With the launch of “Blue March” awareness campaign, calls are renewed for early detection of colorectal cancer, as 90% of cases can be cured when detected in time.
As “Blue March” begins on Sunday, awareness efforts are intensifying around the importance of early detection for colorectal cancer. According to France Info, nine out of ten cases are treatable if tumors in the colon and rectum are diagnosed early.
Actor James Van Der Beek, known for his role in the television series *Dawson’s Creek*, urged people before his death to, “Scream it from the rooftops: If you are 45 or older, see your doctor!” He passed away in early February at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer.
In France, approximately 47,000 cases are diagnosed annually, and the disease causes 17,000 deaths, making it the second leading cause of cancer-related fatalities, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, the disease is curable in 90% of cases when addressed in its early stages.
Screening Rates Remain Insufficient
The “Blue March” campaign launches Sunday, March 1, and focuses on promoting a screening program established in 2015 for all individuals between the ages of 50 and 74, who are considered the most at-risk group.
Every two years, those eligible receive an invitation from their health insurance provider to send a free stool sample to a testing laboratory. If blood is detected in the sample, a colonoscopy is performed, allowing for the identification of benign polyps before they develop into cancerous tumors, or the detection of cancer in its early stages.
Valerie Zimmerlé, a physician at the Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Center, explained that “most colorectal cancers develop after a polyp appears—a benign tumor that grows slowly before becoming malignant and causing slight, unnoticed bleeding.”
She added, “We aim to detect this as soon as possible to identify cancer at a symptom-free stage, as well as pre-cancerous lesions.”
Despite these efforts, a report from the European Cancer Organisation in May 2025 indicated that participation rates in colorectal cancer screening remain low in France, reaching only 34% among those aged 50-74 in 2022. This is partly attributed to a lack of awareness, as well as psychological reasons, with some individuals finding the topic embarrassing or taboo, despite the test being simple and non-invasive.
Changes in Bowel Habits Warrant Attention
In addition to regular screening, there are symptoms that may indicate the development of the disease, including disturbances in bowel movements, such as gradual constipation, persistent diarrhea, frequent nausea and vomiting, a constant urge to use the bathroom, a change in stool shape to become thinner than usual, or a feeling of incomplete evacuation.
A surgeon at the University Hospital of Bordeaux noted that the most common presentation is an alternation between diarrhea and constipation.
However, doctors say the most concerning sign is the presence of blood in the stool, which can lead to anemia (iron deficiency), often discovered during a blood test performed for other reasons.
Pauline Joyeux, a gastroenterologist, emphasized the importance of monitoring stool, explaining that a decrease in its thickness or a feeling of incomplete evacuation may indicate a narrowing within the intestines.
It is also important to pay attention to a lump felt during abdominal palpation, sudden weight loss and loss of appetite, or unexplained severe fatigue.
The health insurance organization stresses that these symptoms can be similar to other conditions, necessitating prompt medical consultation. One gastroenterologist pointed out that “often—but not always—if symptoms appear, it means the cancer is at an advanced stage with larger lesions, but that does not mean it is inoperable.”
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