Who are we?
EUROPA DONNA- The European Breast Cancer Coalition is Europe’s breast cancer advocacy organisation and is an independent, non profit entity representing patients and citizens interested in breast health in 41 countries across Europe, including all the countries of the European Union.
Who do we represent?
EUROPA DONNA represents 41 national Europa Donna advocacy groups whose members are patients, citizens interested in breast health, and associations concerned with breast cancer. Each one is called a EUROPA DONNA forum.
What is our mission?
To ensure that all European women have access to accurate information and quality screening, diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer
What do we do?
The Coalition works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care and increased funding for research.
EUROPA DONNA represents the interests of European women regarding breast cancer to local and national authorities as well as to institutions of the European Union.
Our priority today is to obtain Europe-wide implementation of the “EU guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis” that call for, national population based mammography screening programmes, and the provision of specialist breast units.
In addition, we are promoting additional funding for breast cancer research and the development of national breast cancer registries. Activities and projects are conducted in 3 areas: Lobbying, Information, Education.
Lobbying: EUROPA DONNA worked with Parliamentarians to set up the EPGBC (European Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer) in 2001. Since then two breast cancer resolutions have been passed and various workshops and meetings have been held at the Parliament to raise awareness of breast health issues and get parliamentarians to support these and to keep breast cancer on the European health agenda.
Information: Website and publications highlight current news, activities, educational and policy matters of interest to breast cancer advocates. These include: Newsletter, Lobbying Update, Clinical Trials brochure, Breast Health Passports, conference proceedings and our new Short guide to the European Guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. This will be translated into ten languages this year.
Education: EUROPA DONNA has co-organised the EBCC (European Breast Cancer Conference) together with partners EUSOMA and EORTC since 1998. As Europe’s evidence based advocacy organisation this is the only conference in which clinicians, researchers and advocates together share and discuss important new findings and information on breast cancer trials, treatments, etc. It is held every two years and 5,700 participants attended the last one, held in Berlin in 2008.
EUROPA DONNA holds its own Pan European conference for advocates every two years as well as an annual breast cancer advocacy training course. The advocacy training course , initiated in 2001, teaches scientific material and communication skills to advocates from all our member countries, and is supported by a grant from the EU.
How do we get involved?
Individuals and national associations should contact the National Representative from your country (see list on our website)
Countries not represented should contact our Head Office.
