Radiation protection in mammography for breast cancer screening: not covered by the French press.

Abstract Background In the context of major exposure to medical-based ionizing radiation (IR), French health institutions agree that adopting a precautionary approach is essential. A number of scientific studies have highlighted the risk of developing breast cancer after exposure to IR, even from low doses. However, the information circulating on the subject is varied. Objectives A study of the mainstream press was performed to better understand the elements constituting women's representations of IR in mammography for breast cancer screening. Study design The data used came from a corpus created with the mainstream press database ‘Europresse.’ The keyword ‘mammography’ was chosen. The software package Iramuteq was used to perform a statistical analysis of textual data using the Reinert method. Results This study highlights a paradox between the social principle of prevention and the discourse elements on mammography screening present in the mainstream press. Conclusion The general French press does not take into account radiation protection in cancer screening discourses. A greater effort to provide information on this subject is needed.