Regions Mobilize Across France for Breast Cancer Screening During Pink October
- The Sud Region is deploying a mobile mammography unit called the Mammobile to rural and underserved towns across Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur during October to combat low breast cancer screening...
- The mobile unit will make stops in Vaucluse, halting in Jonquières on October 13 at 17, avenue de la Gare, sur l’esplanade de la gare, and in Avignon...
- The Mammobile is a complete medical unit featuring a mammography room, a waiting area, a changing cabin, and disabled access.
The Sud Region is deploying a mobile mammography unit called the Mammobile to rural and underserved towns across Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur during October to combat low breast cancer screening participation rates. Mis en circulation en septembre 2026, the vehicle aims to reach women living far from healthcare centers and avoid situations where distance, transport difficulties, or lack of information delay life-saving exams. Before reaching Vaucluse, the vehicle has already served Berre-l’Étang, Fos-sur-Mer, Saint-Chamas and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône.
The mobile unit will make stops in Vaucluse, halting in Jonquières on October 13 at 17, avenue de la Gare, sur l’esplanade de la gare, and in Avignon at the Institut du Cancer Avignon-Provence at 250 chemin de Baigne-Pieds on October 20. In France, breast cancer remains the most frequent cancer among women, and less than one in two women participates in organized screening programs.
On Board the Mobile Screening Unit
The Mammobile is a complete medical unit featuring a mammography room, a waiting area, a changing cabin, and disabled access. It operates within the framework of organized screening in coordination with the Assurance Maladie and the regional cancer screening coordination center. The setup relies on partnerships with the Institut Paoli-Calmettes, the Institut du Cancer Avignon-Provence, and the Centre Antoine-Lacassagne.
The vehicle is equipped with tomosynthesis technology to capture detailed breast images, alongside teleradiology to allow specialized radiologists to interpret them remotely. The targeted demographic includes women aged 50 to 74, for whom the Assurance Maladie recommends a mammography every two years free of charge, with the examination covered 100% with no upfront costs, excluding any potential fees related to the medical consultation.
Sud Region Invests in Cancer Screening Vehicle
The Sud Region has invested nearly €620,000 to purchase the vehicle and its specialized equipment, with an additional €24,000 for an ultrasound machine pending a vote by regional elected officials. The initiative forms part of the second regional Cancer Plan, which allocates €40m for the 2022-2027 period, with over €32m already mobilized for prevention, screening, support care, research, and innovation.
The tour extends across all six departments of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur to prioritize rural communities and areas with insufficient screening access. Avec le Mammobile, nous allons chercher les femmes là où elles vivent,
résume Christian Estrosi, président de la Région Sud-Paca.
Mammobile Brings Screening to Remote Rural Areas
In the valleys of the Alpes-Maritimes as well as the reliefs of the Var, the remoteness of senology clinics, mobility problems, and waiting times weigh heavily on screening participation. Le Mammobile est bien davantage qu’un véhicule équipé d’un mammographe : il concrétise une nouvelle manière d’organiser la prévention,
highlights Pr Emmanuel Barranger, general director of the Centre Antoine Lacassagne in Nice.
Additional stops on the tour include Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée on Tuesday, October 6, Guillaumes on Wednesday, October 7, and Nans-les-Pins on Thursday, October 29. Appointments can be booked by phone at 04 91 22 33 28, or directly through local town halls, pharmacies, or attending physicians.