SCK CEN also pins on a yellow ribbon for 'Day against Cancer'
More than 80,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Belgium. On average, that amounts to 219 diagnoses of cancer per day, or more than nine per hour. Behind each of these numbers is a personal story: a person, a family and a future suddenly turned upside down. Today marks the 26th edition of the Day Against Cancer. The day when all of Flanders pins on a yellow ribbon to show solidarity with cancer patients and their loved ones. We, at SCK CEN, also visibly wear the ribbon on our chest today. The ribbon is for them, just like our daily dedication. Because this dedication revolves around one goal: boosting the fight against cancer.
Will you also pin on a ribbon today?
💛 This is how we show our solidarity with cancer patients and their loved ones.
💛 This is how we share the message: you don't go through cancer alone.
One Post-it. A thousand connections.
Radioisotopes have been used for decades to detect cancer and, in recent years, to treat it. This treatment is known as radioligand therapy: patients typically experience fewer side effects and enjoy a better quality of life. Lutetium-177 is already currently an important treatment option for neuroendocrine tumours and metastatic prostate cancer. A lot of research and development is still needed before lutetium-177 can treat other cancers and/or other radioisotopes can be used. Furthermore, medical radioisotopes do not occur naturally, they have to go through a whole production process. This video gives a look behind our scenes, with the yellow post-it symbolising:
- An idea born at a desk
- A formula or separation process we want to test
- A building where new radioligand therapies are taking shape
- A transport, a purchase, a contract
- …
Our commitment: science with a heart
SCK CEN is boosting the fight against cancer with three pillars:
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1. Production of medical radioisotopes
We play a key role worldwide in the production of medical radioisotopes with our BR2 research reactor and our forthcoming CRF.
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2. Preclinical research into radioligand therapy
We are unravelling the biological mechanisms behind radioligand therapy and improving the precision of radiopharmaceuticals.
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3. Dialogue with society
We listen to patients, doctors and policy makers, drawing on their insights to make our research more relevant and impactful.
