History
Highlights - September / October
- International Editorial Board of the month
My scientific journey in breast cancer has spanned almost four decades, during a period of extraordinary transformation in our understanding and treatment of the disease. I have had the privilege not simply of witnessing that transformation, but of participating in it—and, in some areas, helping to shape it.
I entered the field at a time when breast cancer surgery was still strongly influenced by the belief that more extensive local treatment offered the greatest chance of cure. Early in my career, I was fortunate to work with Bernard Fisher, whose scientific vision profoundly influenced the way we came to think about breast cancer. He taught an entire generation that progress requires us to challenge accepted dogma, ask difficult questions, and—most importantly—allow evidence rather than tradition to guide treatment.
That philosophy became a foundation of my career.
Through my nearly three decades of leadership within the NSABP and subsequently NRG Oncology, much of my research has focused on understanding the relationship between systemic therapy, tumor biology, and locoregional treatment. I have been particularly interested in neoadjuvant systemic therapy—not simply as a way to shrink tumors, but as a powerful scientific platform for understanding treatment response and using that response to individualize subsequent therapy.
My work has contributed to the evolution of breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant therapy, to our understanding of the prognostic importance of pathologic response, and to the progressive de-escalation of axillary surgery. More recently, my efforts have focused on defining when regional nodal irradiation or other locoregional treatments can safely be omitted in patients who respond exceptionally well to systemic therapy. These questions reflect a principle that has increasingly guided my work: the goal of modern cancer treatment should not simply be to cure more patients, but to cure them with the least possible physical and emotional cost.
Over the years, I have authored or co-authored hundreds of scientific publications and have had the opportunity to collaborate with remarkable investigators across surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, imaging, and basic science. Yet the accomplishment I value most is being part of a collaborative clinical-trials enterprise capable of asking questions that no individual investigator or institution could answer alone.
What has driven me throughout this journey is curiosity, but also responsibility. Every operation we perform and every treatment we recommend has consequences that a patient may carry for the rest of her life. If science can show us that an intervention is unnecessary, then avoiding that intervention is itself an important therapeutic advance.
Breast cancer research has taught me that progress rarely occurs through a single dramatic discovery. It comes through decades of carefully designed trials, collaboration, questioning, and the willingness to change our practice when the evidence tells us to do so.
My journey has therefore been one of continual evolution—from radical to rational, from anatomy toward biology, and increasingly from uniform treatment toward individualized care. After more than three decades, I remain motivated by the same question that first drew me to clinical research: Can we do better for the next woman who walks through our door?
Eleftherios P. Mamounas, MD, MPH, FACS
- News
A Legacy Written in Science: Professor Ruffo de Freitas Junior and the History of Mastology
Scientific journals are far more than repositories of knowledge. Over time, they become witnesses to the evolution of a field, recording not only the questions researchers have sought to answer but also changes in clinical practice, institutions, and the specialty itself. In mastology, few researchers have been as closely connected to this evolution as Professor Ruffo de Freitas Junior.
By the numbers, Professor Ruffo is the most prolific author in the journal’s history, with 46 published articles—31 in Revista Brasileira de Mastologia and 15 in Mastology. Yet these figures signify more than an extensive body of scientific work: in many respects, his career mirrors the development of modern mastology in Brazil.
His first article in the journal appeared in 1996, when it was still titled Revista Brasileira de Mastologia. Entitled “Fine-needle aspiration of breast lesions using a self-vacuum device,” the study examined the use of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of breast lesions. Although modest in format, it assumes considerable symbolic importance in retrospect: that first paper marked the beginning of a scientific journey spanning three decades.
In the years that followed, his research addressed central issues in breast care, including diagnostic imaging, fine-needle aspiration, follow-up, and the ultrasonographic features of breast nodules. His 2001 study of factors associated with inadequate specimens after fine-needle aspiration illustrates his sustained commitment to improving diagnostic practice.
