Nicole Puech et son équipe lors d’une campagne de sensibilisation au dépistage du cancer du sein. Archives Midi Libre
L’Occitanie représente 33 487 nouveaux cas de cancers par an. Le Sud-Aveyron n’est pas épargné même si les associations de sensibilisation maintiennent l’importance du dépistage.
“The fight against cancer is not just one day. It's all year long”, insists Bénédicte Castella, coordinator of the Aveyron committee of the League against cancer. Tuesday, February 4, World Cancer Day, is an opportunity to take stock of the situation in the department.
While in 2023 the median age of diagnosis was 70 for men and 73 for women, women remain the most affected by cancer with 33% of women out of the total number of diagnoses in Aveyron. For their part, men represent 24% of sick people in the department. “More cancers are being detected but there is also more care”, underlines Christine Trinquier, vice-president of the Croq’la vie association which supports patients during and after their treatment. “Before, when we talked about cancer, we saw death immediately. Today, we know that if it is treated in time, it can be cured.” Breast cancer, for example, is cured in 90% of cases if it is diagnosed early. Hence the importance of screening.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Croq’la vie supports patients
South Aveyron association which intervenes à Millau and Saint-Affrique, Croq'la vie supports and accompanies people suffering from cancer and in remission through "supportive care". “They can take the form of adapted physical activities, sophrology, energetic massages or beauty treatments”, explains Christine Trinquier, vice-president. Diagnosed with breast cancer twenty years ago, the volunteer puts her experience at the service of members. “During and after treatment, you can quickly feel alone. With the association, we are not in pathos. The strength of the group carries you and helps you." Croq’la vie also participates in annual awareness campaigns to encourage screening.
“Fear is a barrier to screening”
Pink October or Blue March, awareness campaigns for cancer screening are multiplying. Widely relayed in Millau by Croq’la vie and by Sud Aveyron cancer – the local branch of the departmental committee of the League against cancer – they are not enough. “Fear prevents people from going for screening because they are afraid of the result, says Nicole Puech, the president of Sud Aveyron cancer. But it must be remembered that cancer diagnosed early has a much better chance of being treated in time.”
Cervical cancer screening is done from the age of 25. Breast and colon cancer screening from the age of 50. “We are seeing positive progress in breast cancer screening. We still have a long way to go in colon cancer, while kits are available on the health insurance website, ameli.fr”, notes Bénédicte Castella. To promote screening in rural areas, the League against Cancer aims to reach out to remote and vulnerable populations to create a local service.
Support and awareness
But before that, it maintains its main actions in the department. “Support and assistance for sick people, financial support for research (the League is also the leading private financier of cancer research in France, Editor's note) and then informing and preventing different audiences”, lists Nicole Puech. The League against Cancer intervenes in schools in particular. Not to discuss the disease but to inform young people about risky behaviors. “The dangers of tobacco, the sun, the importance of a good diet and regular physical activity. This is the first step in raising awareness.”
The next step in the mobilization against cancer, the Mars bleu program, starts next month. The awareness-raising operation for patients and health professionals on the importance of screening for colorectal cancer, the second most deadly cancer in France, will be relayed in Millau by Sud Aveyron cancer and Croq' la vie.