Each year, approximately 43,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and nearly 18,000 die from it. This cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death among men and the third among women. Screening helps identify and treat precancerous lesions before they develop into cancer, and detect and manage cancers at an early stage. Screening is performed using a fecal occult blood test every two years. It is recommended for women and men aged 50 to 74.

The 2015–2016 period marked by the introduction of a new test

In April 2015, the guaiac test (Hemoccult®) was replaced by an immunological test (OC Sensor®), which is easier to use and more sensitive in detecting precancerous lesions and cancers.

The rollout schedule for the immunological test, which became available in April 2015, therefore did not allow for a full year of screening activity. The actual screening invitation period for 2015–2016 averaged 17 months per department instead of 24 months. The published participation data cover immunological tests as well as the few guaiac tests still in use in early 2015.

Despite a several-month hiatus in screening activity due to the change in testing method, screening uptake appears to remain stable.

Overall participation stands at 29.3%, with a higher rate among women (30.8%) than among men (27.8%). As for the immunoassay test, it was taken by 4.8 million people between April 14, 2015, and December 31, 2016.

Learn more

• Participation data for 2015–2016.

• Organized colorectal cancer screening. Report.

• INCA information campaign.