The national “Rouge Gorge” campaign runs from March 30 to April 3. The Antoine Lacassagne Center is participating with an information day open to the public and a conference aimed at healthcare professionals. The goal is to strengthen prevention, remind people of warning signs, and reach audiences that are still not very aware.
The “Rouge Gorge” campaign returns in a context marked by an increase in throat cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV). These cancers, grouped under the names head and neck cancers or upper aerodigestive tract cancers, affect the lips, mouth, pharynx, larynx, or nasal cavities. The consumption of tobacco and alcohol remains a major factor, but HPV infection now plays an increasing role, especially in oropharyngeal cancers.
This evolution changes the distribution of new cases. Approximately 15,000 diagnoses are made each year in France. Ten thousand involve men and five thousand involve women. A decline is observed in men, whereas an increase appears in women. The most represented age groups are between 50 and 64 years old. However, HPV-related cancers affect younger adults, sometimes between 30 and 40 years old, without alcohol or tobacco consumption. Another concentration of cases is found between 60 and 70 years old.
This reality leads the campaign to focus more on young adults. Some of them do not identify with the profile usually associated with these cancers. The central message emphasizes the duration of symptoms: “a symptom, three weeks, I consult no matter what, even before 30.” A direct formula to remind that a persistent sign should lead to a consultation.
Symptoms to Recognize and Care to Accelerate
The campaign highlights several warning signs. A tongue or throat pain, a red or white patch in the mouth, hoarseness, painful swallowing, a lump in the neck, a blocked nose, or a nasal blood flow are symptoms to monitor when they last more than three weeks. A consultation with a general practitioner allows for quick referral to an ENT or maxillofacial specialist. Examination of the upper aerodigestive tract should occur within a short time to avoid delay in care.
This approach is based on a simple principle: early diagnosis improves the chances of effective treatment. The recommendations call for a specialized consultation within fifteen days.
The “Rouge Gorge” campaign is supported by the French Society of Cervico-Facial Carcinology and the French Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Surgery of the Face and Neck. For this edition, Professor Alexandre Bozec, Head of the Department of Cervico-Facial Oncological Surgery of the Antoine Lacassagne Center, acts as the regional ambassador. Dr. Agathe Villarme, ENT surgeon, is the local referent.
The Antoine Lacassagne Center is organizing a day of awareness on Wednesday, April 1 in the hall of the University Institute of the Face and Neck. Teams will be present to answer public questions, explain risk factors, and remind people of screening steps. A conference for healthcare professionals will then take place at the Mozart Institute starting at 6:30 PM. It will focus on the importance of early screening and the evolution of patient profiles.
This mobilization is part of a context in which prevention plays a crucial role. The campaign seeks to reach diverse audiences, especially young adults, who are still not very aware of these risks. The period from March 30 to April 3 becomes a key time to remind people that vigilance is not age-dependent and that the persistence of a symptom should be alarming.