Over time, his studies came to encompass the clinical, surgical, epidemiological, and psychosocial dimensions of breast cancer. Research on mammographic screening, mammography quality, regional disparities in mortality, treatment patterns in the public health system, body image, lymphedema, and quality of life reflects a comprehensive view of care. His 2014 study of differences in breast cancer mortality between urban centers and rural areas in Brazil is particularly representative of this perspective, linking breast cancer outcomes to the social and geographical context in which care is delivered.
Education is another important thread running through his career. In 2017, together with collaborators—including the author of this tribute, then a medical student—he published “Undergraduate research: the experience of the Breast Disease Academic League at the Federal University of Goiás,” highlighting the connection between medical education and research. During the same period, his studies of oncoplastic surgery training in Brazil reinforced the idea that professional education could itself be a subject of scientific inquiry.
His more recent work retains this breadth, addressing the quality of information in cancer registries, the quality of screening and diagnosis, access to treatment in the public health system, and multiple aspects of breast surgery. In 2026, he became a coauthor of “Thirty-five years of publications: from Revista Brasileira de Mastologia to Mastology,” an article devoted to the journal’s own scientific trajectory. Few researchers could embody this history so directly: his scholarly output is interwoven with the journal’s evolution.
For me, this trajectory also carries deep personal meaning. I had the privilege of being his student and later of coauthoring several scientific papers with him, including many published in this journal. I am profoundly grateful for his mentorship, the opportunities he provided, and the scientific example he has set throughout this journey.
Looking across his 46 articles in the journal, what matters more than their number is the breadth of the questions they sought to answer. Diagnosis, surgery, screening, epidemiology, quality of care, and professional education together form a body of work that has accompanied the transformation of Brazilian mastology.
Professor Ruffo de Freitas Junior’s name has thus become part of the history of Mastology—not only because of the number of articles he has published, but also because of the continuity of a scientific career that, for nearly three decades, has followed the evolution of the specialty and helped shape its scientific memory. This tribute therefore celebrates not merely a prolific author, but a career devoted to research, education, and the advancement of care for women with breast conditions.
Leonardo Ribeiro Soares
Professor and Research Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás.
- Article
The Most-Cited Article in Mastology
Renan Gomes do Nascimento, the lead author of “Histological and molecular classification of breast cancer: what do we know?”, together with co-author Kaléu Mormino Otoni, produced a comprehensive review that has become the most-cited article published in Mastology. This achievement highlights the authors’ valuable contribution to understanding the biological complexity and clinical diversity of breast cancer.
Published in 2020, the article provides a broad overview of the main histological and molecular classifications of the disease. The authors discuss invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, which accounts for most diagnoses, as well as less frequent histological types, including tubular, mucinous, medullary, metaplastic, apocrine, cribriform, neuroendocrine, and lobular carcinomas. This morphological diversity reinforces that breast cancer is not a single disease, but rather a heterogeneous group of tumors with distinct clinical behavior, prognosis, and therapeutic response.
Regarding molecular classification, the review examines the four major subtypes incorporated into clinical practice: luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer. The integration of hormone receptor, HER2, and Ki-67 status provides a practical approximation of intrinsic molecular subtypes, supporting prognostic assessment and systemic treatment selection. The article also addresses multigene assays, such as Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, and PAM50, which can refine recurrence-risk estimates and contribute to more individualized chemotherapy decisions.
Another important aspect is the discussion of intratumoral heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, and the limitations of conventional classification systems. These topics remain central to contemporary oncology because they help explain why apparently similar tumors may follow markedly different clinical courses and respond differently to treatment.
The high number of citations received by this review reflects its value as a reference for researchers, pathologists, breast surgeons, oncologists, and students. By presenting fundamental concepts in a clear and integrated manner, the authors helped strengthen the connection between pathological classification, tumor biology, and precision medicine.
Mastology is pleased to recognize this outstanding contribution, which has increased the visibility of the research published by the journal and remains highly relevant to breast cancer diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and personalized treatment.
DOI: 10.29289/25945394202020200024
- Methodological Article
Plagiarism in Scientific Publications
Lead author: Gil Facina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29289/25945394202020200054
Gil Facina, the lead author, together with Francisco Pimentel Cavalcante, Régis Resende Paulinelli, and René Aloisio da Costa Vieira, addresses one of the most important—and often insufficiently discussed—issues in academic publishing: plagiarism and its consequences for scientific integrity. Published in Mastology, the methodological article “Plagiarism in Scientific Publications” provides practical guidance for researchers, reviewers, and editors involved in preparing and evaluating scientific manuscripts.
