained by the departments’ earlier participation in the program, but changing trends suggest the presence of other factors. Greater efforts are needed to identify the profile of individuals not participating in the program in order to adopt an effective and targeted communication strategy for the target population. Furthermore, a new test (immunological test) scheduled for late 2014 could play a positive role in increasing participation in this screening due to simplified sampling procedures.