The Belgian Cancer Registry compared the number of new cancer diagnoses in Belgium in 2020 and 2021 with the same period in 2019. The results indicate that approximately 2700 cancer diagnoses were missed during the two first years of the COVID-19 crisis. The largest estimated numbers of missing diagnoses are found for colorectal cancer; hematological malignancies; head and neck cancer; and female breast cancer. For younger age groups and certain cancer types, the missing diagnoses appear to have recovered. However, for older patients and most cancer types, the decline in diagnosis seems to persist.

Report available (in English): http://kankerregister.org/media/docs/cijfersoverkanker/March2022-COVID-v6_ENG.pdf