Marzia Zambon, CEO of Europa Donna – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, shared on LinkedIn:
“Four days at ESMO 2026 in Madrid, back home with a full notebook, fresh ideas and a wish that I could have been in several rooms at once!
Proud to see Europa Donna actively represented by our Board and national representatives, including Stella Mastora, Dominika Kormanová, Donjeta Zeqa and Violet Aroyo, learning, contributing and connecting with partners and sponsors.
A special thank you to our Vice-President Ingrid Krücken, who alongside Zorana Maravic, George Kapetanakis and fellow ESMO Patient Advocates Working Group members organized four sessions that drew audiences beyond room capacity.
Ingrid also co-led a workshop on self-care and burnout among patient advocates, a topic close to my heart. We give so much of ourselves to supporting others: caring for ourselves is essential to sustaining that commitment.
Yet the congress also highlighted a frustrating barrier: patient advocates were excluded from the exhibition area.
Throughout the year, patient advocates help shape research, contribute to clinical trials and collaborate with researchers, regulators and industry. Yet at congresses, they can still be denied access to spaces where many of those partnerships develop.
Protecting the public from prescription medicine advertising matters, but so does enabling professional, non-promotional exchange with patient advocates. We need a framework that respects both and recognises the expertise patient advocates bring.
The congress also offered opportunities to reconnect with partners, explore new collaborations and hear powerful patient perspectives, including Natalie Erdmann’s testimony.
Her words were a reminder that no one should have to rely on persistence or luck to receive the care they need. That is what keeps me passionate about our work and determined to keep pushing for change.”
Other articles about Patient Advocacy on OncoDaily.