The authors explain that plagiarism extends beyond the literal copying of sentences. It may involve the inappropriate reproduction of content, unauthorized use of data, figures or images, appropriation of concepts and research methods, and reuse of previously published material by the same authors, commonly described as self-plagiarism. Although these practices differ in form and severity, all may compromise the originality, reliability, and credibility of scientific communication.
A particularly relevant contribution of the article is its emphasis on prevention. The authors recommend conducting a comprehensive literature review before beginning the manuscript, organizing references according to the concepts that will be discussed, and writing from an understanding of the evidence rather than merely reproducing the wording of previous publications. Priority should be given to recent original studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Careful reading, repeated revision, and participation of all coauthors in reviewing the final text are also essential measures.
The article additionally discusses similarity-detection software, including iThenticate and other available platforms. These tools can identify textual overlap and generate similarity percentages, but their results require critical interpretation. A similarity score alone does not establish plagiarism because references, methodological expressions, and commonly used terminology may legitimately increase the percentage. Editors and reviewers must therefore examine the origin, extent, and context of each identified similarity. Conversely, a low score does not exclude the inappropriate appropriation of ideas or concepts.
This methodological discussion remains highly relevant in an era of increasing publication pressure and rapid production of scientific content. Education, institutional policies, transparent authorship practices, and responsible editorial assessment are central to preventing misconduct.
Ultimately, scientific integrity depends not only on producing valid data but also on communicating them honestly and originally. By offering clear concepts and practical preventive strategies, Gil Facina and colleagues provide a valuable educational resource for strengthening trust among authors, journals, and the scientific community.
- Reviewer
It has been many years since I first met Daniel Buttros. He was still very young and completing his medical residency in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), where I served as one of his mentors. Over the years, the relationship between mentor and resident grew into a genuine, brotherly friendship.
From the outset, Daniel stood out not only for his dedication to study and science, but above all for the humane, sensitive, and compassionate way in which he cared for his patients. Indeed, this natural ability to connect with others through respect and empathy seems to be a hallmark of the Buttros family.
Daniel completed his specialist training in breast medicine and all of his postgraduate education at UNESP, building an admirable career as a physician, researcher, and educator. Today, he is a faculty member in the university's graduate program and has developed a distinctive calling within breast medicine: advancing comprehensive care for women with breast cancer, with attention to dimensions that extend far beyond the treatment of the disease itself.
His research addresses highly relevant topics, including cardiovascular health, quality of life, physical activity, and spirituality. Taken together, these studies reflect his conviction that caring for a woman with breast cancer means seeing her as a whole person and recognizing her physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Today, Daniel is a leading figure in breast medicine in the field of comprehensive, compassionate care. I often say that he has placed his gifts at the service of others—and perhaps no words better capture the essence of his journey.
In addition to being a physician, researcher, and educator, Daniel has become an influential science communicator on social media. He has a remarkable ability to translate complex scientific subjects, always grounded in the best available evidence, into language that is clear, warm, and thoughtful. In doing so, he offers women not only reliable information, but also reassurance and hope.
There is another detail that speaks volumes about the way Daniel understands and practices medicine. He often mentions that he keeps on his desk a photograph of the team from CAM—the Laurival Antônio de Luca Center for Breast Assessment in Botucatu. It is far more than a cherished keepsake. The photograph represents his roots and serves both as a reminder and a compass, keeping alive the values that guide his work: an ethical, responsible, and profoundly humane approach to breast medicine.
Daniel has grown immensely as a scientist, while also embracing an equally important role: bringing breast medicine closer to women and to society. Through his work, he shows that our specialty is concerned not only with diagnosing and treating disease, but with caring for women throughout every stage of their journey.
His career brings together knowledge, sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to people. I am deeply proud to have contributed to his training and, above all, to be able to call him my friend.
