Europa Donna, The European Breast Cancer Coalition, is European cancer patients’ association based in Milano. Europa Donna Slovenija has been its member since 1997. In Europa Donna Slovenija we follow the 10 goals of the European coalition. We connect the healthy population, breast cancer patients and survivors, gynaecological cancers patients and survivors, individuals and expert institutions. Our mission is to provide equal opportunities for all patients with breast cancer and gynaecological cancers to get holistic treatment, early disease detection, immediate and effective treatment and holistic rehabilitation.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In Slovenia, more than 1500 women and 10 – 15 men are newly diagnosed with breast cancer yearly. More than 650 women are diagnosed with gynaecological cancers (ovarian, uterine and cervical …)
With our programmes we provide support for cancer patients and survivors, for their relatives/friends, we raise awareness about healthy lifestyle and cancer prevention, and we collaborate with decision-makers, health policymakers and health care professionals in the field of breast cancer and gynaecological cancers.
Tanja Španić, DVM, PhD, Europa Donna Slovenia, Professional Patient Advocate
Tanja Spanic is a professional patient advocate and current president of Europa Donna Slovenia and past-president of Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26. A year after her diagnosis, she joined Europa Donna Slovenia. Since then, she is an active breast cancer advocate nationally and internationally.
Currently she has active roles as faculty member at BCY and EBCC, in steering committee of clinical trial OlympiA and in POSITIVE trial, as chair of ESMO Patient Advocates Working Group and member of ESMO policy making group, she is a member of EBCTCG at Oxford, and Lancet Oncology Breast Cancer Commission team. In Slovenia she is a member of Ethical committee at Institute of Oncology, and of steering committee for screening programs at Ministry of Health and a member of Health council at Ministry of Health. She is co-author in several breast cancer scientific papers.
She has a professional background in veterinary medicine, and she has a PhD in molecular and behavioral neuroscience.
Darja Molan, B.Sc. EE., Project Coordinator, Europa Donna Slovenia, Patient Advocate
As a breast cancer survivor, her personal journey has ignited a deep passion for patient advocacy and supporting others facing similar challenges. With a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and her book Vem, da zmoreš, Darja, which chronicles her healing experience, she strives to inspire hope and resilience in patients.
In her role as Project Coordinator for the EU project Artillery, she focuses on coordinating efforts within Work Package 6, aiming to effectively communicate and disseminate the project’s findings. She works to ensure that the voices of patients, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders are heard, contributing to the development of innovative solutions that enhance early detection of chronic disease risks in women with breast cancer. Her goal is to empower patients and improve their quality of care through collaboration and engagement, ensuring they are supported throughout their journey.
