Umberto Veronesi
Encyclopedia
Umberto Veronesi Knight Grand Cross
OMRI
(born November 29, 1925) is an Italian surgeon
and oncologist
, internationally known for his contributions on prevention and treatment of breast cancer
throughout a career spanning over fifty years. He heads Italy's Nuclear Safety Agency.
. He obtained his degree in medicine
from the University of Milan
in 1950, and soon decided to dedicate his professional activity to the study and treatment of cancer
s; after brief periods in England
and France
, he joined the Italian Cancer Institute in Milan as a volunteer.
Veronesi is known as the founder of breast-conserving surgery
in breast cancer
treatment
with the invention of the technique of quadrantectomy
which challenged the idea, then dominating
among surgeons, that cancers could be treated only with aggressive surgery; since then, he
has supported and promoted scientific research aimed to improve conservative surgical techniques.
Following this path, he improved sentinel lymph node
biopsy
and made possible to avoid axillary dissection
in breast cancer with clinically negative lymph node
s.
He also contributed to breast cancer prevention, conducting studies on tamoxifen
and retinoid
s
and verifying their capabilities to prevent the formation of carcinoma
.
He has always been an activist in many anti-tobacco
campaigns.
In 1994 he founded the European Institute of Oncology
, which he still directs.
On 2011 he has been appointed as President of Scientific Committee of the Italy-USA Foundation
.
issues, in interviews, televised debates and in his books.
Veronesi identifies himself as an atheist
, not believing in any deity
and in any form
of afterlife
; he claims that human beings should not consider death
a terrifying moment
but rather accept it as a biological necessity.
He supports active euthanasia
, affirming the right of any individual to freely dispose of his life when it becomes unbearable due to suffering, pain or loss of dignity.
He advocates the necessity to regulate euthanasia at a national level, citing Dutch legislation
as a good starting point; he is currently promoting a campaign for the introduction of living will
as a legally binding agreement between the doctor
and the incapacitated patient
.
Veronesi supports genetically modified organism
s as a mean to produce food with higher nutrition
al capabilities and deprived of potentially carcinogen
ic substance; he criticized the current dominating opposition to GMOs as due to scarce knowledge of science.
Veronesi is an ethical vegetarian.
as «the only sensible way to deal with garbage disposal», and being «not dangerous for public health», during the TV show "Che tempo che fa" on the 20 Jan 2008.
Some researchers such as Antonietta Gatti or Stefano Montanari dispute these statements,.
Moreover, the fact that among the companies that fund the "Umberto Veronesi Foundation" there are the Veolia and the ACEA, that produce and manage incinerators as a business, creates a conflict of interest
s, and is a possible bias for these Veronesi's statements.
Knight Grand Cross
Knight Grand Cross is the most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are obsolete. The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
OMRI
Omri
Omri was a king of Israel, successful military campaigner and first in the line of Omride kings that included Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram.He was "commander of the army" of king Elah when Zimri murdered Elah and made himself king. Instead, the troops at Gibbethon chose Omri as king, and he led them to...
(born November 29, 1925) is an Italian surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and oncologist
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
, internationally known for his contributions on prevention and treatment of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
throughout a career spanning over fifty years. He heads Italy's Nuclear Safety Agency.
Scientific career
Veronesi was born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. He obtained his degree in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
from the University of Milan
University of Milan
The University of Milan is a higher education institution in Milan, Italy. It is one of the largest universities in Europe, with about 62,801 students, a teaching and research staff of 2,455 and a non-teaching staff of 2,200....
in 1950, and soon decided to dedicate his professional activity to the study and treatment of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
s; after brief periods in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he joined the Italian Cancer Institute in Milan as a volunteer.
Veronesi is known as the founder of breast-conserving surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
treatment
with the invention of the technique of quadrantectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
which challenged the idea, then dominating
among surgeons, that cancers could be treated only with aggressive surgery; since then, he
has supported and promoted scientific research aimed to improve conservative surgical techniques.