Prof. Eduardo Carvalho Pessoa, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP)
Faculty Member, Graduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP
President, Brazilian Society of Mastology – São Paulo Regional Chapter (2023–2025)
Chair, National Commission on Breast Imaging, FEBRASGO
Chair, National TEMA Examination Commission (2025–2028)
Highlights - July / August
- Article
Two-stage risk-reducing breast surgery with a synthetic matrix: a case report
Amanda de Queiroz Germano et al. Two-stage risk-reducing breast surgery with a synthetic matrix: a case report. Mastology. 2026;36:e20260012. https://doi.org/10.29289/2594539420260012
As indications for risk-reducing mastectomy continue to expand among women with hereditary cancer syndromes, reconstructive strategies that maintain oncologic safety while improving aesthetic outcomes have become increasingly relevant.
This case report presents an innovative staged approach for patients with large, ptotic breasts, a population in whom nipple-sparing mastectomy is often technically challenging and associated with higher complication rates.
By describing the rationale, technical considerations, and early clinical outcomes of this procedure, the authors provide practical insights into an area in which evidence remains limited. The report emphasizes the importance of individualized surgical decision-making in hereditary breast cancer and supports further investigation of staged reconstructive approaches through larger prospective studies.
- Methodological Article
How to write a case report: from clinical observation to scientific report
Bessa JF. How to write a case report: from clinical observation to scientific report. Mastology. 2026;35. https://doi.org/10.29289/2594539420250060
As clinicians, we are trained to recognize unusual cases. As researchers, however, we must learn how to transform these clinical observations into scientific evidence.
In this methodological article, I explain how a well-written case report should go beyond the description of a rare event. It should convey a clear clinical message, follow a logical structure, and provide sufficient transparency for readers to critically interpret the case.
Using the CARE Guidelines as a framework, I review the essential components of a high-quality case report and adapt these recommendations to the field of mastology, illustrating them with practical examples from the literature.
Although case reports occupy the lowest level in the hierarchy of evidence, they remain invaluable for generating hypotheses, describing innovative surgical techniques, reporting unexpected outcomes, and sharing experiences involving rare clinical scenarios.
My goal is to encourage authors, particularly early-career researchers, to view scientific writing not merely as an exercise in publication, but as an opportunity to transform clinical experience into scientific knowledge.
- International Editorial Board of the month
Maria João Cardoso, MD, PhD
Breast Surgeon
Breast Cancer Research Program Director
Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon Portugal
Lisbon University Faculty of Medicine
ESO and ESMO Faculty member
MAMA HELP PRESIDENT (support association for Breast Cancer Patients)
H-index 53
My professional journey has always been guided by a simple but powerful question: how can we improve not only survival, but also the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer?
As a breast surgeon at the Champalimaud Foundation and an academic at the University of Lisbon, I have dedicated my career to integrating science, innovation, and compassion into breast cancer care. Working closely with patients every day continually reminds me that successful treatment extends beyond oncological outcomes. It includes physical wellbeing, emotional recovery, body image, and helping women regain confidence and quality of life after treatment.
My research has therefore focused on understanding outcomes that matter most to patients and on developing tools that support more personalized and informed care. Earlier in my career, this included work on objective evaluation of aesthetic outcomes after breast cancer treatment, leading to the development of the BCCT.core software, that allows the objective measurement of the aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer locoregional treatment.
More recently, my focus has shifted toward patient-centered innovation and the use of technology to empower women in their treatment journey.
One of the most inspiring initiatives I have had the privilege to lead is CINDERELLA a Horizon Europe collaborative project developed to improve communication and shared decision-making in breast cancer care. Through digital tools, artificial intelligence, and personalized educational resources, CINDERELLA seeks to help women better understand their treatment options, set realistic expectations, and actively participate in decisions about their care.
I strongly believe that the future of breast cancer treatment lies not only in medical advances, but also in listening to patients, understanding their priorities, and ensuring that innovation translates into better, more meaningful lives for every woman we care for.
Lisbon, 25 June 2026
Highlights - May / June
- News
Emeritus Editor-in-Chief
Mastology celebrates 35 years of activity. In 2026, we began a new editorial cycle, restructuring the journal’s main editorial board with the inclusion of the Editor-in-Chief Emeritus.
