The Pink October campaign highlights the importance of breast cancer screening, a public health priority. Although the Mammotest offers free screening for women aged 50-69, local participation rates indicate that many women still do not utilize this protective measure.
Breast cancer is largely curable if detected early. In Hainaut, only 51.5% of women in this age group undergo screening. However, in Belgium, free screening is offered every two years to women aged 50-69, in line with European recommendations. The Mammotest, a mammography, is provided via an invitation letter that serves as a prescription.
The standardized incidence rate of breast cancer in women in Hainaut is 193.4 cases per 100,000 person-years, close to the Walloon (192.8) and Belgian (188.4) rates. Incidence increases with age, peaking between 75 and 79, although the first cases appear from age 25. Breast cancer also affects men, though in much smaller proportions (103 cases out of 11,636 new cases in Belgium in 2023).
Mortality from breast cancer is decreasing. In Hainaut, the age-adjusted rate has dropped by 28.2% over 20 years (2012-2022), reflecting advances in treatment and earlier management.
Despite this, participation in organized screening remains insufficient. In Hainaut, the coverage rate is 51.5%, comparable to Wallonia (51.3%) but lower than the national average (59.2%). A larger proportion of women have diagnostic mammograms (49.8%) than participate in organized screening (3.8%). The COVID-19 pandemic caused a drop in participation in 2020-2021, and although the trend has been rising since 2022, it has not yet returned to pre-crisis levels.
Provincial disparities exist in Wallonia. Brabant Wallon shows the highest coverage rates (59% in 2023), while the province of Luxembourg has the lowest rates for diagnostic mammograms (around 42-43%), but higher participation in the Mammotest program. The provinces of Namur, Liège, and Hainaut are in an intermediate position (50-52% in 2023).
Systematic screening is recommended between ages 50 and 69 for maximum mortality reduction. Between 40 and 49, the decision should be discussed with a doctor. After 70, screening's benefit depends on general health and life expectancy.
For practical information, consult the website of the Coordination and Reference Centre for Cancer Screening (CCRef).