Following this path, he improved sentinel lymph node
Sentinel lymph node
The sentinel lymph node is the hypothetical first lymph node or group of nodes reached by metastasizing cancer cells from a primary tumor.-Physiology:...
biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...
and made possible to avoid axillary dissection
in breast cancer with clinically negative lymph node
Lymph node
A lymph node is a small ball or an oval-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely throughout the body including the armpit and stomach/gut and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are garrisons of B, T, and other immune cells. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as...
s.
He also contributed to breast cancer prevention, conducting studies on tamoxifen
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor in breast tissue via its active metabolite, hydroxytamoxifen. In other tissues such as the endometrium, it behaves as an agonist, hence tamoxifen may be characterized as a mixed agonist/antagonist...
and retinoid
Retinoid
The retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A. Retinoids are used in medicine, primarily due to the way they regulate epithelial cell growth....
s
and verifying their capabilities to prevent the formation of carcinoma
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
.
He has always been an activist in many anti-tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
campaigns.
In 1994 he founded the European Institute of Oncology
European Institute of Oncology
The European Institute of Oncology is a non-profit comprehensive cancer centre located in Milan, Italy that is active in three areas:*Clinic*Research*Training...
, which he still directs.
On 2011 he has been appointed as President of Scientific Committee of the Italy-USA Foundation
Italy-USA Foundation
Italy–USA Foundation was established to promote the friendship between Italians and Americans plus American culture in Italy. The foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rome, Italy...
.
Political career
- 1993 member of the national Commission against cancer.
- 1998 member of the national Commission for the evaluation of "Di Bella therapy" against cancer.
- 2000-2001 Minister of Health under the Amato II Cabinet.
- On the 25th of April 2000 he has been appointed by the Amato II CabinetAmato II CabinetThe Amato II Cabinet was the 56th cabinet of the Italian Republic, the fourth and last cabinet of the XIII Legislature. It held office from 25 April 2000 to 11 June 2001, a total of 412 days, or 1 year, 1 month and 17 days.Composition of the government:...
as the Ministry of Health up to the 11th June 2001. He's remembered for a peculiar anti-smoking law in public places which is still observed.- 2008 Main candidate in Milan of the Democrate Party (Veltroni) to the Italian Senate.
- 2010 Chairman of Italy's Nuclear Safety Agency.
Ethical views
Over the years, Veronesi has public expressed his views on several ethicalEthics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
issues, in interviews, televised debates and in his books.
Veronesi identifies himself as an atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, not believing in any deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
and in any form
of afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
; he claims that human beings should not consider death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
a terrifying moment
but rather accept it as a biological necessity.
He supports active euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, affirming the right of any individual to freely dispose of his life when it becomes unbearable due to suffering, pain or loss of dignity.
He advocates the necessity to regulate euthanasia at a national level, citing Dutch legislation
Euthanasia in the Netherlands
Euthanasia in the Netherlands is regulated by the "Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act" from 2002. It states that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not punishable if the attending physician acts in accordance with criteria of due care...
as a good starting point; he is currently promoting a campaign for the introduction of living will
Living will
An advance health care directive, also known as living will, personal directive, advance directive, or advance decision, are instructions given by individuals specifying what actions should be taken for their health in the event that they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or...
as a legally binding agreement between the doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and the incapacitated patient
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
.
Veronesi supports genetically modified organism
Genetically modified organism
A genetically modified organism or genetically engineered organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one...
s as a mean to produce food with higher nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
al capabilities and deprived of potentially carcinogen
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes...
ic substance; he criticized the current dominating opposition to GMOs as due to scarce knowledge of science.
Veronesi is an ethical vegetarian.
Controversy
Veronesi has made public statements in favor of incineratorsIncineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
as «the only sensible way to deal with garbage disposal», and being «not dangerous for public health», during the TV show "Che tempo che fa" on the 20 Jan 2008.
Some researchers such as Antonietta Gatti or Stefano Montanari dispute these statements,.
Moreover, the fact that among the companies that fund the "Umberto Veronesi Foundation" there are the Veolia and the ACEA, that produce and manage incinerators as a business, creates a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
s, and is a possible bias for these Veronesi's statements.