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