Virtus Bologna, Polonara tells how he discovered the tumor

Bologna, 1 December 2023 – After returning to training with his teammates on Tuesday 28 November, Achilles Polonara he decided to tell his story - for the first time after the discovery of his illness - in the podcast 'Non solo Virtus', through which he retraced his last, complicated weeks.

“I'm fine, but it's been a tough period – says Polonara himself, in a chat lasting over twenty-five minutes which can be viewed on all the major platforms – two months after the operation I can say I'm happy and ready to return”.

A feeling that is also linked to the return to the field for training: "Before training the other day I was very excited: I thought worse, given the two months without touching the ball".

Then, the story of the discovery of the disease: “I discovered the tumor thanks to a doping control, arrived after the Super Cup final in Brescia. I received an email on October 6th from the Federal Anti-Doping Prosecutor's Office: an anomalous value, I had to prove within two weeks whether or not that value came from my body. I was calm."

“After contacting the Virtus doctor, Rizzo, I came across an article about Francesco Acerbi, who discovered the disease in the same way”, continues Polonara, who then adds: “Rizzo himself contacted me telling me that we had to go to Sant' Orsola to take an exam. The doctors noticed the tumor with the ultrasound machine, immediately reassuring me. The worst thing was waiting for the results of the CT scan after the operation." And now? “Now I hope that the most difficult moment is now behind us.”

The sensations, from the outside, are varied: “Witnessing a match of my teammates from outside is difficult, but health comes first. I had never had a health problem, it took me by surprise."

Then the support and closeness of the family are fundamental: “They have always been very positive, it is crucial to be optimistic in cases like this. On social media I have been contacted by guys who have had similar problems, reassuring me that everything would go back to how it was before. Others however have decided to undergo the same checks as me, discovering problems similar to mine."