Professor Alfredo was unanimously selected in recognition of his scientific achievements and his outstanding contributions to the editorial development of both the journal and the field of mastology.
Colleagues who have worked closely with him summarize this contribution.
René Aloisio da Costa Vieira
Editor-in-Chief
Professor Alfredo Barros: An Architect of Brazilian Mastology
Professor Alfredo Carlos Simões Dornellas de Barros is one of the most influential figures in Brazilian Mastology. A physician, educator, researcher, and institutional leader, his career is closely intertwined with the history of the speciality in Brazil, marked by decisive contributions over several decades.
From his undergraduate years at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP), he stood out for his academic excellence and his appreciation for human relationships, cultivating lasting friendships with classmates who would become national leaders in their fields, including José Roberto Filassi, Flávio Takaoka, and Nilson Roberto de Melo. This deep regard for people has always been a defining trait of his personal and professional life.
After his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital das Clínicas of USP, he earned his doctoral degree, became an Associate Professor at FMUSP, and later a Full Professor at the University of Santo Amaro School of Medicine (UNISA). He supervised graduate students, conducted research that expanded knowledge of breast diseases, and established an Experimental Pathophysiology Laboratory.
His pioneering contributions include the introduction in Brazil of sentinel lymph node biopsy and the ROLL technique (Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization), as well as studies that established the importance of adequate surgical margins in breast-conserving treatment for breast cancer.
Institutionally, he served as President of the Brazilian Society of Mastology, leading the acquisition of the Society’s permanent headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. He worked alongside the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) and the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) to achieve official recognition of Mastology as a medical speciality, and served as President of the Latin American Federation of Mastology.
As the founder of the Medical Residency Program in Mastology in Brazil, his influence extended far beyond technical knowledge. I (GN) had the privilege of being one of his trainees and witnessing that, beyond teaching surgery and clinical management, he imparted values. He emphasized professional conduct, ethical behavior, empathy, and compassionate patient care. For him, treating a patient meant seeing her as a whole person, respecting her fears, expectations, and life story.
His legacy lives in the institutions he helped build, the scientific advances he promoted, and above all, in the physicians he shaped. Professor Alfredo Barros represents a generation of mentors who understood that true medical excellence arises from the union of knowledge, character, and unconditional respect for patients.
He published 217 scientific articles, associated with H-factor H10 at Web-of-Science. In addition, he was twice Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Brasileira de Mastologia (1995-1998 and 2005-2007), now Mastology. These facts qualified him to become Emeritus Editor-in-Chief and we are celebrating it.
José Roberto Filassi
Head of the Mastology Division – Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology FMUSP/ICESP
Guilherme Novita
President of the Brazilian Society of Mastology (2026-2028)
- Article
Original Article 500
Longitudinal analysis of factors influencing return to work after breast cancer treatment among public employees in São Paulo
Marcelo Antonini; corresponding Author
The return to work is a complex and multifactorial issue, as it involves situations related to the patient, the disease, and the work environment. Few national studies have published experiences related to this matter. These studies were generally conducted in Public Hospitals with a population linked to the SUS (Unified Health System).
Fortunately, we are entering our 36th year of the journal. Likewise, we have reached 500 original articles with this article.
This article is a gift to our readers, given its national and global uniqueness. It highlights the factors associated with the return to work in women with breast cancer who work for the State Government of São Paulo. These patients are civil servants with stable jobs, a fact that leads to a high rate of return, as well as presenting facilitators for their return and, eventually, a change of role.
Of the 300 women evaluated, the return to work improved their quality of life, a fact that reinforces the need for the reintegration of these patients after breast cancer.
The main author is Marcelo Antonini, Mastologist, MD, PhD. He works at “Hospital do Servidor Publico Estadual do Estado de São Paulo”, a place that provided the patients for the study. He has 73 publications, having a H-factor 10 at Google Scholar and H7 at Web-of-Science. Now he is a Mastology Co-editor.
Congratulations to the authors. This article is a gift (https://mastology.org/journal/article/view/1918) to our readers.
