In memoriam Johan Thibo

24 February 2025

On February 15, 2025, Johan Thibo passed away. As the founder and president of Prolong vzw, he dedicated many years to supporting people with lung cancer or pleural cancer and their loved ones. Thank you for your energy, Jo.

Johan Thibo, voorzitter van Prolong vzw, overleed op 15 februari 2025

    It was with great sadness that we received the heartbreaking news that Johan Thibo passed away on February 15. In 2022, together with fellow patients and friends, Johan founded Prolong, an organization dedicated to supporting people with lung cancer or pleural cancer, as well as their loved ones.

    Through Prolong, we had the privilege of working with him at All.Can Belgium. Despite his illness, Jo always found the strength to advocate for fellow patients, their families, and friends.

    He was one of the driving forces behind the 2023 campaign to break the stigma surrounding lung cancer – reminding the world that lung cancer patients deserve support, not judgment. It was a message we at All.Can Belgium were proud to stand behind.

    Last year, Jo worked tirelessly behind the scenes on the Clear The Air On Lung Cancer campaign, focused on dispelling misconceptions about the disease. Sick or not, Jo was among the first to sign up for the major campaign day at Brussels-Central scheduled for November 2024. His determination truly knew no limits.

    Thank you for everything you have done for cancer patients in Belgium, Jo. Your legacy is in good hands with Prolong, which is now further strengthening its collaboration with ALK Positive Belgium.

     

    On behalf of all members of our Lung Cancer Working Group and All.Can Belgium as a whole.

    More articles

    An abnormal cervical smear. Now what?

    Every year, almost 9,000 women [1] undergo a cone biopsy to treat precancerous lesions. Precancerous lesions are abnormal cells in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer. They are detected through cervical screening. A cone biopsy is preceded by a colposcopy – a closer examination of the cervix. In…

    “We have what it takes to eliminate cervical cancer”

    Since January 2025, cervical cancer screening for women aged 30 and over has been carried out differently. The smear is now first tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), and only then, depending on the result of that first test, are the cells examined. There is a good reason…