Past, Present, Future:
The Story of Europa Donna’s Impact

Prof. Alberto Costa, who along Prof. Umberto Veronesi led to the very foundation of Europa Donna, reflects on the organisation’s key milestones and underscores the irreplaceable role of patient organisations in advancing breast cancer treatment, research, policy, and awareness. Thanks to these efforts, women today are better informed about breast cancer, screening programmes have been implemented across many countries, and the concept of specialised breast cancer units has been firmly established. Patient advocates have played a pivotal role in monitoring national practices, ensuring that increasing numbers of women receive care in dedicated breast cancer units with specialised expertise, rather than in general hospital departments.