Mainly due to a demographic cocktail (population increase and aging) but also to risks related to lifestyles, the incidence of cancers has significantly increased in France over the last 20 years, as in other Western countries. For 2023, 433,333 new cases have been anticipated.
Mortality linked to cancers has generally decreased in France…
Cancers, which kill more than 162,400 French people each year, are the leading cause of death in men and the second leading cause of death in women after cardiovascular diseases.
The most frequent remain, in men, the prostate cancers (59,885 cases), lung (33,438 cases) and colon-rectum (26,212 cases). In women, those of the breast (61,214 cases), colorectal (21,370 cases) and lung (19,339 cases), according to the fourth panorama of the National Cancer Institute, published Thursday.
If the latest estimates depict "a rather encouraging situation for men, with a decrease in incidence or stability for these locations, two cancers show a worrying increase in the incidence rate in women over the period 2010-2023: lung cancer (+4.3% per year), pancreatic cancer (+2.1% per year)", emphasizes the Inca.
A major factor in this development: tobacco consumption, “began in the 1970s/80s among women”, later than in men.
Over the years, mortality linked to cancer has generally decreased in France thanks to earlier detection and progress in treatments.
Read alsoTobacco: One Pack a Day Causes Hundreds of Genetic Mutations a Year
…but the decline is less marked among women
This decline, however, appears less marked among women than among men, beneficiaries of "earlier diagnoses and significant therapeutic advances among the most common cancers" for them, according to the Inca.
Although survival from cancers has often improved thanks to scientific progress, particularly for prostate, cutaneous melanoma and breast, this is not the case for everyone.
Lung and pancreatic cancers, which are on the rise among women, but also liver cancers, are the most deadly. When they are detected, the prognosis is very poor for various reasons (late diagnosis, difficult to access location, rapid and aggressive progression, resistance to therapies, lack of specific treatments).
“Two essential weapons” still too neglected
“Two essential weapons in the fight against disease” still remain too neglected: the prevention of avoidable risks and screening, the institute emphasizes.
Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, eat a balanced and varied diet, take regular physical activity: with healthier lifestyles, almost half of cancers could be avoided each year. “Make the right choices now, you will thank yourself later”, claimed a recent Inca information campaign.
To raise awareness among the French, an online test allows them to identify, in their daily lives, behaviors that expose them to avoidable risk factors and to benefit from personalized advice as well as suggestions for action.
Provided that a photo is inserted, the user can also obtain their portrait aged 30 years via artificial intelligence.
Another underused weapon: screening. Detecting cancer at an early stage makes it easier to treat, but also limits the after-effects of the disease and certain treatments.
Breast, colorectal and cervical cancers: three organized screenings exist, but participation remains insufficient in France, far from European objectives, particularly for colorectal cancer.
Read alsoWorld first: AI diagnoses breast cancer in scientific study
For lung cancer, organized screening is now being considered
Letters, emails and even calls to those furthest from the healthcare system, the Inca and Health Insurance have shown in January their desire to "put the double mouths"Appointment delays and mobility constraints also complicate access to screening for some French people.
For lung cancer, organized screening is now being considered, with several trials and studies having shown the effectiveness of low-dose CT scanning. A call for applications to set up a pilot program was launched in July.
English 
French