Decryption. Are there really five times more bladder cancers in Seine-Maritime?

See my news
Follow 76actu

“It’s not easy to talk about it. » It is with these words that the mayor of RouenNicolas Mayer-Rossignol, revealed on Wednesday November 13, 2024, that he was suffering from bladder cancer.

In the middle of Movember, a month dedicated to men's health, the councilor came out of silence to lift the taboo on his illness. An important subject “that we don’t talk about enough,” he confided. In his explanations, the mayor added that bladder cancer is mainly of “environmental” cause.

Before specifying that there would be five times more bladder cancers in Seine-Maritime than in the rest of the population. Is this really the case? We tried to find out more.

Far from being the department with the highest incidence

To find out, we first turned to Santé Publique France. The national health agency is unanimous: “Seine-Maritime does not appear in the departments where the incidence (of bladder cancer, Editor's note) is the highest. »

She is not not even at the top of the rankings on this side. However, the observed data extend over a period comprised between 2007 and 2016. The national agency does not currently have more recent data to measure the incidence of bladder cancer in our department.

“The next estimates at the sub-departmental scale are planned for 2026,” we are told.

A predominantly male cancer

Over this period, we also observe that the number of cases of bladder cancer is much higher in developed countries, particularly in France. All, with “a clear male predominance (4 men for 1 woman)”, specifies a summary from the national health agency.

In mainland France, this cancer affects on average 9,441 men and 2,188 women each year over the period 2007-2016, representing 4.8% of cancer cases in men and 1.4% in women. Figures which have tended to change in recent years.

But the number of cases may be high, but the incidence rate of bladder cancer in our country is rather decreasing among men and very slightly increasing among women since 1990. Nothing that can demonstrate a sharp increase in Seine -Maritime.

“Very difficult to have precise figures”

To try to find more recent data, we contacted the urology department of Rouen University Hospital. The same one where Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol is followed. Dr. Louis Surlemont, urological surgeon in the onco-urology department assures him: “It is very difficult to have precise figures on bladder cancer. »

On the one hand, because the latest data on the subject are quite old, but also because bladder cancer is divided into two categories: “There are non-muscle infiltrating tumors, which are the best treatable (75% of cases) and muscle infiltrating tumors (25% of cases). »

In its national estimates, Santé Publique France recalls that “since 2010, clinicians have considered bladder tumors that do not infiltrate the basement membrane to be superficial.” In other words: the recording methods in each hospital may vary depending on the type of tumor and thus distort the incidence rate.

“Normandy remains average”

However, for Dr Surlemont, nothing suggests that the incidence rate would be higher in Seine-Maritime. At least, for the moment: “The latest figures do not show any clear progression and Normandy remains average. »

Bladder cancer is nevertheless, in his eyes, “largely under-reported”, because of a whole host of factors “which can be confounding”, he continues. As for whether recent events like the Lubrizol fire could be the cause of an upsurge in cases, “it is still too early to tell »he explains.

Smoking and occupational exposures

On the other hand, if there is one point on which the mayor of Rouen is entirely right, it is the causes of bladder cancer. It is highly related to environmental factors .

According to Santé Publique France and Dr Surlemont, “ smoking is the main factor of risk and would be responsible in Europe for a little more than 40% of bladder cancers in men and a quarter in women.

Next come “professional exhibitions”
to substances such as aromatic amines (pigments, dyes, pesticides, drugs, rubber products, laboratory-designed chemicals, etc.) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which come from the combustion of organic materials such as fuels, wood, tobacco, etc.

Diesel engine exhaust gases, arsenic or even disinfection products and nitrates are likely to accelerate the appearance of this type of cancer. Genetic predispositions can also weigh in the balance but their role is much less important.

Undervalued cases in Seine-Maritime?

Coming back to Seine-Maritime, it could still be that professionals were undervalued, “especially in the Le Havre region”, remarks Dr Surlemont. The petrochemical industry is a professional environment that can promote bladder cancer.

For example, before the profession disappeared, pump attendants were a profession that was highly represented in cases of bladder cancer.

If this cancer can be treated relatively well, the urological surgeon calls for vigilance: “If you observeblood in your urineit may be because you have bladder cancer. » But there is no guarantee at the moment that you will be more likely to have them if you live in Seine-Maritime.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.