UZ Gent Launches Head and Neck Cancer Screening Program
Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent) is launching a free screening program for head and neck cancer targeting people over 40 who smoke or drink alcohol, as part of the European MakeSense awareness campaign. The screening day on September 22 will offer up to 40 participants a full ear-nose-throat examination, with medical experts emphasizing that early detection is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
A Silent Threat
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Belgium, with approximately 2,500 Belgians diagnosed annually—about 50 new cases every week. The disease most frequently affects people between 50 and 70 years old, and about 90 percent of tumors occur in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and the transition from pharynx to esophagus, according to UZ Gent.
Despite its prevalence, the disease often goes undetected until advanced stages because early symptoms are deceptively mild. “The first symptoms are discreet,” said Michael Saerens, medical oncologist at UZ Gent, in an interview with VRT NWS. “It concerns persistent mild sore throat or hoarseness, a swelling or a sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal. If it lasts more than 3 weeks, you really need to see a doctor.”
Screening Day Details
On Tuesday, September 22, from 9:00 to 12:00, UZ Gent will host a screening morning at the Department of Facial and Neck Surgery (entrance 69, route 692). Participants will complete a questionnaire, undergo a full ENT examination, and receive a camera examination of the throat. Up to 40 people can be screened free of charge, with appointments required through the hospital’s screening registration page.
The screening coincides with the MakeSense campaign (September 21-26), a European awareness initiative organized by the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) under the motto “Laat je niet nekken” (Don’t let it get you down).
A Living Example
Jo Van Damme, a former patient who participated in an earlier screening at UZ Gent, is now cancer-free and returned to part-time work this summer. His story illustrates why early detection matters. “I am the living example of its importance,” he told VRT NWS. “I had suffered from a sore throat for a long time, but otherwise there seemed to be little wrong. I could eat, drink and work without problems. Nothing was visible, but camera examination showed an abnormality.”
Van Damme’s experience echoes the findings from UZ Gent’s first screening event in September 2025, when approximately 50 participants were screened and 10 showed suspicious findings requiring further investigation, as documented in the hospital’s press release.
Research Into a Broader Screening Test
Beyond the immediate screening, UZ Gent researchers are using the event to advance scientific research into a broadly applicable screening test for head and neck cancer, similar to the existing cervical cancer screening. Participants can voluntarily provide saliva and gargle samples for analysis.
“We take a saliva and gargle sample,” explained Dafne Huyge, researcher at UZ Gent. “In head and neck cancer, we see DNA abnormalities in some places. There are sometimes traces of human papillomavirus (HPV). These are indicators that help with rapid detection. We hope to eventually develop a test that can be widely used.”
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption remain the primary risk factors for head and neck cancer. However, HPV types 16 and 18 also play a role in throat tumors, particularly among younger patients under 50 who do not exhibit notable risk behavior. HPV-related tumors are on the rise, according to UZ Gent’s cancer information page.
High-Profile Cases Raise Awareness
The importance of vigilance has been underscored recently by high-profile Belgian cases. Writer Herman Brusselmans (68) recently underwent major surgery for a tumor on his salivary gland, as reported by HLN. Cardiologist Pedro Brugada (74), known for the Brugada syndrome, was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year and shared that he could only whisper at one point, according to KW.be.
The Impact of Delayed Diagnosis
The stakes are high when detection comes late. Research from the Belgian Cancer Registry revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 9.5 percent fewer head and neck cancer diagnoses were made than expected, with some patients receiving their diagnosis at a later stage and facing poorer prognoses. However, five-year survival rates have improved from 51.4 percent (2004-2009) to 55.6 percent (2016-2021), according to the Leuven Kankerinstituut.
What to Watch For
Medical experts urge anyone experiencing persistent symptoms—such as a sore throat, hoarseness, a non-healing sore in the mouth, or a swelling in the neck—lasting more than three weeks to seek medical evaluation. “The symptoms often seem very innocent at first, but the later we discover the cancer, the lower the chances of cure,” Saerens said. “Early detection makes it well treatable.”
With the MakeSense campaign approaching and UZ Gent’s screening day just two weeks away, the hospital hopes to build on last year’s success and reach even more people in at-risk groups. For those who cannot attend the September 22 screening, the message remains clear: don’t ignore persistent mild symptoms—get checked.