The 32nd edition of Pink October will take place from October 1 to 31, 2025, in more than 70 countries. This global event aims to support research, encourage early detection, and amplify the voices of women affected by breast cancer.
Screening: a vital issue, improving but still insufficient
With 61,214 new cases recorded in mainland France in 2023, breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, affecting 80% of those over 50. It is still deadly: 12,000 women die from it each year, including 1,862 in the Île-de-France region. Yet early detection saves lives — when caught at the earliest stage, 87% of breast cancers are cured.
The Île-de-France Regional Health Agency (ARS), together with the French Health Insurance and the Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Centers (CRCDC), reminds women aged 50 to 74 that they are entitled to a free, high-quality mammogram every two years.
In 2023, about 2.62 million women underwent a mammogram as part of the national screening program — a participation rate of 48.2%, up from 44.8% in 2022. The national participation rate for cervical cancer screening reached 55.8%, an increase compared to 2017 (51.2%) and 2022 (52.3%), though still below the European benchmark of 70%. Regional disparities remain significant: over 20 percentage points separate the most active departments — such as Morbihan, Finistère, Isère, and Hautes-Alpes (rates above 65%) — from those with much lower participation, like Seine-Saint-Denis (≤ 45%), French Guiana, and Mayotte (under 27%).
Among women aged 30 to 65, the use of the HPV test continues to grow: 89.6% of screenings used this method in 2023, compared to just 30.7% in 2020. Conversely, over-screening (beyond the recommended frequency) still affects 16.6% of eligible women.