Pink October: Early detection for a better fight against breast cancer bordet.be
As part of Pink October, Institut Jules Bordet is highlighting the importance of early breast cancer diagnosis and strengthening its breast imaging services to facilitate patients’ access to screening and diagnostic examinations.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women. In Belgium, an average of 12,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. However, more than three out of four breast cancers are diagnosed at an early stage (stage I or II), which is associated with a better prognosis. Today, the 5-year survival rate is 92.7% for women diagnosed between 2019 and 2023.
“Screening makes it possible to detect breast cancer earlier, at a stage when treatment options are generally more numerous and sometimes less aggressive, and when the prognosis is better. Our priority is therefore to make it easy for women to access the examinations they need, without unnecessary delays,” explains Dr Nathalie Mouthuy, Head of the Breast Imaging Clinic at Institut Jules Bordet.
A strengthened breast imaging team to meet demand
To address this challenge, Institut Jules Bordet’s team of radiologists specialising in breast imaging has been significantly expanded. This strengthening enables the Institute to better respond to the demand for appointments, both for screening and for patients requiring further diagnostic assessment.
The objective is clear: in urgent cases, a breast assessment (clinical examination + mammography + ultrasound if necessary) can be offered within 48 hours. For routine screening without an urgent indication, the Institute offers an appointment within one month.
Dr Nathalie Mouthuy also points out that the organised screening programme provides a free Mammotest (mammography) every two years for women aged 50 to 69 in Belgium.
More specialists, but also more diagnostic tools
This increased capacity is also supported by the development of the imaging tools available at the Institute.
The introduction of contrast-enhanced mammography by the end of 2026, also known as mammography with contrast injection, will further expand the range of breast imaging techniques available. It is part of the Institute’s commitment to offering patients increasingly tailored diagnostic options.
Screening should also be adapted to each woman’s individual risk
The challenge is not only to increase screening, but also to better tailor screening strategies to each patient’s individual risk profile.
Age, personal and family history, as well as certain intrinsic risk factors, can influence the most appropriate screening strategy. This is why individual risk assessment is playing an increasingly important role in patient care.
Data from the Belgian Cancer Registry also show that 44.9% of breast cancers in women are diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 69, the age group currently covered by organised screening.
To make an appointment for a Mammotest or a breast assessment:
Via the MyHUB application
Via the breast imaging secretariats:
- Institut Jules Bordet: +32 2 555 45 34 or +32 2 541 73 22
- Lothier Polyclinic: +32 2 221 87 11