Key figure: 1 in 8 women will be affected by breast cancer during her lifetimeA reminder: what is a mammogram?
Mammography is a radiological examination carried out as part of breast cancer screening. It involves X-raying the breast from the front and side, and can detect breast cancer at an early stage. Mammography enables a diagnosis to be made as soon as the first symptoms, such as pain or a lump in the breast, appear. The examination itself takes around 20 minutes, and is not recommended for pregnant women. It is recommended for women over 40 and those at high risk of developing breast cancer. In France, an organized screening program is offered to all women from the age of 50, every 2 years, up to the age of 74.
Please note: as a French expatriate abroad, you will not receive any reminders from your health insurance, as you will no longer be dependent on the French healthcare system. However, it is still essential to have regular check-ups with a healthcare professional.
When should I have a mammogram?
Post-menopausal women can have a mammogram at any time – there’s no time like the present. However, if you are not yet menopausal, it is advisable to have a mammogram the week after your period. This is the time of the month when your breasts will be hardest, making it easier to detect any abnormalities. For post-menopausal women, mammography can be carried out at any time, since menstrual cycles have ceased. To ease the discomfort of the procedure, you can ask your doctor for a painkiller. You will also be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing (upper part), and a gown will be provided.
How much does a mammogram cost around the world?
There is a wide disparity in the quality of care and fees charged around the world. In France, we are fortunate to have a very good health care system, which enables us to carry out oncology screening without any advance payment. They will be reimbursed at 100% by Social Security. Also, as we were saying, organized screening is carried out in France: you receive letters from the Sécurité Sociale asking you to undergo breast cancer screening every two years from the age of 50. Getting back to what interests us: the cost of a mammogram in France is €70. This rate is the same in Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Mauritius and Senegal. (Check, however, that the cost of this examination is covered by international or local health insurance). In the United States, mammography can cost up to €700, and €350 in China and Canada.
The importance of international health insurance for breast cancer screening
When living abroad, international health insurance is essential, particularly to cover the cost of breast cancer screening. The cost of a mammogram varies considerably from country to country, as mentioned above, and in some countries, these costs can be high. A good international health insurance policy will ensure that preventive examinations are covered, whatever your country of residence, as well as specialist consultations, treatment in the event of diagnosis, and even medical second opinions, whether locally or in France. As an expatriate, it’s important to ensure that your coverage includes care for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, to guarantee you optimum protection and access to the best care, regardless of your location.
The cost of a mammogram worldwide
Care for French women abroad
If you live abroad, it’s important to have regular check-ups with a healthcare professional, whether in France or in your country of residence. When an abnormality is detected, you can have a videoconference with an oncologist specialized in women’s imaging, to benefit from a second medical opinion. My Medical Suitcase offers tailored solutions for interpreting images taken abroad. If an abnormality is detected, santexpat.fr and its partners mobilize to offer care paths adapted to your needs. If you wish to have your treatment carried out in France for your own convenience, we can work with you to find the best solution.
- Make an appointment with a radiologist (or midwife) for your mammogram. If you decide to have your mammogram carried out in your country of residence, find out how the costs are covered. Some French women choose to consult a French-speaking practitioner to better understand how to interpret the results.
- Images and/or interpretations can be processed by specialist oncologists in the MeditSimple network in France. This possibility of a 2nd image review by a professional in women’s imaging in France may enable you to benefit from a second opinion or to better understand the interpretation.
- You will then have the option of a teleconsultation with a French oncologist. If an abnormality is detected, you will be able to book an appointment in France with a French oncologist specialized in breast cancer.
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A look back at breast cancer worldwide
Since the 1990s, mortality from breast cancer has been falling… But this is also true in high-income countries. In fact, the mortality rate fell by around 40% between 1980 and 2020. And the reduction in annual breast cancer mortality is between 2% and 4% per year. If annual mortality were to fall by 2.5% worldwide, this would prevent 2.5 million breast cancer deaths between 2020 and 2040. Globally, in order to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths and enable earlier detection of cases, healthcare systems in lower-income countries would need to be considerably strengthened to provide proven treatments. It is also important to note that breast cancer survival has improved over time.
What risk factors have been identified?
Several risk factors for the development of breast cancer have been identified:
- Age: 75% of breast cancers occur after the age of 50.
- Gynecological history (age at onset of menstruation, first pregnancy, endometriosis, etc.).
- Family history of breast cancer
- Personal history of breast pathology and/or high-dose thoracic medical irradiation – around 10% of breast cancers are genetic in origin.
Other risk factors are strongly suspected, such as :
- Obesity – breast cancer remains a multifactorial pathology, and overweight and obesity are recognized as aggravating risk factors.
- Alcohol abuse – drinking just one glass of alcohol a day increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 10%*.
- Exposure to radiation and pollution
- Smoking
- Post-menopausal hormone treatment
It’s important to note that breast cancer mainly affects women. However, it can also be contracted by men. This rare case represents between 0.5% and 1% of the total number of breast cancers. As part of Pink October, we advise you to go for screening, whatever your age, sex, origin… And wherever you live in the world. Regular screening by a healthcare professional ensures rapid detection and better treatment.
Santexpat.fr’s support in choosing your health insurance
Santexpat.fr stands out for its personalized support to help expatriates choose the health insurance that suits them best. With a comprehensive comparison tool, Santexpat.fr gives you access to over 300 international health insurance offers, ensuring you find the coverage best suited to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for insurance to cover preventive care such as breast cancer screening, or specialized treatments, our advisors are on hand to guide you every step of the way. Thanks to a simple, intuitive interface, you can quickly compare options, while benefiting from expert advice to maximize your health protection abroad —
*Source – All figures taken from : Breast Cancer, World Health Organization, March 26, 2021 & www.Elsya.fr
