Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Organized screening at the heart of the campaign

From October 1st to 31st, 2026, the CRCDC Sud PACA launches its Pink October campaign across the entire Côte d’Azur region. This autumn mobilization aims to highlight the added value of organized screening, while developing concrete field actions.

The Pink October campaign against breast cancer has been launched. While this cancer affects nearly 65,000 women each year in France, the Alpes-Maritimes department has an organized screening rate (double mammography check, editor’s note) of only 33.7% for eligible people in 2024-2025.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in France, accounting for approximately 12,000 annual deaths. Screening particularly concerns women between 50 and 74 years old, who are at greater risk of developing the disease. Faced with the predominant use of individual screening outside the public framework, the CRCDC (Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Center) Sud PACA wishes to inform about the services offered by the public system.

Why prioritize organized screening

Organized screening (OS) is covered at 100% by Health Insurance, meaning no out-of-pocket costs. Moreover, it allows you to benefit from a second reading by a radiologist who has read more than 2,000 mammograms per year. Brigitte Butori, radiologist second reader at CRCDC Sud PACA, reminds of its impact since “7% of cancers found were discovered thanks to the second reader.”

Breast cancer, diagnosed at an average age of 64, now benefits from early detection. Yet in Alpes-Maritimes, approximately 40% of women have no regular mammographic follow-up, according to CPAM 06 data. Combined with a lower OS participation rate in the region, the CRCDC Sud PACA attributes this gap to a strong habit of individual medical examinations in private practice.

To overcome these administrative obstacles, the coordinating physician at CRCDC Sud PACA, Anaïs Tramoni, presents a new tool that has been implemented: “a digital prescription which is a PDF directly downloadable from the [CRCDC] website to make things easier for the prescriber.”

OS is an additional guarantee for patients. Catherine Lelandais, a person at risk, shares that “OS is a reassurance, I feel more serene, and I feel more confident that the results read are accurate”.

On appointment day, patients benefit not only from mammography, but also from a complete clinical examination and breast palpation performed by the doctor. Patients can keep their usual clinic, provided it is accredited under the screening charter.

Field actions for Pink October

To address geographic and social barriers to access, CRCDC Sud PACA structures several targeted interventions in the department. This year’s striking slogan, “Fear doesn’t avoid danger, screening does”, aims to push women to go beyond individual screening.

To do this, several concrete actions will be deployed across the Côte d’Azur region:

In the region: The “Connected Pink October” challenge throughout October invites individuals, businesses and institutions to do a kilometer count to raise funds. Through walking, running or cycling, the collected funds can finance prevention educational tools.

In Nice:

• Mammography slots dedicated to women from priority neighborhoods, information workshops and personalized support by a health mediator will be offered as at the Antoine Lacassagne Center.
• October 1st and 14th: Awareness actions on screening in two health centers in the city.
• October 2nd: Blood donation day and breast cancer screening awareness at La Trinité.

In the valleys: the “Pink Bus” project, led by the CPTS (Territorial professional community of health) of the French Riviera. Here, six to eight women will be able to benefit from group transportation, administrative preparation and breast cancer screening examinations during a full or half day.

For more information, it is possible to contact the nearest medical center, the relevant organization, or visit the CRCDC Sud PACA website.