Breast cancer in Belgium
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. We highlight some striking figures about the disease:
- 100,000 women are battling breast cancer in Belgium.
- Each year 10,500 new patients are diagnosed, or the equivalent of 29 new diagnoses a day.
- In Belgium 1 in 9 women are suffering from breast cancer.
- Men can also get breast cancer: around 100 men living in Belgium are affected by breast cancer.
Who is Pink Ribbon?
Pink Ribbon is Belgium’s national organisation that aims to improve medical treatment for breast cancer and enhance breast cancer patients’ quality of life. Our mission is to reduce the number of cases and the effects of the disease. We set up various projects in Belgium to improve the prevention and early detection of breast cancer and the psychosocial care of patients and their families and friends.
Prevention:
Did you know that 1 in 3 cancer diagnoses can be avoided by adopting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle? If you exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, control your weight and avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs, you are already well on track. Pink Ribbon feels it is important to inform the general public and raise awareness about this issue.
Detection:
Psychological care:
Did you know there is still room for improvement in terms of communication with patients and their families? When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the medical staff will be focusing mainly on the treatment. This is important, but not sufficient. Once the diagnosis has been made and patients leave the doctor's surgery, they often feel anxiety and have many questions about the future. In order to address all these questions, clear and transparent communication is very important.
The history of Pink Ribbon
Evelyn Lauder, daughter-in-law of Estée Lauder, launched the first Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and created the small Pink Ribbon in 1992, at a time when thousands of women were dying of breast cancer but the topic was barely talked about. The Pink Ribbon immediately became the universal symbol of breast health. Convinced of the importance of communication in the fight against this disease, Evelyn Lauder worked tirelessly on the Pink Ribbon campaigns to raise public awareness, inform people about breast cancer and raise funds for scientific breast cancer research. Evelyn Lauder unfortunately passed away in November 2011, but thanks to the pink ribbon, her initiatives will live on.
In Belgium, the non-profit organisation Pink Ribbon is the national organisation that supports the fight against breast cancer through various projects. To finance our projects, we raise funds that are managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. Every donation contributes to our mission.
