The Fight Against Cancer

Along the upper edge, a stylised rainbow — a symbol of hope for a world free from cancer. Top right: the country code 'BE' and the year '2024'. At the centre, an ECG line in the form of an awareness ribbon, often worn as a sign of solidarity. Along the lower edge, the bilingual occasion: 'Lutte contre le cancer' in French and 'Strijd tegen kanker' in Dutch. The mint marks of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt and Belgian mint master Giovanni Van de Velde appear at the lower edge; the initials 'IB' of designer Iris Bruijns are placed to the left beneath the ECG line.

Cancer is, in Belgium as in most European countries, one of the most common causes of death. Every year, around 70,000 people in Belgium receive a cancer diagnosis, meaning the disease touches almost every family directly or within its close circle. Belgian cancer research is well connected internationally: the Kankerfonds/Fondation contre le Cancer, Belgium's leading nonprofit organisation in the fight against cancer, funds basic research at universities in Brussels, Leuven, Ghent and Liège while also running awareness programmes for early detection. Belgium also actively participates in the European Cancer Imaging Initiative and in Europe-wide screening programmes aimed at improving early detection of breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.

Symbolically important for public engagement with cancer in Belgium is the awareness ribbon, worn visibly at events, sporting occasions and solidarity campaigns to express societal support for patients and researchers. Symbols of hope such as the rainbow have become established internationally as a visual language for a cancer-free future and appear accordingly in campaigns run by Belgian and European cancer organisations. Belgium issued a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2024 on the theme of the fight against cancer, to draw attention to the societal relevance of this disease and to raise public awareness of ongoing efforts in research, prevention and patient care.