Why europa uomo and eso can cooperate? Alberto Costa ESO Director

What is ESO? ESO = European School of Oncology Established in Milan in 1982 From an original idea of Umberto Veronesi With the immediate support of Franco Cavalli (Bellinzona), Louis Denis (Antwerp), Michael Peckham (London), Bob Pinedo (Amsterdam) and Jerzj Einhorn (Stockholm)

Why a school? In the early Eighties there was no structured CME in Europe Funds were mostly going to research without supporting the transfer of knowledge to the daily clinical practice EORTC was introducing the clinical trial methodology and there was a need for well prepared young oncologists

Why European? Europe was booming at the time as a concept and as a goal also in medicine (after EORTC, ESMO, ESSO, ESTRO etc) European oncology differs substantially from the US one and needed to be more structured (taking on board cultural and language differences) No individual country could have done it

Who paid (and pays) for ESO? First donation from Princess Del Drago (Rome) after her breast surgery. Hubert de Givenchy in memory of Audrey Hepburn Hans Wyder, Jost Reinhold and the Necchi family (endowment) A pool of 6 companies (Sharing Progress in Cancer Care) x magazine+masterclass

Where is ESO? Headquarters in Milano e-ESO in Bellinzona (Switzerland) Russian programme in Moscow German programme in St Gallen Balkans programme in Belgrade Euro-Arab School of Oncology in Cairo Media programme in London

ESO and advocacy In the early Ninenties we took the initiative to launch the first women mouvement against breast cancer in Europe. Original idea of Umberto Veronesi (again!), just back from the US Presented in Venice to the ECL meeting to have consensus Called Europa Donna, in Italian

ESO and advocacy 2 ESO funded ED for 3 years, gave free offices and promotional support (invite ED reps to all ESO courses on breast cancer ESO collaborates with ED in several initiatives (Sarajevo conference, accreditation of breast units, website) ED is fully independent on ESO. just non voting membership + honorary positions

ESO and advocacy 3 In the mid Ninenties ESO launched ECPC (the European Cancer Patients Coalition) Original idea of Kathy Redmond Presented in Tenerife at the ESO Masterclass with immediate support of Lynn Fauls-Wood (colorectal cancer) and Jesme Fox (lung cancer, Roy Castle Foundation)

ESO and advocacy 4 In the late 90s ESO promotes brainstorming on a prostate cancer coalition (Alberto Costa initiative) Launch in Rome of Europa Uomo followed by some uncertainties on the name…! Financial and organisational support given to ECPC and Europa Uomo Umbrella website: CancerWorld

Can doctors and advocates collaborate? ESO believes that cancer advocacy should be responsibility of cancer patients Collaboration is possible but only in a frame of reciprocal respect and consideration. Advocates need – by definition- to be free to criticise doctors. Collaboration can sometimes facilitate financial support (see GAEA project ED)

So, what about ESO and EU? ESO is happy to continue to support EU until needed and requested ESO enjoys the collaboration with the EU in planning educational activities on prostate cancer, developing websites, promoting awareness among doctors, etc The promotion of the prostate unit concept is one of the main cultural priorities of ESO

Conclusions All the key professionals at ESO are women, but the director is still a man. He was declared honorary woman in 1998 for his support to the development of Europa Donna But he still has a prostate and he is very reassured bu the existance and growth of Europa Uomo. Thank you!