Belgian Cancer Registry’s Post

Busting some breast cancer myths! Myth – There is an increase in the incidence of breast cancer among younger women. Truth – There is indeed more breast cancer in younger women, but the increase is rather small and most breast cancer patients in South Africa and abroad have typically been, and still are, women between the ages of 50 and 70. What is true however is that breast cancer is often missed in younger women as they are often not included in screening programmes. A cancer is therefore usually detected at later stages (when a palpable lump is already present). It is worthwhile consulting with a specialist about when you should start screening and whether genetic testing could be of value if, as a younger woman, you have close relatives that have cancer. Book a clinical consultation combined with a breast cancer screening, please call 021 930 2662 or email info@apffelstaedt-hoosain.com. #Apffelstaedt #Hoosain #BreastHealth

This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate CAR T-cell therapy which has been transformative in the treatment of certain blood cancers, offering hope where conventional treatments have been unsuccessful. At the Malaghan Institute, we're proud to be running New Zealand's first CAR T-cell clinical trial, targeting specific blood cancers. Our scientists recently published an article highlighting key strategies being developed here and internationally to make CAR T-cell therapy even more effective while reducing side effects. Here are five exciting areas of research being worked on by researchers across the globe to improve and expand the use of CAR T-cell therapy in the fight against cancer: https://lnkd.in/gMCtu6ag #ThisIsBloodCancer #bloodcancerawarenessmonth #cartcelltherapy #downwithcancerNZ Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand David Downs BioOra

In November 2020, in collaboration with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), we held the first GICR IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization online course for #cancer registries from #MENA countries focusing on #TNM and Essential TNM staging, followed by a survey on staging practices in the region. In the next step, working with collaborators from 12 population-based cancer registries, we collected and analysed colorectal cancer stage data for 2013-2017 period. While CRC stage distributions in MENA were less favourable than in Western countries, with about one third of cases diagnosed with distant metastases, there were also marked variations within the region. To find out more, check out the article now available in Early View in the International Journal of Cancer: https://lnkd.in/ddsSvjwS

🌍 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 Did you know lung cancer is the 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 in both men and women in Belgium? With 𝟵,𝟲𝟵𝟮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 in 2023, it is crucial to raise awareness. Sadly, 𝟮 𝗶𝗻 𝟯 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 are diagnosed at late stages (III and IV). 📊 🫁 Learn more from our new cancer fact sheet: https://lnkd.in/eCDwHcud #WorldLungCancerDay #CancerAwareness #LungCancer #BCR

This Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month, we’re sharing some of our most compelling insights about CRC. CRC is the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50, and the second leading cause in women.* CRC is on the rise among patients younger than 55, but screening is lowest among individuals 45-49 years old.** Learn more about the importance of ANNUAL CRC screening with OC-Auto FIT to help keep your patients safe: https://lnkd.in/eMQS4_Uv 1* Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2024. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024; 74(1): 12-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21820 ** Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025. American Cancer Society. Accessed January 25, 2023. https://lnkd.in/ekWgjzSy

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and there’s good and bad news when it comes to the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. In fact, according to a new American Cancer Society (ACS) study, the number of people under 55 newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled since 1995 despite this age group shrinking in the overall population by more than 10%. That’s why both ACS and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have issued new recommendations for people at average risk of colorectal cancer to start regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum called a colonoscopy. Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer may need to undergo screening at age 40 or even earlier. Fortunately, the new screening guidelines and the wide adoption of colonoscopies is saving lives! #coloncancer #coloncancerawareness

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Head and neck cancer is a collective term for cancers that that usually begin in the squamous cells that line mucosal surfaces in the head and neck, like the #mouth, nose, and throat. Head and neck cancers can also begin in the salivary glands, but these are #uncommon (Head and Neck Cancer Alliance). It is estimated that ~67,000 people in the US were diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2023 (American Society of Clinical Oncology). For more information about head and neck cancer, visit https://lnkd.in/g5TsUxhp and be on the lookout for upcoming head and neck cancer awareness posts. #HeadandNeckCancerAwarnessMonth #HeadandNeckCancer 

Hearing that you are “CANCER FREE” is undoubtedly the goal of anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. But as magic as those words are--words usually accompanied by a celebration--many of us don't really feel free of cancer. Our friends and loved ones often expect us to immediately transition back to the life we lived before our cancer diagnoses. Cancer should be behind us, right? They don't understand the "scanxiety" we experience in something as simple as a routine oncology checkup and bloodwork. Some of us also face potentially lifelong issues in the form of neuropathies, lymphedema, and/or pain from surgeries--constant reminders of what cancer has done to our bodies. And those with germline mutations that increase the risk of multiple cancers often feel like a ticking time bomb just waiting for the next cancer to happen. My Faulty Gene has a two-part question for our cancer-free/NED friends: What are some of the issues you have faced post-cancer, and what are you doing to become “free of cancer?” Your answers just might help others along their journeys! #cancerfree #ned #noevidenceofdisease #scanxiety #cancer #cancersurvivor #cancerthriver #hereditarycancer

💡 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? The Belgian Cancer Registry doesn't just record primary tumour locations—we also collect critical data on the 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 (microscopic appearance) of tumours. This essential information helps physicians make informed decisions about treatment options and prognosis, playing a vital role in patient care and making it an essential variable in our dataset. Take 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 as an example: for 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮, a cancer that develops in the digestive enzymes-producing cells, the 5-year net survival rate is only around 8%. However, for patients with the rarer 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀, originating in hormone-producing cells, the 5-year survival rate rises to 72%. These insights are just one part of the comprehensive data found in our Cancer Fact Sheets. Want to learn more about pancreatic cancer? Check out our latest fact sheet: https://lnkd.in/eznpwgGG #CancerFactThursday #CancerResearch #PancreaticCancer #CancerRegistration

CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as a ground-breaking advancement in the treatment of cancer, offering hope to patients with certain types of cancers that are resistant to more conventional therapies. However, despite its potential, this new treatment method is not without its challenges. In our article , Porterhouse shines a spotlight on the CAR T-cell therapy, the successes and challenges of this treatment, and the road ahead as research continues to evolve. https://ow.ly/YxwB50TRskK #MedComms #MedEd #HealthcareComms #Cancer #Oncology #Immunology