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New publication
12/12/2023
The Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) released its first nationwide publication focusing on primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumours in adults. Epidemiological data are presented by location of the tumour and its behaviour (benign, borderline, and malignant) in this report entitled
"Primary brain and other central nervous system tumours in adults in Belgium 2004-2020".
Primary brain and other CNS tumours are diagnosed in about 2460 adults (aged 20 and over) per year in Belgium. Most of these diagnoses are benign tumours (56%), while 37% are malignant and 7% the less common borderline tumours. The malignant tumours encompass 1.3% of the total cancer burden in adults in Belgium. More males are impacted by malignant tumours than females, while, on the contrary, more benign tumours are diagnosed in females. These tumours include a wide diversity of histological subtypes. Gliomas are the most common malignant tumours (86%), mainly represented by glioblastoma (71%), while meningiomas constitute the most common benign tumours (61%).
The 5-year relative survival (RS) of adults with primary brain and other CNS tumours varies substantially based on the tumour behaviour with 97% for benign tumours, 88% for borderline tumours and 22% for malignant tumours. For some specific subtypes of gliomas in the brain there was a substantial improvement of the 5-year RS since 2004. For patients diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma the 5-year RS increased from 22% in 2004-2009 to 36% in 2016-2020 and for patients diagnosed with oligodendroglioma from 64% in 2004-2009 to 87% in 2016-2020. These improvements could at least partly be linked to progress in the treatments with the addition of chemotherapy to standard radiotherapy.
Another encouraging observation is that when a patient survives the first 3 years after diagnosis of a malignant tumour, the relative survival probability 5 years later increases to nearly 71%. Such results (i.e. conditional 5-year RS) provide hopeful and insightful information, even for patients with tumours that have a poor prognosis.
Download the publication in PDF format
Short report
03/08/2022
Cancer in Belgium, 2020
The new report of the Belgian Cancer Registry describes the cancer incidence in Belgium for the year 2020 (first year of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Download the short report in pdf-format in French/Dutch.
14/02/2022
We are pleased to announce a new publication: Short report – Cancer Burden in Belgium, 2004-2019.
This short report includes results on completeness and data quality. In addition, general results are presented on incidence, mortality, prevalence and relative survival for all invasive tumours together (excl. non-melanoma skin cancer).
More specific data with descriptions on incidence and survival of the most common tumours can be found in the Cancer Fact Sheets or can be obtained by contacting us with a specific request.
Download the short report in pdf-format.
Cancer Fact Sheets
COVID-19
01/04/2022
Approximately 2700 missing cancer diagnoses in first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
The Belgian Cancer Registry has been closely following the number of cancer diagnoses during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, thanks to accelerated reporting from the pathology laboratories. In the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, a 43% decline in diagnoses of invasive cancers compared to April 2019 was observed. Following this first peak, cancer diagnoses nearly recovered to normal levels for the rest of 2020. The number of diagnoses in 2021 are beginning to reflect pre-pandemic trends, however, there is still a persistent 2% decline in diagnoses over the two-year period compared to 2019 , equivalent to about 2700 missing cancer diagnoses.
While for younger age groups and certain cancer types, the missing diagnoses appear to have recovered, for older patients and most cancer types, the decline in diagnosis persists. Given that an earlier diagnosis of cancer is the best predictor of a good outcome, the main message continues to be the importance of timely consultation with a physician when (persistent) symptoms are noticed.
Download the results in pdf-format
The catching-up of missing cancer diagnoses seems to stagnate
23/12/2021
Download the results in pdf-format (French/Dutch).
In 2020, 4000 new cancer diagnoses less in Belgium.
02/07/2021
Download the study in pdf-format.
Download the press release in pdf-format (French/Dutch)
Contact: Katia Emmerechts (0477 273 163) - Belgian Cancer Registry
An estimated 5000 expected new cancer diagnoses not yet made
20/11/2020
The expedited delivery of data by the laboratories for pathological anatomy enabled the Belgian Cancer Registry to complete its study on the impact of COVID-19 on the number of new cancer diagnoses in our country.
Download the study in pdf-format.
Download the methodology in pdf-format.
Contact: Katia Emmerechts (0477 273 163)
Strong decline in new cancer diagnoses in April due to corona crisis in Belgium
15/07/2020
Cancer care in Belgium was heavily affected by the corona pandemic and the necessary measures taken by the government. On March 14, 2020, all non-essential consultations, medical tests, and interventions were temporarily halted. Around this same time, population screening for breast, cervical, and colon cancer were likewise stopped.
Thanks to the expedited delivery of data by the laboratories for pathological anatomy, the Belgian Cancer Registry was able to make an initial estimate of the decline in the number of new cancer diagnoses.
Each month in Belgium, there is an average of 5725 new cancer diagnoses expected*. Recent analyses by the Belgian Cancer Registry show that, after an initial rapid decline in the month of March, the number of new cancer diagnoses in the month of April 2020 declined by nearly half (44%) compared to April 2019. For men, this was a decline of 43%, and for women, 45%. By mid-April, the numbers began to increase again, and we hope that this increase has continued.
Contact: Katia Emmerechts 0477 273 163
Download the press release in PDF format
Reports
The Belgian Cancer Registry regularly publishes the results of its activities. You can find them in the 'Cancer Incidence in Belgium' reports. You can download the different volumes on the corresponding page.
- Cancer in children and adoloscents in Belgium, 2004-2020, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2023"
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- "Bone & soft tissue tumour epidemiology in Belgium, 2004-2019, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2022"
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- "Cancer Burden in Belgium, 2004-2016, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2020"
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- "Haematological Malignancies in Belgium, 2004-2018, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2021"
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- "Cancer in Children and Adolescents, Belgium 2004-2016, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2019"
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- "Cancer in an Ageing Population in Belgium 2004-2016, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, 2018"
Download the publication in PDF format.
Download the publication in PDF format.
- "Cancer burden in Belgium 2004-2013, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels 2015"
Download the publication and the press release in PDF format.
Download the publication in PDF format.
Download the publication and the press release in PDF format.
Download the publication in PDF format.
Download the publication and the press release in PDF format.
Download the publication and the appendix in PDF format.
Download the publication and the appendix in PDF format.
"E. Van Eycken, N. De Wever, Cancer Incidence and Survival in Flanders, 2000-2001. Flemish Cancer Registry Network, VLK, Brussels, 2006"
Download the publication in PDF format.
Download the publication in PDF format.
Download the publication and the appendix in PDF format.
Download the publication in PDF format.
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Peer reviewed scientific publications
Download here an overview of all peer reviewed scientific publications in pdf-format.
Academic Session
Below, you can find the presentations from the Academic Session of December 3rd, 2018:
Newsletters
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