Since its creation in 2004, how has the management of cancers have evolved? Upstream of its twentieth anniversary, Thursday, July 4, the National Institute for the Fighting Cancer (INCA) broadcasts in addition to its annual panorama of cancer figures The results of a survey carried out with the French who measures their perception on the evolution of oncology but also identifies their expectations. “” It is not a simple birthday, but a great opportunity to share the advances that have occurred in the past two decades. They have significantly improved the daily life of people with cancer and their loved ones “, The Institute is advancing, as a preamble to its balance sheet.
Inca at the heart of cancer fighting policies
Born in 2005, the Inca was thought of as an expertise agency, which could federate and mobilize all actors in cancerology: caregivers and researchers, patients, industrial manufacturers. “” For the first time, all the dimensions of oncology have been thought together – prevention, care and research on cancers – at the service of sick and professionals “, He recalls. He has since piloted the three five -year plans which followed one another between 2003 and 2019, which respectively allowed ” Structure the landscape of cancerology »And to guarantee the safety and quality of care (2003-2007), and to personalize care (2009-2013). The last, between 2014 and 2019, was articulated around 3 objectives: cure more patients, preserve continuity and quality of life, and invest in prevention and research.
In two decades, the landscape of oncology has been transformed and France has become one of the first countries in the world in terms of cancer healing.
In 2021, it was a ten -year strategy to fight cancer, which contains in all 234 actions, which takes up the torch by developing around the 4 major axes that are Strengthening prevention, improving quality of life, the fight against cancer of bad prognosis, and the requirement that advances in oncology benefit all. During its previous inventory in 2024, the Inca underlined “convincing” advances, including prevention of HPV and the deployment of the anti-Tabac program, and was thus pleased with the implementation of 75% of the planned shares.
A global decrease in mortality
These various initiatives have made it possible to advance research and treatments and prolong the survival of cancer patients. “” In two decades, the landscape of oncology has been transformed and France has become one of the first countries in the world in terms of healing of cancers », Notes the Inca. If, over the period between 2003 and 2023, the incidence of cancers increased by 1.4, ” All locations and sexes combined “, This increase is mainly explained by demographic evolution, which combines the general increase in population and its aging, the latter accompanied by the multiplication of chronic pathologies, to the prevalence of exposure to risk factors. Because at the same time and with the exception of a few types of cancer, the situation has improved in the scope of the fight against these diseases. The Institute notably observes in men an improvement ” rather encouraging In cases of prostate and lung cancers, where the incidence decreasesand in that of colorectal cancer. Despite a rate that is still too low of screening, the incidence of the latter tends to stabilize. More generally, ” over the period 2012-2022, The overall decrease in the mortality rate is observed for many locations with the exception of pancreatic cancers and those of the central nervous system. » Rather favorable trends, which are “ The reflection of progress made in the care system both in cancer detection, but also in their therapy ».
Focus on pediatric cancers
The panorama of the National Institute for the Fighting Cancer also draws up an inventory of pediatric cancers. Between 2011 and 2021, 20,049 cases were identified in children aged 0 to 14 and 4,910 cases in 15-17 year olds. These are mainly leukemia, tumors of the central nervous system and lymphomas. “The child’s cancers differ from those of the adult by their histopathological and biological characteristics”he specifies. A quarter of the tumors are thus embryonic tumors in children.
As for the overall survival rate, over the 2000-2016 period, it is estimated at 92% among 0 to 14 year olds, and 83% over a 5-year deadline. Among adolescents aged 15 to 17, survival is 94% to one year, and 82% five years later.
In more than 15 years, 4,380 research programs have been funded for a budget of 1.82 billion euros.
Advanceds well perceived by the French
For their part, the French perceive these advances, continues the Inca. “” Cancer is for nearly 8 out of 10 people ( 77%) The 1st subject of concern in health matters. It must be said that 80% of people were faced with the disease, whether personally or for a loved one. They note so Improvements in screening (74% of respondents) and prevention (73%)the two dimensions of cancerology which have evolved the most, but also in the quality of care and support for patients by medical teams (64%). However, if the early detection of cancers appears as a priority, in fact, data relating to participation in organized screenings (lung, breast and colorectal) ” translate a more difficult act. At the same time, there are 63% to cite research as a priority. Over the past two decades, the support provided to research programs made it possible to label specialized research centers, in particular primary prevention or on cancers of poor forecasts, or to multiply clinical trials, which now take better account of quality of life. “” In more than 15 years, 4,380 research programs have been funded for a budget of 1.82 billion euros “, Specifies the institute. The number of patients included in these trials was multiplied by 2.8 between 2002 and 2023.
Progress expected in support after treatment
However, and if 79% of French people in all say that access to treatments and care has greatly improved over the past two decades, progress remains to be made. “” 46% of them believe today that the possibility of benefiting from this care is not equivalent, whatever its level of resources, and 66% whatever the territory, the inhabitants of rural areas being the most critical », In fact, notes the Inca. And there are progress to be made in support after treatment, which only satisfies 48% of those questionedand in access to innovative treatments (55%). The Institute, itself, on the other hand, is particularly acclaimed: 95% of French people recognize the interest of a public health and scientific expertise agency which can coordinate all actors.
Nearly 4 million people live in France with or after cancer.
The challenge of “bad prognosis” cancers
Faced with these various favorable observations on the scope of the fight against cancer, the Inca warns, however, that there are still important challenges to be met, in particular on the so -called ” bad prognosis », Often linked to well identified risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco. The 5 -year survival for these locations is less than 33%. The incidence of lung cancer, for example, continues to increase in women, he deplores: +5%. He also observes An increase in pancreas cancersboth in men and in women, even calling it “ worrying For the latter. These unfavorable forecasts can be due to a multiplicity of factors, whose late screening, locations of difficult to access tumors, resistance to treatment or a rapid and aggressive evolution of the disease. « All the stakes, to improve the survival of patients affected by it, lies in the continuation of research to accelerate the discovery of scientific knowledge and lead to therapeutic innovations. The creation of a national cancer register, voted unanimously by the National Assembly, will precisely allow, among other things, to strengthen knowledge on these diseases and to promote the discovery of therapeutic new.
The Institute also insists on the saving utility of preventable risk factors prevention; In a barometer broadcast in 2023, he pointed out that the latter still remained too badly perceived from the general public, despite the information and awareness campaigns. Each year, ” More than 433,000 people learn that they have cancer and 162,400 people die from the disease », et « Nearly 4 million people live in France with or after cancer “, He recalls.
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