Including breast cancer in the political agenda

Abstract

In a developed continent, where women are at a one in ten lifetime risk of breast cancer, you may well consider that access to accurate i n f o r m a t i o n , a p p r o p r i a t e screening and optimal treatment are basic rights of women. However, these services are not offered to all European women. In a European collaborative project (Eurocare 2), marked differences in access, medical expertise and quality of equipment among the 17 participating countries were highlighted. This provided the stimulus for the creation of a European Breast Cancer Coalition, which was named Europa Donna; its website can be accessed via the ‘Cancerworld’ homepage. Although the diverse socio-cultural setting of Europe and surrounding countries precluded an exact reproduction of the US-based National Breast Cancer Coalition, the intentions of Europa Donna are similar to its American counterpart. From ten main aims, which include the promotion of breast awareness and information on treatment options, provision of appropriate care with adequate followup, as well as health professional training and equipment checks, each country decides which to accept and strive for, based on the importance of these issues at a local level. Europa Donna hopes to represent issues and concerns surrounding breast cancer at the highest political levels, on a national and European scale. In terms of the political activities undertaken by Europa Donna, the information given on their website is limited to a brief list of the meetings which have been organised with various political groups. Little detail is provided on the content or outcome of these meetings. Thus far, together with the Breast Cancer Cooperative Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTCBCCG) and the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA), Europa Donna has organised the largest European forum for breast cancer: the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC). At the second EBCC meeting (Brussels, Belgium; 26 – 30 September 2000), the Brussels Statement was agreed upon. This consensus lays down the position of the three European bodies in relation to breast-cancer screening and care, and it is hoped that the objectives will be met through political lobbying and the mobilisation of health-care providers, researchers and the health industry. This website provides a limited amount of insight into the political lobbying being undertaken by Europa Donna at a European level. Although the tone is upbeat, it is disappointing that so little information on advocacy and lobbying is available here. Perhaps as the coalition develops and produces results, the website will develop into a more useful source of information on a group with such worthy, if ambitious, goals. Mona Okasha