Andi Cârlan

Andi Cârlan is a Romanian patient, Patient Navigator, and member of the Patient Advisory Committee at Digestive Cancers Europe, where he has been actively contributing since 2022. Diagnosed at 36 with Stage III colon cancer, Andi has faced multiple recurrences, including metastatic disease, and continues to navigate life with cancer – not as a passive patient, but as a fierce voice for others walking the same path.

His background is rooted in over 14 years of experience in the pensions and life insurance industry, working in financial advising, corporate training, and consultancy. But his true calling emerged after cancer turned his world upside down. Since then, he has become deeply involved in supporting fellow patients in Romania: offering guidance, demystifying treatment options, and standing up for their rights within a fragile and often unjust healthcare system.

As a Patient Navigator, Andi works directly with cancer patients, especially those feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unheard. He helps them understand their diagnosis, build trust in their care journey, and reclaims a sense of agency in a system that can feel cold and disoriented.

He’s also an active civic voice – a former blood donor, volunteer, and relentless advocate for access to care, equality, and empathy in medicine. Although no longer eligible to donate blood himself, he remains actively involved in blood donation campaigns, encouraging others to step up and save lives.

Whether organizing support for social causes, responding to humanitarian crises like the Ukrainian refugee situation, or simply sitting down for a coffee with a newly diagnosed patient, Andi brings his signature blend of honesty, warmth, and often ironic humor.

He shares his personal story, reflections, and raw experiences on a blog that weaves together cancer, society, healthcare gaps, and resilience – always with the hope that no one should feel alone in facing a life-changing diagnosis.

At DiCE, Andi continues to bring the voice of Romanian patients to the European stage, helping to shape policies and projects that matter. His work is driven by one simple belief: patients deserve not just treatment, but understanding, dignity, and the right to be heard.