EBCC14

Europa Donna celebrated its 30th anniversary as The European Breast Cancer Coalition at the 14th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC14) in Milan, held 20-22 March, a conference it has co-organised since its inception.The larger EBCC14 welcomed almost 1800 participants, including researchers, clinicians, advocates and patients, from 74 countries in its unique multidisciplinary format. This year brought metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to the fore, while also covering the latest advances across the full breast cancer spectrum. MBC was the focus of the EBCC14 Manifesto “Addressing Disparities in Access to Innovation for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Across Europe”, seconded by conference participants. Recommendation number 1 is to increase the visibility of MBC and facilitate involvement of people with MBC in trials, the workplace and everyday life. Keynote speaker for the session was European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, and a past President of Europa Donna. She highlighted the fact that women with MBC are not part of the “pink campaigns” and there is a need to shed light on women with MBC and bring them to the centre of campaigns. There is a need for cancer registries that include data for women with MBC, and for standard definitions. She outlined Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan which is tackling these unmet needs in MBC and the entire breast cancer pathway, from prevention to end of life. The EBCC14 Manifesto’s seven recommendations and their rationale are to be published in a peer-review journal in the coming months.

This year’s EBCC Arts and Humanities Prize was a reminder of the face and body of MBC and the greater purpose of the gathering. Chosen by Europa Donna, the winner was the project “A Brave Woman”, involving a true-to-life statue modelled from Cecilie, a woman with incurable MBC, and erected in front of the Norwegian parliament to open the eyes of passersby and parliamentarians to this issue. A video chronicling the statue’s creation and Cecile’s story were also produced.Europa Donna is an equal partner in organising and designing the EBCC sessions and topics to be covered with societies of researchers and clinicians, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA). This format ensures a truly multidisciplinary approach and special attention to the perspective of the patients, the real protagonists of breast cancer.Three Europa Donna sessions focused on practical applications of the data and what matters to patients: reducing breast cancer risk, equal access to innovation in breast cancer treatment, and working after a breast cancer diagnosis. Europa Donna board members and members chaired and participated in sessions throughout the conference.

A special 30-year celebration luncheon welcomed Europa advocates and friends at the conference venue, with Commissioner Stella Kyriakides as the guest of honour, alongside Dr Alberto Costa, one of the founders of Europa Donna. Commissioner Kyriakides expressed her joy and gratification with being part of the Europa Donna family, one that has grown to include women from 47 member countries across Europe.The EBCC14 conference sessions are available online to registered participants for 3 months after the conference. A full report on EBCC14 and topics of interest to advocates, and the Europa Donna Educational Event will follow. EBCC15, will take place on 25-27 March 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.