Bowel cancer screening in France: how being tested early can lead to better outcomes
Life-saving test is offered to 50 to 74-year-olds
Stool samples are tested for traces of blood
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock
France is lagging behind other European countries when it comes to cancer screenings, with the low uptake of bowel cancer tests among those most worrying healthcare experts.
Despite regular campaigns and warnings about the importance of preventative measures, the screening rate for bowel cancer was only 35% in 2021.
The European objective is to involve 45% of the target population.
In addition, the proportion of people undergoing a colonoscopy following a positive test is falling, standing at 82.6% in 2020-2021, below the European benchmark considered “acceptable” (85%).
In France, more than 17,000 people die from bowel cancer every year, but if it is diagnosed early enough, it can be treated effectively.
More than 47,000 new cases of bowel cancer are recorded every year, and back in 2002, the government introduced a nationwide screening programme to help catch more cases at the earliest possible stage.
Who does it apply to?
The screening programme applies to both men and women, from the age of 50 up to 74, as nearly 95% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed after the age of 50.
Every two years, individuals within this age range are invited to participate in the screening, known as a dépistage du cancer colorectal.
The procedure is painless, relatively simple and can be done at home. You don’t need to visit a doctor or a specialist.
What’s the process?
One of the earliest signs of bowel cancer is having traces of blood in your stools, but this is a symptom that can easily go unnoticed.
The screening, therefore, involves taking a small sample of your stool that can be sent off to a laboratory to check for any traces of blood.
Read more: Mobile health bus targets cancer prevention in France
How does it work?
When you reach 50, you should automatically receive a letter inviting you to take part in the screening.
You can then order a test kit online, using the information and instructions provided in the letter.
Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist to order a kit for you.
The test kit is delivered to your house. It contains a how-to guide, an identification form and label, a collecting kit to place over the toilet, and a small plastic tube into which you scrape a small stool sample.
Also in your kit is a prepaid envelope in which to return the sample and your form.
It is best to complete the test as soon as possible, ideally avoiding any bank holidays that would delay the test getting to the laboratories.
You typically receive your results within three days online or 15 days by post.
In excess of 96% of tests come back clear, with no symptoms at all and nothing to do for another two years, when it’s time for the next screening.
Do I really need to bother?
One of the problems of this particular illness is that it progresses without noticeable symptoms – you could have bowel cancer and have no idea.
Generally, bowel cancer begins with a tumour that is benign (not harmful at all) but if it is left untreated, the tumour will eventually become cancerous.
Anyone in the age bracket of 50 to 74 should certainly take part in the screening programme because when it is diagnosed at an early stage, 90% of cases can be cured.
