The Centrality of Empathy in Modern Cancer Treatment
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The delivery of high-quality healthcare extends far beyond accurate diagnoses and effective therapies.A crucial component of the treatment journey lies in attentive listening, understanding a patient’s unique needs, and fostering an authentic doctor-patient relationship. As technology advances and clinical pathways become increasingly complex,the human dimension of medicine is gaining renewed importance,not as an add-on,but as a foundational element of thorough care.
Laudato Medico Young: Cultivating Empathetic Physicians
Recognizing this need,Europa Donna,a European movement dedicated to women’s rights in cancer prevention and treatment,launched Laudato Medico Young in 2024. Developed in collaboration with the University of Milan, this training program aims to equip young medical professionals with the tools to enhance thier empathy, listening skills, and awareness within the care relationship.The program specifically targets doctors under 40 across various disciplines involved in the breast cancer diagnostic and therapeutic process.
Multidisciplinary collaboration for Holistic Care
A key innovation of Laudato medico Young is its focus on bringing together young specialists from diverse fields – radio-oncology, breast radiology, and breast surgery. This reflects the inherently multidisciplinary nature of breast cancer treatment, where seamless interaction and collaboration between professionals are essential.Stefano Pergolizzi, president of AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology), emphasizes that “Working in a multidisciplinary way means ensuring complete care, in which skills are integrated and the person being treated is never seen in watertight compartments.” [1] this approach fosters a team vision crucial for delivering quality, continuous, and patient-centered care.
The program’s curriculum includes direct interaction with patients,allowing young doctors to gain firsthand insight into the human impact of clinical decisions and the profound influence of communication on a patient’s perception of their illness,trust in treatment,and overall quality of life. Roberta Grassi, coordinator of AIRO, notes that this participation reinforces the importance of the doctor-patient relationship as a core component of the treatment path.
Recognizing Compassionate Care: The Laudato Medico UV Award
In late November, Europa Donna Italia celebrated the eighth edition of the “Laudato Medico UV 2025” award at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan. Dedicated to the memory of professor Umberto veronesi, a pioneer in breast cancer treatment, the award honors physicians nominated by patients for demonstrating exceptional empathy, listening skills, and a commitment to relationship-based medicine. [1]
The Laudato Medico UV award recognizes doctors in four key disciplines: radiology, surgery, oncology, and radiotherapy.Patients submit nominations based on five criteria: availability, empathy, communication skills, listening ability, and support. Nominations are then verified by leading scientific societies, including SIRM (Italian Society of Medical Radiology), ANISC (national Association of Italian Breast Surgeons), AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), and AIRO.
Antonella Ciabattoni, an AIRO radio-oncologist, highlighted the integral role of the patient relationship, stating, “The relationship with the patient is not an accessory aspect, but an integral part of the treatment – as it is indeed precisely in communication, in listening and in the way in which people are accompanied that truly attentive and respectful medicine is built.” [1]
2025 Laudato Medico UV Honorees
- Riccardo Bussone, Director of Breast Surgery, Cottolengo Hospital, Turin
- Carlo Alberto Raucci, Director of the Complex Oncology Structure, Cottolengo Hospital, Turin
- Chiara Massaioli, Medical Director Radiologist UOC Radiodiagnostics, AST of Pesaro-Urbino
- Francesca Arcadipane, Medical Director specialist in Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, turin
Rosanna D’Antona, President of Europa Donna Italia, emphasized the importance of recognizing doctors who prioritize empathy, stating, “Thanks to Laudato Medico we promote a vision of medicine that knows how to listen and welcome the person in their entirety.” [1] Paolo Veronesi echoed this sentiment, reminding us that medicine is fundamentally about relationships, listening, and respecting the individual.
The Laudato Medico UV event was supported by the Municipality of Milan, Fondazione Cariplo, Farmindustria, Novartis, and Pfizer.
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