Pink Ribbon

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Belgium. Even today, 29 women hear the verdict. That is 10,500 new diagnoses per year. 100,000 women fight, together with their immediate living environment, against the disease. 1 in 8 women come into contact with the disease in the course of her life. Unfortunately, each day, 6 women still lose the battle.

The non-profit Pink Ribbon is the national organization that fights against breast cancer. Our mission is to fight breast cancer through prevention and encourage breast cancer screening. Pink Ribbon also wants to draw attention to the improvement of the quality of life of people who are confronted with the disease and their environment. You never fight breast cancer alone. It not only affects patients, but also their families, friends, colleagues, etc.

The Pink Ribbon initiative was launched in 1992 in the United States by Evelyn Lauder, when she introduced the first "Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign" and thus stood at the cradle of the creation of the famous pink ribbon.

Pink Ribbon was introduced in Belgium in 2007. In 2011 the Pink Ribbon Fund was established as part of the King Baudouin Foundation. Since 2012, the non-profit association Pink Ribbon Belgium coordinates all operational activities.

The philosophy of Pink Ribbon Belgium consists of three pillars:

Prevention. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of breast cancer. A balanced lifestyle can prevent one cancer diagnosis in three. Excess body fat around the waist increases the risk. That is why a balanced diet and sufficient exercise are very important. Smoking and alcohol use also have a detrimental effect on the development of breast cancer.

Early detection. Early diagnosis plays a crucial role in the fight against breast cancer and makes the treatment less drastic. Therefore, women between the ages of 50 and 69 are advised to have a free mammogram every two years. It is also important that a woman knows her own breasts well and can detect irregularities.

Psychosocial care. Breast cancer is a very drastic condition: mentally, emotionally and socially. It has a major impact on the environment of the woman (private and professional) and on her personal feeling of being a woman. Pink Ribbon wants to improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients and pay special attention to the importance of psychosocial care through projects.

More information can be found on www.pink-ribbon.be.