On the occasion of the international October Rose campaign, the Province of Hainaut emphasizes the importance of the fight against breast cancer, a major public health priority. Although the Mammotest offers free screening for women aged 50 to 69, local participation rates remain insufficient.
According to the Hainaut Province Health Observatory, breast cancer is curable in the majority of cases if detected early. In Hainaut, only 51.5% of women aged 50 to 69 undergo this screening, despite free examinations offered every two years in Belgium, in line with European recommendations.
The standardized incidence rate of breast cancer in women in Hainaut is 193.4 cases per 100,000 person-years, a figure close to the Walloon and Belgian rates. This rate is calculated to allow relevant comparisons between populations, regardless of their age structure.
A conference-debate titled "Hainaut Mobilization for Organized Breast Cancer Screening: Local Authorities and Medical Professionals, Key Prevention Actors" will take place on Monday, October 12, 2026, from 2 PM to 4 PM, at Hainaut Développement, Boulevard Initialis 22 in Mons.
The program includes a welcome address by the Provincial Deputy in charge of Health, a presentation of breast cancer data in Hainaut by the Health Observatory, and an intervention by Michel Candeur, Director of the Coordination and Reference Center for Cancer Screening. A debate will follow.
Participation is free, but registration is required by October 8, 2026, via email to observatoire.sante@hainaut.be.
