Objective: To describe the prostate cancer incidence and mortality trends in France over the last 20 years.
Material and methods: Incidence data were obtained from 9 cancer registries, systematically recording urological tumours. Mortality data were provided by the INSERM joint department analysing death certificates (CépiDc).
Results: There were 40,309 new cases of prostate cancer and 10,004 deaths in France in 2000. The net risk of developing prostate cancer before the age of 75 years for a patient born in 1943 was multiplied by 3 compared to those born in 1928, while the risk of death from prostate cancer slightly decreased. The standardized incidence rate was threefold higher in 2000 than in 1980, while the mortality rate has remained stable or has decreased since 1990. Comparisons between French departments and between European countries are presented.
Conclusion: Although the incidence of prostate cancer is continuing to increase in France, the associated mortality is slightly decreasing. However, population studies are insufficient to attribute this decreased mortality to detection alone.