Mass screening programs for breast cancer in France--average values of assessment criteria.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Many studies have been performed worldwide to assess the effectiveness of screening in terms of reduced mortality due to breast cancer. Since the end of 1989, 10 breast cancer mass screening programs using mammography have been carried out in France under the sponsorship of the National Fund for Health Prevention, Education, and Information (FNPEIS) from the National Health Insurance of Salaried Workers (CNAMTS). These 10 campaigns, which are on a district scale, are organized according to variable methods and are assessed using a common procedure. Four groups of criteria are measured in this procedure, which investigates the impact, quality, effectiveness, and costs of screening programs. The average and extreme values of each criterion as calculated from the campaigns are presented in this paper. In order to enlighten the judgment on the French results, a comparison with the international standards in force and with the results of foreign screening programs is proposed.