Press release

Pink October: early detection to better combat breast cancer

01/10/2026

Recognising the importance of early detection, the Jules Bordet Institute is expanding its range of services for patients: a larger team of radiologists, new imaging tools and appointments offered to patients at short notice.

Brussels, 1 October 2026 – To mark Pink October, the Jules Bordet Institute is highlighting the importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer and is expanding its breast care services to make it easier for patients to access screening and diagnostic tests.

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 in four cases of breast cancer are diagnosed at an early stage (stage I or II), which is associated with a better prognosis for recovery. As a result, the five-year survival rate now stands at 92.7 per cent for women diagnosed between 2019 and 2023.

“Screening enables breast cancer to be detected earlier, at a stage when treatment options are generally more numerous and sometimes less aggressive, and the prognosis is better. Our priority is therefore to ensure women have easy access to the necessary examinations, without unnecessary delays, ”explains Dr Nathalie Mouthuy, director of the Breast Imaging Clinic at the Jules Bordet Institute

A strengthened breast imaging team to meet demand

To address this challenge, the team of radiologists specialising in breast imaging at the Jules Bordet Institute has been significantly expanded. This expansion now enables the Institute to better meet the demand for appointments, both for screening and for patients requiring further diagnostic investigation.

The aim is clear: in the event of an urgent request, a breast assessment (clinical examination + mammogram + ultrasound scan if necessary) can be offered within 48 hours. For non-urgent screening, the Institute offers an appointment within a month. Dr Nathalie Mouthuy also points out that the organised screening programme provides a free Mammotest (standard mammogram) every two years for women aged between 50 and 69 in Belgium.

More specialists, but also more diagnostic tools

This increase in capacity is also underpinned by the development of the imaging tools available at the Institute.

The introduction of angiomammography in late 2026 – or mammography with contrast medium injection – will thus complement the range of breast imaging techniques. This forms part of a commitment to offering patients diagnostic methods that are increasingly tailored to their individual circumstances.

Screening that must also be tailored to each woman’s risk

However, the challenge is not merely to carry out more screening, but also to tailor screening more effectively to each patient’s profile.

Age, personal and family history, and certain intrinsic risk factors can all influence the screening strategy. This is why individual risk assessment is playing an increasingly important role in care.

Data from the Belgian Cancer Register also show that 44.9 per cent of breast cancers in women are diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 69, the age group currently covered by organised screening.

To book an appointment for a mammogram or a breast screening assessment:

Via the MyHUBapp

Via the breast unit reception desks:
- Jules Bordet Institute: +32 2 555 45 34 or +32 2 541 73 22
- Polyclinique du Lothier: +32 2 221 87 11