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In Belgium, systematic screening for colon cancer is offered free of charge, every two years, to men and women aged 50 to 74 who are asymptomatic and have no particular risk factors. They are asked to carry out a search for occult blood in the stool using an immunological test.
Target people in Wallonia receive a letter inviting them to obtain a screening kit, after which a new one is sent to them by post every two years. In Flanders, the procedure is automatic, while in Brussels, you have to go to a pharmacy to receive a kit.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Belgium in both men and women. In 2023, 7,837 new cases were diagnosed. In 2021, 2,419 people died from the disease. The five-year net survival rate reaches 70.5%.
