6 min. read
Journal · Pink October
Every October, France talks about breast cancer screening. Here are the essentials, taken from official sources: who is concerned, how it works, and the simple habits that matter between two appointments.
At Biologyst, we usually write about ingredients, doses and studies. In October, we make room for a subject more important than our products. This article contains no promises: only information published by the Assurance Maladie (French national health insurance), the Institut national du cancer (French National Cancer Institute) and Santé publique France, which we reviewed on 2 October 2026.
Pink October (Octobre rose) is an annual campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer screening. Its aim is simple: for more women to have their mammogram at the right time. The figures explain why the subject comes back every year.
61,214
new cases of breast cancer in 2023, in mainland France.
Institut national du cancer
33%
of cancers diagnosed in women are breast cancers.
Institut national du cancer, 2023
9 in 10
detected at an early stage, breast cancer can be cured in 9 out of 10 cases.
Assurance Maladie, ameli.fr
47.5%
participation in organised screening in 2025, against a European target of 70%.
Santé publique France
The Institut national du cancer also records 12,765 deaths in 2023. The median age at diagnosis is 64: this is why organised screening is aimed first at women aged 50 and over. And it is the gap between 47.5% and 70% that gives Pink October its full meaning.
The French national programme is for women aged 50 to 74, with no symptoms and no particular risk factor other than age. Here is how it works.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| The invitation | Every 2 years, the Assurance Maladie sends you an invitation letter. |
| The appointment | You choose an approved radiologist. They perform a mammogram and a clinical breast examination. |
| The cost | Covered 100% by the Assurance Maladie, with no upfront payment. |
| The second reading | Mammograms judged to be normal are reviewed by a second expert radiologist. According to the Assurance Maladie, this second reading detects 6% of breast cancers. |
| No letter? | Find it in your ameli account, ask your GP for it or call 36 46. |
To find a radiologist near you, the Institut national du cancer offers the service jefaismondepistage.cancer.fr. If you are under 50, or have a family history, organised screening is not necessarily the right setting: your doctor, gynaecologist or midwife will assess your level of risk and the follow-up that suits you.
Two years is a long time. The Assurance Maladie points out that some cancers can appear between two mammograms. Three habits help you not to miss a change.
True or false? 5 questions, 1 minute
Organised screening is for women aged 50 to 74.
True. It concerns women aged 50 to 74 with no symptoms and no particular risk factor other than age, invited every 2 years.
The organised screening mammogram must be paid for upfront, then reimbursed.
False. It is covered 100% by the Assurance Maladie, with no upfront payment.
If I feel well, screening is pointless.
False. A mammogram can detect small cancers, well before they can be felt or symptoms appear.
Between two mammograms, a clinical breast examination at least once a year is recommended.
True. The Assurance Maladie recommends seeing your doctor, gynaecologist or midwife at least once a year for a clinical examination.
Mammograms judged to be normal are reviewed by a second radiologist.
True. This is the second reading, specific to organised screening. According to the Assurance Maladie, it detects 6% of breast cancers.
Answers taken from ameli.fr (Assurance Maladie), page reviewed on 2 October 2026.
Think of a woman around you aged between 50 and 74: your mother, an aunt, a friend, a colleague. Send her the Assurance Maladie link, or this article. Sometimes a message is enough to turn a forgotten invitation into a booked appointment.
In October, we devote part of what we publish to screening: this Journal article, and our Instagram and LinkedIn posts. The parts of this article devoted to screening do not link to any product, offer or code.
We say it clearly: no food supplement, including ours, prevents, detects or treats breast cancer. The only Pink October message that counts is the one from healthcare professionals: a mammogram at the right age, a clinical examination and attention to changes.
One appointment every 2 years, one examination a year, and one message to someone close to you.
Official sources, reviewed on 2 October 2026
Our range
This block presents a product from our range. It has no connection with screening or with breast cancer. Lactoferrine Active+ is a food supplement: no effect on any disease is claimed for it.
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein naturally found in milk. Lactoferrine Active+ contains a single ingredient, and nothing else in the capsule.
| Composition | 500 mg of Proferrin® per 2 capsules, including 475 mg of pure lactoferrin. Plant-based capsule. |
| Origin | Proferrin®, bovine lactoferrin from Ingredia, in Arras, made from French milk. |
| Directions for use | 1 to 2 capsules per day, in the morning, with a glass of water. |
| Format | 30 capsules, €39.90. |
| Allergens | Contains milk (lactose). |
Code WELCOME15: 15% off your first order, applied through this link. See the Lactoferrine Active+ product page
Read our article: what the science really says about lactoferrin
Information. This article is for information purposes only and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For any question about your situation, speak to your doctor, gynaecologist or midwife. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, and do not prevent or cure any disease.
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