Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the EU after cardiovascular disease. 2.6 million people are diagnosed every year. Considering that Europe has a quarter of all cancer cases and less than 10% of the world’s population, cancer presents a serious threat to Europe's society and economy, with an overall economic impact of €100 billion annually.

Earlier this year, the European Commission launched its “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan”, with the aim of tackling the entire disease pathway around four key action areas: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. Breast cancer is a strong focus of this plan.