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The publication 'Cancer in Belgium, 2020' describes cancer incidence in Belgium for the year 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures are based on a combination of data from oncology care programmes and pathological anatomy laboratories. There were 68,782 new cancer diagnoses in 2020. Compared with 2019, this equals a decrease of 3,260 diagnoses (5%). And, if we take into account the expected 2% increase in diagnoses based on a growing and ageing population and previous incidence increases, there were about 4,400 fewer cancer diagnoses in 2020 than expected (6%).
The publication shows that the 2020 incidence year figures were clearly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. The impact of COVID-19 varies significantly depending on sex, age, region, tumour localisation, staging and the previous years’ incidence trends.
The publication shows that the 2020 incidence year figures were clearly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. The impact of COVID-19 varies significantly depending on sex, age, region, tumour localisation, staging and the previous years’ incidence trends.