Early detection of cancer

Screening enables early diagnosis of cancers, even before the first symptoms appear. It involves detecting lesions before they become cancerous (precancerous lesions), or cancers at the earliest possible stage. This makes treatment less invasive and preserves quality of life.

Why should I get tested?

In terms of public health, screening is aimed at the whole population. Getting screened means taking part in an effective public health initiative.

On a personal level, it's a question of considerably improving your chances of being diagnosed with cancer.

Which cancers are covered by screening?

Not all cancers can be screened, as several criteria must be met before screening can be proposed.
These criteria concern :

• the disease itself: it must be frequent and cause significant mortality, but it must also be detectable at a stage at which it can be treated;
• the performance of screening tests and their minimally invasive nature;
• the existence of effective treatments for this type of cancer.

Two aspects of screening :

• Individual screening is carried out following a personal request or a doctor's recommendation, particularly in cases of suspected or proven family predisposition (increased risk of cancer in the family).
• organized screening concerns a specific segment of the population and a certain type of cancer.

How do organized screenings work?

In France, there are three national organized screening programs.
The :

• Breast cancer,
• Colorectal cancer, 
• Cervical cancer.

For breast cancer: Every two years, women between the ages of 50 and 74 receive a letter inviting them to undergo a mammogram (radiological examination) and a clinical examination by an accredited radiologist.

For colorectal cancer: Every two years, people aged 50 to 74 are invited to undergo an immunological test on a stool sample, which detects traces of blood invisible to the naked eye.

For cervical cancer: Every three years, women aged between 25 and 65 have a screening smear taken by their GP or gynecologist. This involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix to detect the presence of viruses or abnormal cells.

In the absence of organized screening, what should I look out for?

Some types of cancer, such as skin cancer, are not accessible to organized screening programs, but can still be detected early.

Pay attention! Certain warning signs should prompt you to consult your doctor. Early detection of cancer also depends on your awareness of these "warning signs". These may include, for example, :

• intense, long-lasting fatigue;
• weight loss ;
• size that does not diminish, wherever it is;
• voice changes, persistent hoarseness or coughing ;
• blood loss outside the menstrual period or after the menopause;
• small persistent wound ;
• changes in the appearance of a mole.

These warning signs do not necessarily mean that you have cancer; however, their occurrence and persistence should motivate you to consult your doctor.

In France, 4 out of 10 cancers are preventable if we adapt our lifestyles. Tips on how to limit your risk of developing cancer:

• No smoking,
• No excessive alcohol consumption (less than 10 drinks/week and 2 drinks/day with at least 2 alcohol-free days/week).
• Combat weight gain,
• Eating a balanced diet;
• Regular physical activity,
• Limiting exposure to the sun: very important for young children, but also for adults (no untimely exposure between 12:00 and 16:00, full-body sunscreen every 2 hours in particular).
• Practice safe sex to combat sexually transmitted diseases.
• Vaccinate teenagers against the HPV virus.

Warning: PREVENTION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE!