EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition

Casa
Italia
Milan
EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition

EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent, non-profit organisation whos

18/03/2026

Yesterday at the European Parliament, the European Cancer Organisation launched the European Women and Cancer Policy Index — a first-of-its-kind tool highlighting how countries across Europe are addressing women’s needs along the cancer pathway.

Hosted by Romana Jerković Kraljić, the event brought together key voices committed to advancing more equitable cancer policies.

At Europa Donna we are proud to have contributed to this important initiative. Our CEO, Marzia Zambon, was part of the expert committee behind the Index, ensuring women’s voices and experiences were reflected.

We were also honoured to see our Board Member, Dominika Kormanová, take the floor — bringing the patient perspective directly into the discussion. Her message was clear: behind every policy are real lives. And inequalities in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life still persist across Europe.
➡️ This must change.

The Index is a crucial step toward more equitable, gender-sensitive cancer policies. Because every woman deserves the same standard of care, no matter where she lives ❤️‍🩹
🔗 Learn more about the Index: https://europeancancer.org/womenandcancerpolicyindex

16/03/2026

📢 is just around the corner!
📍 Barcelona | 25–27 March 2026

In just a few days, the European Breast Cancer Conference -EBCC will bring together leading experts, advocates and healthcare professionals to advance multidisciplinary breast cancer care.

Europa Donna is proud to be an equal partner and co-organizer of this important international conference, contributing the patient advocacy perspective to discussions shaping the future of breast cancer care. 🌍

We look forward to meaningful exchanges, new insights and stronger collaboration across the breast cancer community.

08/03/2026

📣 March 8 – 🩷
Today we celebrate women’s strength, leadership, and contributions — but also reflect on persistent inequalities.

According to the Gender Inequality Index, women are still underrepresented in senior leadership, research, and decision-making roles — even though they make up the majority of the health and care workforce. Who leads healthcare and research shapes priorities, funding, and the questions asked about women’s health.

At the same time, women carry the largest share of unpaid caregiving, often supporting children, parents, or loved ones while managing their own health challenges — including breast cancer.

At Europa Donna, we advocate for equity in research, care, and support for caregivers.

This International Women’s Day, let’s push for a world where every woman’s health and voice matter.

06/03/2026

Lymphoedema is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment, particularly after lymph node removal or radiotherapy. It can cause swelling, heaviness, and discomfort, often affecting the arm, breast, or chest area.

While there is currently no cure, early recognition and proper management can make a significant difference in controlling symptoms and maintaining quality of life.

On , we’re sharing practical tips to help recognise the signs and support daily management.

Raising awareness is essential to ensure that people living with lymphoedema have access to the information, care, and specialist support they need.

04/03/2026

🌸☀️💐 Our January & February ED-News is out!

The first months of 2026 have been filled with powerful collaboration, forward-looking policy discussions, and inspiring advocacy in action. From major European research initiatives and high-level policy summits to our own Advocacy Training Course in Milan, Europa Donna continues to ensure that the voices of people affected by breast cancer are heard at every level. Here is a look at the key moments that shaped the start of our year.

➡️ 🔗 Visit this link to read our ED-News: http://bit.ly/4gToHdu
💌 🔗 Visit this link to subscribe to our ED-News: https://bit.ly/479ZeJ6

03/03/2026

📣 Not all breast cancers are the same.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes — and one of the most urgent when it comes to research needs.

TNBC accounts for about 15% of all breast cancer cases and mainly affects younger women, particularly those with a BRCA1 mutation. Because it lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, it does not respond to many of the targeted therapies used for other breast cancers, making it harder to treat and more likely to recur. Chemotherapy remains the most effective standard treatment, but exciting advances are opening new doors for treatment and improving survival rates driven by the expansion of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) into first-line treatments and the maturation of long-term data for immunotherapy

That’s why continued research is essential — to develop better treatments, improve survival rates, and offer hope to everyone affected.

Today, on , we stand with those living with TNBC and reaffirm our commitment to innovation, equity, and hope.

02/03/2026

🌍 From 27 February to 1 March, we gathered for the 2026 Advocacy Training Course, bringing together over 60 dedicated newly trained advocates from 31 European countries. Every year, we reinforce our presence across Europe by welcoming fresh voices to strengthen breast cancer advocacy in their communities.

This year’s programme offered rich discussion and expert insight. We are deeply grateful to Eva Negri, Mireille Broeders, Bettina Borisch, Maria João Cardoso, and Maria Alice Franzoi for sharing their expertise in epidemiology, prevention, screening and AI, treatment advances, breast cancer research, and effective strategies to ensure that patient perspectives are included—and that breast cancer research is truly meaningful for our community.

A particularly encouraging highlight was the strong presence of younger advocates, reflecting a powerful generational momentum within our movement. At a time when breast cancer is increasingly affecting younger Europeans, their engagement and determination to drive change at the national level are more important than ever.

