The Head of State announced a 20% increase in the resources deployed to fight cancer on Thursday morning, presenting France's ten-year strategy against the disease.

Emmanuel Macron notably assured that he wanted to strengthen prevention against tobacco and alcohol in order to lower the number of “preventable” cancers, even targeting a future “tobacco-free generation”. 

Ambitious goals in the face of a disease which remains the leading cause of death for men in France - the second for women.

Before a visit to the Gustave Roussy Institute on the occasion of World Cancer Day, Thursday, Emmanuel Macron presented France's ten-year strategy in this area, targeting in particular the consumption of tobacco and alcohol.

He also announced a 20% increase in the resources deployed against the disease, bringing the budget for the first five years of the plan to 1.7 billion euros. 

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Towards a “tobacco-free” generation in 2030? 

First objective declared by the Head of State: to reduce by 60,000 the number of so-called "preventable" cancers - because due to consumption habits - by 2040. For this, the President of the Republic wants to strengthen in particular the campaigns of information on the harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco, by playing on prices, the extension of non-smoking areas and messages on bottles, in particular.

He wants the generation that turns 20 in 2030 to be the first “tobacco-free generation” in recent history.

Reduce by 30% the effects of treatment

Other priorities set by Emmanuel Macron: more effective research on so-called "poor prognosis" cancers, those that are poorly cured, and better support for patients who are treated, in particular by reducing the number of patients by a third. sequelae due to treatment.

"We must take this dimension into account better, and this from the development of therapies," said the Head of State.

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"The aftereffects are also what we experience when cancer has forced us: studies, a job and doors that close," he added, affirming that "20% of people who left their employment because of their cancer did not find it five years later ".

"With the private sector, we will change that, so that injustice is not added to injustice."

A promise that goes in the right direction according to Laure Guéroult Akolasse, founder of the Patient network association, interviewed by Europe 1 after the presentation of the plan on Thursday.

"We are talking about thousands of people each year who are affected, which would be quite wonderful is to have a consultation at the end of treatment", she reacts.

"Behind a sick person, there are also families who are upset. So helping people to recover better and maintain the best possible quality of life is very important for them and also for their entire environment."

One million more screenings by 2025

Two other axes have also been developed by Emmanuel Macron.

First, because a tumor spotted early heals better, the plan plans to organize a million additional screenings by 2025, in particular to better prevent severe forms of colon cancer.

Along the same lines, new tests should be developed to identify lung cancer earlier.