Cancer campaign ‘is propaganda’

A LEADING consumer watchdog has attacked an annual breast cancer screening campaign as “propaganda”.

With “Octobre Rose” (Pink October) about to start, in which women will be encouraged to have regular breast cancer screening, UFC-Que Choisir says France promotes routine screening too heavily.

In particular, the body says, it publicises screening as though it is an obligation, when it is in fact a choice, and fails to mention risks of “over-diagnosis”. The campaign uses language like: “Do it...” or “Tell the women you love about it...”, whereas it should have an informational approach, says UFC-Que Choisir.

For example it is not pointed out that sometimes, due to routine screening, women have breasts removed or have unnecessary radiotherapy or chemotherapy for tumours that would never have become malignant.

It is calling for a more neutral presentation of the option, which is offered free every two years to women aged 50-74.

UFC-Que Choisir adds that screening is promoted based on old figures and says new studies of its effectiveness should be done. The practice of GPs receiving bonuses for hitting targets of people sent for screening should also be axed.

However, the president of the National Cancer Institute, Agnès Buzyn, said the balance was definitely in favour of the benefits of routine screening.

She said a recent study showed out of 1,000 women who had routine scans from age 50-69, seven to nine deaths were avoided and only four were “over-diagnosed”.