Patients' rights

Breast cancer patients have a basic right to the best possible care. We are committed to improve treatment, information, care and aftercare. The financial impact of breast cancer on survivors and families is also of particular importance to us.

Round Table on Breast Cancer

How do we try to reach our goals? Think Pink has already organised four Round Table Conferences on Breast Cancer. The most recent one took place on the 25th of November 2021 in Brussels. About thirty important stakeholders discussed different items in order to jointly determine the priorities for the coming year. Researchers, specialist doctors, nurses, government agencies, insurance companies, patient organisations and the pharmaceutical industry all took part in the debate.

The purpose of this annual consultation is twofold: looking back on the past year and determining our priorities for the year to come. Despite the challenging circumstances, once more, the Round Table Conference was met with great enthusiasm and we welcomed many interesting contributions from the participants. We hope that the conference led to new insights for all. As for us, we are looking forward to working on these priorities in 2022!

10 clear priorities for 2022

After the fourth Round Table and internal consultation, we have a clearer picture of the 10 priorities we want to focus on in 2022. You will find them below.

1) Working towards ensuring that treatments for breast cancer are only possible in recognised breast clinics and reimbursed only there.

2) Striving for a higher participation rate in the official screening programs (population screening) with a specific focus on Wallonia and Brussels by raising awareness at the local level with the help of the Think Pink cities and municipalities.

3) Ensuring that real world breast cancer data are readily available for policy decisions and research and that relapses are permanently recorded.

4) Collecting as much information as possible for breast cancer patients and survivors to ease the administrative burden and empower them in their treatment process.

5) Following up progress concerning our demand for a reimbursement of scalp and hand-foot cooling submitted to the RIZIV-INAMI together with UZ Leuven, the BSMO and eighteen other hospitals.

6) Following up the pilot project (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022) on the reimbursement of gene expression profiling tests to determine susceptibility to chemotherapy, thus avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy.

7) Strengthening doctors, healthcare providers, researchers and hospitals in their communication with patients and building bridges between both parties.

8) Raising awareness about problems with sexuality and intimacy in breast cancer patients and breaking the taboo on them thanks to the study 'Sexuality and breast cancer'.

9) Making radiotherapy in the prone-crawl position possible in all radiotherapy centers in our country by financing the training for healthcare staff.

10) Raising awareness about the importance of humanity in healthcare. A kind word and a listening ear cost nothing, but often work wonders.

Read the full report in Dutch
Read the full report in French
Policy proposals

Think Pink sits in on many working groups, both at regional and national level. This way we can communicate our priorities to policy makers and we can actively help to realize certain dossiers that are important to fellow-sufferers. In that context, Think Pink also organises regular consultations and contacts with the various cabinets of the competent ministers.

Examples of our actions are the reimbursement files at the RIZIV, screening campaigns organised by the regional authorities, adjustments to insurance legislation and many other policy proposals that we consider important to fellow-sufferers and the people around them.