To the readers, when discussing the topic of return to work, this should be a reference article.
René Aloisio da Costa Vieira
Editor-in-Chief Mastology
- Reviewer
Best “Mastology” reviewer: 2023-2025 triennium.
We are initiating a series dedicated to highlighting outstanding researchers and contributors to journal Mastology. In this context, we sought to identify the best peer reviewer of the past triennium. The evaluation was based on reviewer acceptance rate, number of completed reviews, and turnaround time.
Among all reviewers, mastologist André Mattar distinguished himself through his exceptional commitment and performance. It is therefore with great recognition that we present him as the Best Reviewer of the Triennium in this edition of Highlights.
René Aloisio da Costa Vieira
Editor-in-Chief Mastology
André Mattar
I first met André Mattar at the beginning of my career as a Professor in the Mastology Discipline at UNIFESP, where I was responsible for the resident physicians in the Department of Gynecology. During the annual evaluation exam preparation, I noticed that André consistently achieved the highest scores. As a result, the residents who demonstrated the greatest academic potential and interest in advancing their research skills were invited to join the postgraduate program in different areas of Gynecology. I proposed that André enter the Postgraduate Program in Mastology, incorporating him into my research group.
I held the position of Director of Pérola Byington Hospital, which I held for 17 years observing André’s progress. Thus, he quickly defended his doctoral thesis, published it with distinction in an internationally recognized journal. He actively participated, together with our colleague Jorge Shida, in the implementation of CARE (Center for Resolutive Care in Mastology), aiming to ensure access, comprehensiveness, and equity for patients within the Brazilian Public Health System.
He subsequently assumed leadership roles in the Diagnostic Sectors (non-palpable lesion diagnosis) and in the implementation of stereotactic mammotomy, while also structuring the Clinical Oncology Sector through international research protocols. He contributed significantly to the training of more than 100 Mastologists currently practicing throughout Brazil. Now he is the Head of Mastology Division – Hospital da Mulher (past Pérola Byington Hospital).
Recent international publications involving data from the Women’s Health Reference Center have highlighted the outstanding results achieved through collaborative work with fellow Mastologists.
His remarkable participation in the São Paulo and Brazilian Societies of Mastology, along with his performance in the Brazilian Journal of Mastology, reflects his moral integrity, responsibility, and unwavering commitment to improving humanized care, teaching, and research in Brazilian Mastology.”
Luiz Henrique Gebrim
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Former Director or Pérola Byington Hospital
- International Editorial Board
Maria João Cardoso, MD, PhD
Breast Surgeon
Breast Cancer Research Program Director
Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon Portugal
Lisbon University Faculty of Medicine
ESO and ESMO Faculty member
MAMA HELP PRESIDENT (support association for Breast Cancer Patients)
H-index 53
My professional journey has always been guided by a simple but powerful question: how can we improve not only survival, but also the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer?
As a breast surgeon at the Champalimaud Foundation and an academic at the University of Lisbon, I have dedicated my career to integrating science, innovation, and compassion into breast cancer care. Working closely with patients every day continually reminds me that successful treatment extends beyond oncological outcomes. It includes physical wellbeing, emotional recovery, body image, and helping women regain confidence and quality of life after treatment.
My research has therefore focused on understanding outcomes that matter most to patients and on developing tools that support more personalized and informed care. Earlier in my career, this included work on objective evaluation of aesthetic outcomes after breast cancer treatment, leading to the development of the BCCT.core software, that allows the objective measurement of the aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer locoregional treatment.
More recently, my focus has shifted toward patient-centered innovation and the use of technology to empower women in their treatment journey.
One of the most inspiring initiatives I have had the privilege to lead is CINDERELLA a Horizon Europe collaborative project developed to improve communication and shared decision-making in breast cancer care. Through digital tools, artificial intelligence, and personalized educational resources, CINDERELLA seeks to help women better understand their treatment options, set realistic expectations, and actively participate in decisions about their care.
I strongly believe that the future of breast cancer treatment lies not only in medical advances, but also in listening to patients, understanding their priorities, and ensuring that innovation translates into better, more meaningful lives for every woman we care for.
Lisbon, 25 June 2026
