Fear, Faith, and the Hard Road Back: Achille Polonara Opens Up About Myeloid Leukemia Battle

For a professional athlete, the body is a tool, a machine tuned for peak performance. But for Italian international Achille Polonara, that machine nearly failed him in the most absolute way possible. In a raw and emotional confession, the Dinamo Sassari forward has detailed the psychological toll of his battle with myeloid leukemia, admitting that the diagnosis brought a paralyzing fear of death that no amount of athletic discipline could prepare him for.

“When they told me I had cancer, I got scared,” Polonara shared in a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Basketball Sphere.’ “I felt fear of death.”

The admission comes as Polonara navigates a grueling recovery process that has seen him move from a hospital coma to the Olympic torch, and finally, back onto a basketball court. For the 34-year-old, the journey has been less about the X’s and O’s of the game and more about the basic will to survive.

The Sudden Descent: From the Court to Chemotherapy

The trajectory of Polonara’s life shifted violently on June 2, 2025. Until that point, he had been competing with the Virtus Bolonia. Shortly after that date, the diagnosis of myeloid leukemia—a cancer of the bone marrow—stripped away his identity as a player and replaced it with that of a patient.

The medical onslaught began almost immediately. Polonara underwent initial rounds of chemotherapy in Valencia, Spain, followed by a second cycle in early August. By late September, he reached the most critical stage of his treatment: a bone marrow transplant.

On September 25, 2025, at the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna, Polonara received a transplant from a female donor in the United States who was 90% compatible. While the procedure was intended to be the definitive step toward recovery, it instead triggered a life-threatening complication.

A thrombus—a blood clot—developed, leading to an embolism that plunged the athlete into a 10-day coma in October 2025. During this window, the prognosis turned grim. His wife, Erika Bufano, recalled the devastating odds shared by medical staff: “They told me he had a 90% probability of dying.”

Reflecting on those dark days, Polonara described the experience of the coma as a disorienting void, stating that while he was unconscious, it felt as though he were “in another city.”

The Engine of Recovery: Family and Psychology

When the physical battle became overwhelming, Polonara leaned on a support system that refused to let him surrender. He credits his wife, Erika, as the primary catalyst for his resilience during his lowest moments.

“My wife encouraged me not to give up,” Polonara explained. “She told me: ‘You have to fight for your children, because they cannot accept that their father gives up so soon.'”

The motivation was deeply personal. Polonara’s daughter, Vittoria, bears a name that serves as a constant reminder of his professional journey—named after Vitoria-Gasteiz, the city where he played for Baskonia from 2019 to 2021. The desire to be a father to Vittoria and his other children provided a mental anchor when the medical reality felt insurmountable.

Recognizing that the trauma of a near-death experience cannot be healed with medicine alone, Polonara also sought the help of a psychologist. He noted that without the experience of a serious illness, most people remain unaware of the fragility of life, and professional mental health support was essential in processing the fear and anxiety associated with his diagnosis.

Tiny Victories and New Setbacks

The road back to health has been marked by symbolic milestones. In December 2025, in one of the most poignant moments of his career, Polonara served as one of the first torchbearers for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. For a man who had been in a coma just two months prior, carrying the flame was a public testament to his survival.

By March 30, 2026, Polonara reached a goal he once feared was impossible: returning to a basketball court. He shared images on social media of himself training with a ball at the Dinamo Sassari stadium, working alongside a member of the club’s technical staff. Having finished his contract with Virtus Bolonia in the summer of 2025, he had signed with Sassari—a club where he previously played between 2017 and 2019—despite the ongoing health crisis.

But, the recovery has not been a straight line. Recently, Polonara revealed that his timeline for a full competitive return has been pushed back due to a new medical complication. He underwent a “small heart operation,” and doctors have warned that returning to full-contact competition too quickly would be dangerous.

For a player who has already faced a testicular neoplasia surgery in October 2023—a setback he overcame in less than two months—this new delay is a test of patience. However, Polonara remains optimistic. He is currently training independently and believes he will be ready to return to the court after the summer of 2026.

Understanding the Stakes: Myeloid Leukemia in Athletes

To provide some context for those unfamiliar with the condition, myeloid leukemia affects the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. For an elite athlete, the treatment—specifically high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants—is devastating. It doesn’t just attack the cancer; it strips the body of muscle mass, cardiovascular endurance, and immune function. The fact that Polonara is training with a basketball again, let alone preparing for a professional return, is a medical rarity.

Polonara’s story is no longer just about basketball statistics or league standings. It has become a narrative of human endurance. From the depths of a 90% mortality risk to the lights of the Olympic torch, the Italian forward is redefining what “recovery” means in professional sports.

The next confirmed checkpoint for Polonara is his continued independent training regimen through the spring and early summer, with the goal of a full medical clearance and competitive return following the summer break.

Do you think Polonara’s journey will inspire other athletes facing chronic illness? Share your thoughts in the comments below.