We were also pleased to welcome a male breast cancer patient from the Netherlands, underscoring the importance of inclusive advocacy and raising awareness for men impacted by the disease.

These intense training days in Milan strengthened connections, sparked new ideas, and reinforced our shared commitment to improving breast cancer care and outcomes across Europe 💪💖

28/02/2026

💙 Today, on Rare Disease Day, we want to highlight a reality that is often invisible: breast cancer in men.

In the breast cancer community, male breast cancer is considered rare — accounting for about 1% of all breast cancer cases. Rare, but real. And too often overlooked.

Because it is unexpected, symptoms may be dismissed. Because it is seen as a “women’s disease”, stigma and silence can delay diagnosis.
🔸 Awareness matters.
🔸 Information matters.
🔸 Listening to men’s experiences matters.
No one should feel alone or out of place in a diagnosis.

On this Rare Disease Day, we stand with every man affected by breast cancer — and we reaffirm that equity in awareness and care must include everyone.

19/02/2026

On EmpowerED, our e-learning platform, we aim to share knowledge and tools to strengthen breast cancer advocacy across Europe.

Among our open-access resources, you can watch "The Story of Europa Donna’s Impact" where Prof. Alberto Costa, one of the founders of Europa Donna alongside Prof. Umberto Veronesi, reflects on the Coalition’s impact over time. In this video he highlights the irreplaceable role of patient advocates in advancing breast cancer awareness, policy, research, and care from spreading breast screening programmes and establishing specialised breast units to shaping how women are informed and supported across Europe.

This resource reminds us about why collective action and persistent advocacy have been (and continue to be) at the heart of progress across the continent.

🎥 Open access
🌍 Europe-wide perspective
🤝 Focused on collective impact

While most EmpowerED content is dedicated to our network members, selected resources like this one are available to all, reinforcing our commitment to sharing knowledge and strengthening advocacy beyond our community.

🔗 Watch it here: https://empowered.europadonna.org/course/europadonna-story
More details on Europa Donna’s impact on European Health Policy here: https://www.oncopedia.wiki/contributions/europa-donna-and-the-political-impact-of-patient-advocacy-in-europeOncopoedia

11/02/2026

🔬 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) drives medical progress and advances cancer research. Yet leadership in science still does not reflect the available talent: according to UNESCO, women represent only one-third of researchers worldwide.

The gender gap is also visible in clinical research, where women remain underrepresented in leadership roles though they are slightly better represented in clinical trials focusing on breast cancer.

Supporting women in science is not just about fairness: it strengthens the quality, inclusivity, and impact of research.

At Europa Donna, we recognise the essential contribution of women researchers and advocate for a more inclusive scientific community. Because when women lead research, science moves forward for all.

04/02/2026

🌍 On , Europa Donna celebrates the launch of the European Code Against Cancer in all EU languages and highlights the importance of effectively sharing its recommendations.

The 5th edition of the European Code Against Cancer, developed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, includes 14 evidence-based recommendations that support prevention, encourage healthy behaviours, and promote participation in screening programmes — all key to reducing cancer risk and inequalities.

We believe prevention only works when people truly understand the message. Speaking clearly, directly, and in familiar words helps build trust, improve health literacy, and reach communities that might otherwise be left behind. Translating the Code is not just about sharing information — it is about making life-saving knowledge accessible and advancing real health equity.

🔗 See the recommendations here: https://cancer-code-europe.iarc.who.int/
World Cancer Day Association of European Cancer Leagues World Health Organization (WHO)

02/02/2026

🌸 Welcome to our new Board Members!

Following our General Assembly on 23 November, three inspiring women were elected to our Board and officially began their terms this month, January 2026.

We are delighted to welcome and warmly congratulate our new Board members: Susanne Dieroff Hay, Mirela Roman, and Donjeta Zeqa. We are confident that each of them will bring strong commitment, valuable expertise, and fresh perspectives to our organisation.

We are also pleased to announce a change in our leadership: as Fiorita Poulakaki’s term as Vice President has come to an end, we warmly welcome Ingrid Krücken, who has been elected as our new Vice President. We look forward to this new chapter and to continuing our work together in service of our mission.

➡️ At the same time, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Board members whose terms are ending: Fiorita Poulakaki, Rowena Enriquez and Ximena Montano. Your dedication, leadership, and advocacy have made a lasting impact. You have been (and will continue to be) true role models and champions for breast cancer advocacy.

Indirizzo

Milan

Sito Web

http://www.europadonna.org/

Notifiche

Lasciando la tua email puoi essere il primo a sapere quando EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition pubblica notizie e promozioni. Il tuo indirizzo email non verrà utilizzato per nessun altro scopo e potrai annullare l'iscrizione in qualsiasi momento.