General information regarding breast cancer
| In Belgium, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with an average of 11,000 new diagnoses per year.[1] This type of cancer also occurs in men, though to a lesser extent, with an average of 100 new cases per year. A total of 88,512 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. This represents 1.5% of the female population in Belgium.[2] | “An average of 11,000 new breast cancer diagnoses per year in women.”
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More than 80% of diagnoses occur after the age of 50. The average age for women is 64 years. 42% of diagnoses are made at an early stage. Screening programmes are set up in order to enable that to happen. In Belgium, 59% of women aged 50 to 69 participated in organised screening for breast cancer in 2021.[3]
Evolution in the number of new breast cancer diagnoses in women
Number of new breast cancer diagnoses per 100,000 women and age group in 2022
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Percentage of women with breast cancer by stage at diagnosis |
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The survival rate after a diagnosis of breast cancer is 93.3% after 5 years. In the 15-69 age group, the survival rate is approximately 95%. This rate drops to 90.6% in women over 70 years of age.
For more figures, see the belgian-cancer-registry.shinyapps.io/data_app/
Care programmes for breast cancer
Current care programmes
To ensure quality and access to the best possible care for patients, a Royal Decree was published in 2007 that set the standards that programmes providing specialised oncological care for breast cancer must meet in order to be accredited.[4] This Royal Decree defines the criteria a hospital location must meet in order to be recognised as a “breast clinic.” The criteria are mainly based on the presence and composition of the multidisciplinary team and the minimum volume of activity. A breast clinic is a specialist department within a hospital dedicated exclusively to the treatment of oncological breast conditions. However, this R.D. does not prevent patients from being treated in a clinic that does not meet the above criteria.
Breast cancer care is currently organised by means of collaboration between coordinating breast clinics and satellite breast clinics. On 1 January 2025, there are a total of 76 officially accredited breast clinics.
To find out more about the location of breast clinics, visit https://www.health.belgium.be/nl/gezondheid/organisatie-van-degezondheidszorg/delen-van-gezondheidsgegevens/gezondheidszorginstellingen
Coordinating breast clinics
These clinics must diagnose and treat at least 125 new cases of breast cancer each year. A specialist team provides comprehensive multidisciplinary medical and paramedical care. All of the most complex phases of patient care must be performed in one of the coordination clinics, including diagnosis, treatment plan preparation, surgery and rehabilitation.
Satellite breast clinics
These clinics collaborate closely with a coordinating breast clinic. They must diagnose and treat at least 60 new cases of breast cancer each year. Follow-up treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can also be performed at these clinics.
These two types of breast clinics must work closely together to ensure quality care, while taking into account where patients live. Ideally, the more specialised and complicated aspects of care will take place at the coordinating breast clinic, while standard follow-up care is provided at the satellite clinic near the patient’s residence.
Geographical distribution of the coordinating and satellite breast clinics (01/01/2025)
Future care programmes
Regulations regarding breast cancer care programmes were recently reformed following the KCE report “Survival and Quality of care offered in Belgian hospitals with and without recognition for breast cancer” in 2023. The report shows that concentrating specialist care in reference centres with the necessary expertise and a multidisciplinary team results in better quality of care. In contrast, the risk of dying from breast cancer is 30% higher in patients receiving treatment at non-accredited clinics.
To learn more, visit https://kce.fgov.be/en/publications/all-reports/survival-and-quality-of-care-offered-in-belgian-hospitalswith-and-without-recognition-for-breast
As a result of this report and in order to provide concentrated care, the legislation in force was amended.
In future, all surgical procedures (breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, lymph node surgery, reconstructive surgery) may only be performed in a coordinating breast clinic. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary oncology consultation for each patient must take place at the coordinating breast clinic. The medical and nursing frameworks are also being strengthened. The specific conditions needed to define a coordinating breast clinic as such are also laid down in the legislation.
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Changes are also planned for satellite breast clinics, which will be replaced by affiliated breast clinics. These affiliated breast clinics will focus on diagnostic procedures, radiotherapy, complementary systemic treatments, and the following up of malignant breast disease. The treatment is defined in the patient’s individual plan of care established in the coordinating care programme with which the affiliated breast clinic has a mandatory collaboration agreement. The mandatory signing of a collaboration agreement will provide a clear framework for cooperation in all aspects of patient care. Each breast clinic must maintain a minimum level of activity and provide a minimum level of staff supervision. To put this new organisational model into operation, a transition period has been provided. The changes will take effect from 1 January 2026. |
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[1] Source: Cancer Registry (2024). Cancer Fact Sheets 2022, Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR), 2024. Consulted at https://kankerregister.org/nl/publicaties/cancer-fact-sheet-borstkanker-2022
[2] Sciensano (2024). Non-communicable diseases: Cancer. Health Status Report. Consulted at https://www.gezondbelgie.be/nl/gezondheidstoestand/niet-overdraagbare-aandoeningen/kanker
[3] Gerkens Sophie, Lefèvre Mélanie, Bouckaert Nicolas, Levy Muriel, Maertens de Noordhout Charline, Obyn Caroline, Devos Carl, Scohy Aline, Vlayen Annemie, Yaras Harun, Janssens Christophe, Meeus Pascal. Performance du système de santé belge : rapport 2024. Health Services Research (HSR). Bruxelles Centre Fédéral d’Expertise des Soins de Santé (KCE). 2024. Rapports KCE 376A. DOI : 10.57598/R376A.
[4] Royal Decree of 15 December 2013, published on 23 December 2013, amending the Royal Decree of 26 April 2007 establishing the standards that the specialised oncological care programme for breast cancer must meet in order to be accredited. Consulted at http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/besluit/2013/12/15/2013024439/staatsblad