Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Cancer is the leading cause of death in France, with 24% of cancer-related deaths in 2018 occurring under the age of 65. This study aimed to quantify the indirect costs associated with premature mortality from four selected cancers with substantial societal impact: lung, breast, melanoma, and bladder cancer.
METHODS: The analysis was conducted for 2014, 2018, and 2023 in mainland France and the French overseas departments and regions. Model inputs included mortality data from CépiDC and socioeconomic parameters from INSEE, including life expectancy, wages, labor force participation, unemployment, and retirement age. Using a previously published and validated human capital framework, Years of Life Lost (YLL), and Present Value of Future Lost Productivity (PVFLP) were estimated by sex and cancer type.
RESULTS: In 2023, the four cancers analyzed accounted for 51,277 deaths, 790,033 YLL and an estimated total PVFLP of €2.51 billion. This represents a 29% decrease from the €3.54 billion estimated in 2014. Lung cancer contributed the largest share of productivity losses in 2023 (€1.55 billion), followed by breast cancer (€739 million), melanoma (€139 million), and bladder cancer (€89 million). Melanoma remained among the costliest cancers on a per-death basis (€78,611) for men reflecting a younger average age at death. Over the study period, mean PVFLP per death across the four cancers declined from €69,312 to €49,012, suggesting a reduction in premature productivity losses over time.
CONCLUSIONS: Premature cancer mortality continues to generate a substantial societal and economic burden in France, although productivity losses declined markedly between 2014 and 2023. The observed reduction is consistent with progress in cancer management and underscores the value of sustained investment in prevention, early diagnosis, and therapeutic innovation. Future studies should incorporate morbidity to fully capture the societal burden of cancer in France.