Voices

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou: Gianluca Franceschini’s Six-Episode Journey Through Breast Cancer Surgery

Collage photo of Zacharoula Sidiropoulou and Gianluca Franceschini

Aug 30, 2025, 20:00

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou: Gianluca Franceschini’s Six-Episode Journey Through Breast Cancer Surgery

Zacharoula Sidiropoulou, Senior Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist at Hospital São Francisco Xavier, shared a post by Gianluca Franceschini, Professor (Full) at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, adding:

“I was a young resident when I discovered the world of breast cancer surgery, it was the year 2005. I was fascinated by the complexity of multidisciplinary treatment, teamwork and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Years later, I know that I was not the only one to engage in battles against a world that has always looked at breast surgery through the lens of the least risk and the easiest way.

With deep pride I present here, in six episodes, the journey of a colleague, Gianluca Franceschini, in a large house called Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, through the years.
I have already covered some of these stages too, I hope the next ones await me. It really deserves to be read.

With love for the country (Italy) and the Università Politecnica delle Marche that forged me as a doctor, with love and pride for the country (Spain) and the Universitat de Barcelona that formed me in the academic path of this superspecialty that is Senology, with even greater love and dedication to the country (Portugal), the ULS Lisboa Ocidental and Universidade Nova de Lisboa that allowed me to realize what constitutes the true passion of my life, and with immense pride in the country (Greece) where I was born and which shaped the woman I am today.”

Quoting Gianluca Franceschini‘s post:

“Inside the Integrated Breast Center of the Gemelli Polyclinic: our daily work, together!

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to talk about our Center in an interview, published here.

I really appreciated the attention received. But today I feel the need to start telling it in the first person as well.

I have been working in the Integrated Breast Center of the Gemelli Polyclinic since its inception.
From 1 November 2024 I have the honour and privilege of being its Director.

The Integrated Breast Center was born from a clear idea: to offer women a complete, dedicated and integrated path in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Professionals from many disciplines work together here, dedicated to senology. It’s not just a team. It is a united, cohesive group that confronts itself every day, case by case, person by person.

Our work is not limited to care. We accompany patients throughout the process, even in the most difficult moments, with attention to relationships, communication and respect for each person’s emotions.

In the next posts I will try to tell you something more. I will do it without fuss but with the desire to share the value that I see taking shape every day:
thanks to an extraordinary team and to meet the patients who rely on us

Because care for us is a shared responsibility.”