A diagnosis of liver cancer or a rare liver disease can bring uncertainty, difficult questions and a sudden need to navigate unfamiliar healthcare systems. Finding reliable information, specialist care and people who understand the experience can make an important difference.

In Croatia, the Croatian Rare Liver Foundation (Zaklada za rijetke bolesti jetre) is working to ensure that patients and their families do not have to navigate this journey alone.

We are delighted to welcome the Croatian Rare Liver Foundation as the newest member of Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), bringing the experiences, priorities and perspectives of people affected by liver cancer in Croatia into our growing European community.

Building a community around patients and families

The Croatian Rare Liver Foundation supports people living with rare liver diseases and liver cancer, as well as people who are waiting for or have undergone a liver transplant and their families.

At the heart of its work is a simple but important principle: people need more than medical care when facing a serious or rare disease. They also need trusted information, emotional and psychological support, opportunities to connect with others and a community in which they feel understood.

Through its Patient Club, the Foundation brings together patients and family members to exchange experiences, learn from one another and access information and support. Its activities include educational events, peer support groups and group psychological support, helping people address not only the medical aspects of their condition but also the emotional and practical challenges that can accompany it.

The Foundation also works to improve access to reliable information about liver diseases, liver cancer and transplantation, while raising awareness and advocating for earlier detection and better support for people affected by liver conditions.

Bringing the Croatian patient voice to Europe

Joining DiCE gives the Croatian Rare Liver Foundation another platform for patients’ experiences in Croatia to contribute to wider European discussions on liver cancer care, research, awareness, and policy.

For DiCE, its membership strengthens our ability to represent the diversity of experiences of people affected by liver cancer across Europe.

Healthcare systems, access to specialist services, information and patient support can differ considerably between countries. Listening to organisations working directly with patients in their communities helps ensure that European advocacy reflects these different realities.

The Foundation brings valuable experience spanning liver cancer, rare liver diseases, transplantation, patient education and peer support. Its close connection with patients and families will add an important Croatian perspective to our network and create new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint advocacy.

Stronger together

Every new member strengthens the collective patient voice behind DiCE.

By connecting organisations across countries and cancer types, we can learn from one another, bring national experiences to the European level and work together towards better information, earlier diagnosis, equitable access to high-quality care and improved quality of life for people affected by digestive cancers.

We look forward to working alongside the Croatian Rare Liver Foundation and ensuring that the voices of people affected by liver cancer in Croatia are heard across Europe.

Welcome to DiCE, Croatian Rare Liver Foundation.