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 dedicated patient advocate and the Executive Director of Europa Donna Slovenia, as well as the past President of Europa Donna Slovenia and Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition.
Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, Tanja joined Europa Donna Slovenia just a year later. Since then, she has been an active and influential breast cancer advocate both nationally and internationally.
She serves in numerous leadership and advisory roles, including as a faculty and scientific committee member at BCY, EBCC, and ESMO Breast25, and on the steering committees of the OlympiA and POSITIVE clinical trials. Since January 2025, she has been a member of the ABC Global Alliance Board of Directors. Additionally, she contributes to the EBCTCG at Oxford and two ESMO working groups (Policy and Precision Medicine). Previously, she was part of the panel of experts for the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission.
In Slovenia, she serves on the Ethical Committee of the Institute of Oncology, the steering committee for screening programs at the Ministry of Health, and the Health Council at the Ministry of Health. She is also a co-author of several breast cancer scientific papers.
She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a PhD in Molecular and Behavioural Neuroscience.
Darja Molan, B.Sc. EE., Europa Donna Slovenia, Patient Advocate
Darja Molan is a breast cancer survivor and the president of Europa Donna Slovenia. Her personal experience with cancer led her to become an active patient advocate, working to support other women and promote better care, early detection, and access to information.
She holds a degree in electrical engineering and is the author of Vem, da zmoreš, Darja (“I Know You Can Do It, Darja”), a book about her journey through illness and recovery.
In the ARTILLERY project, Darja is involved in Work Package 6, where she helps share the project’s goals and results with the public, patients, and other important groups. She believes that listening to patients and including their voices is key to developing better and more supportive healthcare solutions.
