The generalization of this examination for women aged between 50 and 74 years would save 3,000 lives a year.

Organized breast cancer screening mammography has existed since 2004 in France. Every two years, women aged between 50 and 74 years were invited via email to visit a radiologist to follow the review covered 100% by Social Security. The advantage of this preventive approach is regularly challenged by scientific studies that divide the medical community. According to the authors, the recognition result held surdiagnostics many. Clearly, a number of women who were said to have a malignant tumor are really missing … They must, however, further tests or treatments heavy.

“The issue of overdiagnosis For carcinomesin situ intraductal which represents 14% of breast cancers and that one in three will not change. But since there are no markers to identify us, we are obliged to treat all women,” explained Professor Agnes Buzyn, president of the National Cancer Institute (Inca), during the presentation, Friday, the recommendations of the Authority for Health (HAS) on screening for breast cancer.

A “double reading”

“The goal of screening is to detect small tumors, in order to initiate treatment less heavy and less mutilating” he recalled. Under these conditions, the practice of this review is not challenged by health authorities. Professor Jean-Luc Harousseau, Chairman of HA, has clearly taken place. “Currently there is a signal to question the risk-benefit of organized screening for breast cancer in women aged 50 to 74 years,” he said. However, as pointed out by Professor Agnes Buzyn, 50 years, you can dispute the opportunity to expose women to a radio-induced risk.

The 15 million mammograms performed since 2004 as part of organized screening allowed the diagnosis of breast cancer 100,000. It ‘s too early to assess the effects of this examination on the mortality of this cancer, which kills more than 11,000 women each year in France.

Estimates of the Inca, if all eligible women participated in screening, 3,000 lives would be saved each year. But only half of the 4.3 million women involved participate annually in organized screening: a rate far below the 80% target set by health authorities.

The screening program is, in fact, not compulsory. Between 50 and 74 years, one in ten women are opting for individual screening, prescribed by a gynecologist, mostly.A practice that has the desire or even decline, if not disappear. Organized screening is very effective because of the double reading of radiographs by another radiologist, a centralized procedure. “This double reading detected on 8% to 9% of cancer screening program,” said Michel Deghaye, radiologist. Approximately 1,300 cancers a year. According to a wise calculation of the HA, 283 additional cancers are diagnosed each year if 10% of women prefer individual screening opted for a mass screening. For now, the supporters have to inform these women, as half of them would be willing to take the plunge.

Source: www.lefigaro.fr