The Regional Health Agency calls for strengthening screening for colorectal cancer, especially in this particularly affected region.
Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon or rectum, often develops without symptoms at first. It is the third most common cancer in France in men and the second in women. One region is particularly exposed with nearly 4,000 new diagnoses each year, out of 47,000 in total. Without screening, this cancer can be discovered late, when treatments are heavier and the prognosis is poorer. When it is identified early, on the other hand, the chances of five-year survival exceed 90%.
In this region “the indicators call for increased vigilance” warns the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in a press release dated March 3, 2026. It has approximately 1,650 annual deaths “i.e. the highest mortality in mainland France”; a regional excess incidence of +9% in men and +4% in women compared to the national average and a positive test rate of 3.7%, higher than the national average, with a male predominance. However, the screening participation rate is still insufficient: 25.5% in 2023-2024, compared to 29.6% at the national level.
Screening is simple and free for women and men aged 50 to 74, without symptoms or particular risk factors. According to the press release sent by the ARS, residents of Hauts-de-France who fall into this age group or have a family history should do so without delay. This is the region particularly at risk for colorectal cancer. “More than 3,800 new cases are diagnosed there each year” informs the ARS which denounces “the urgency of increasing participation in organized screening”.
This is done at home, via a collection kit sent to your home or collected from a pharmacy. Its purpose is to look for the presence of blood in the stool, invisible to the naked eye, which can reveal a lesion or early cancer. The test is fully covered, with no upfront cost. The results are sent to the person as well as their treating doctor in order to organize follow-up if necessary. If the result is positive, it does not automatically mean that cancer is present, but additional tests, including a colonoscopy, are essential to determine the cause.
To improve the use of screening, the ARS and the Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Center are strengthening local actions to support residents in carrying out the test. The message is clear: between the ages of 50 and 74, carrying out this free test every two years greatly increases the chances of detecting the disease at a stage where it is very treatable.
