No fewer than eight in ten Belgians are willing to be tested for breast cancer genes as a preventative measure. This was indicated in a study presented by Pink Ribbon on Tuesday during a press conference to launch October’s breast cancer awareness campaign, reports 24brussels.
The organization is urging the government to ensure that everyone diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as their relatives, can undergo testing.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 Risk
Among the twelve identified breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand out. These genes increase the risk of developing breast cancer by 60 to 80 percent in women and by 1 to 7 percent in men. “They cause untold suffering, especially in women, often at a young age,” says Dr. Marleen Finoulst. An estimated 33,000 to 55,000 people in Belgium are believed to carry these high-risk genes, with at least half unaware of their status.
Call for Political Action
“Too many carriers of these genes are currently left in the dark about this,” Finoulst adds. Currently, Belgium’s eight testing centers lack the capacity for large-scale screening. Pink Ribbon plans to address the issue in federal parliament on Thursday to prompt a debate on “gene testing” for cancer.
Professor Emeritus Jan Lamote commented, “I believe it is cheaper for a minister of finance to conduct preventive testing for the gene on a larger scale.” He noted that many carriers only discover their risk too late, often once they are already ill. Men, too, can benefit from testing: “Their risk of prostate cancer, for example, increases by fifteen percent, but they can also pass the gene on to their daughters,” Lamote explains. “Getting tested is often an act of love for those close to you.”
Limits of Current Testing
Currently, testing for these genes is confined to a blood test for individuals with breast cancer meeting specific criteria, alongside their first- and second-degree relatives. According to Pink Ribbon, follow-up care is inadequate. “In the event of an unfavorable result, the carrier is asked to inform their relatives, as they too are entitled to a genetic test if they desire,” Dr. Finoulst says. “However, this happens far too infrequently and is not properly followed up.”
Pink Ribbon is advocating for expanded testing capacity as part of a broader awareness initiative. This October, the organization is also promoting the often-overlooked realities of breast cancer through its Shine a Light campaign. “Because it often remains invisible, it becomes more difficult to discuss it with those around you,” says Sofie Guns, who will share her experience living with metastatic breast cancer. “The network for people with metastatic breast cancer often shrinks. It is crucial for them to know where to turn.”
A patient is pictured before a mammography ©PHOTO ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP