Preparación Académica
- Lic. en Psicología , Universidad Iberoamericana. (2005-2009)
- Especialidad en Psico-oncología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (2010)
- Máster en Neuropsicología y Neurología de la Conducta Universidad Autónoma de
Barcelona (2010-2012) - Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (2019)
Experiencia
Directora Regional del Departamento de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud -Tecnológico de Monterrey
- febrero 2024 – actualidad
Psicooncóloga Programa eVA – Estrategia de Vigilancia Anticipada.
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, 2022 – 2025
- Creación de programas de atención para grupos específicos.
Co-fundadora
Onconecta 2021 – actualidad
- Plataforma divulgadora de contenido educativo actualizado y científico sobre cáncer de
mama
Psicooncóloga, Servicio de Tumores Mamarios.
Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, 2013-2024
- Fundadora e implementadora del Programa de Mujeres Jóvenes con Cáncer de Mama
- Coordinación y desarrollo de programas clínicos y de investigación.
- Fomento de la vinculación inter-institucional.
Neuropsicóloga en el Centro Integral de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento (CIDyT) Hospital Médica Sur, 2013-2024
- Atención clínica especializada y capacitación para médicos especialistas.
Presidenta – Alianza Mexicana por el Cáncer (MILC), 2015 -actualidad
- Desarrollo de protocolos de atención clínica y coordinación de proyectos de investigación.
- Recaudación de fondos y vinculación inter-institucional.
- Capacitación a especialistas y al público en general.
Directora de Circuito Terapéutico
Servicios Neurológicos, 2013 – 2015
- Implementación de un modelo terapéutico innovador, liderando y coordinando un equipo
clínico multidisciplinario.
Neuropsicóloga, Sección de Neurología de la Conducta y Demencias. Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, 2010 – 2012
- Evaluación neuropsicológica y gestión de proyectos clínicos y de investigación.
PUBLICACIONES
Villarreal-Garza, C., Vaca-Cartagena, B. F., Becerril-Gaitan, A., Ferrigno, A. S., Mesa-Chavez, F., & Platas, A. (2021). Attitudes and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among patients with breast cancer. JAMA Oncology, 7(8), 1242–1244. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.1962
Villarreal-Garza, C., Aranda-Gutierrez, A., Ferrigno, A. S., Platas, A., Aloi-Timeus, I., Mesa-Chavez, F., & Ayensa-Alonso, A. (2021). The challenges of breast cancer care in Mexico during health-care reforms and COVID-19. The Lancet Oncology, 22(2), 170–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470- 2045(20)30609-4
Platas, A., Cruz-Ramos, M., Mesa-Chavez, F., Jasqui-Bucay, A., de la Rosa-Pacheco, S., Rivera, F., Mohar, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2021). Communication challenges among oncologists in Mexico. Journal of Cancer Education, 36(5), 1098–1104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01703-7
Villarreal-Garza, C., López-Martínez, E. A., Martínez-Cannon, B. A., Platas, A., Castro-Sánchez, A., Miaja, M., Mohar, A., Monroy, A., Águila, C., & Gálvez-Hernández, C. L. (2019). Medical and information needs among young women with breast cancer in Mexico. European Journal of Cancer Care, 28(4), e13040. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13040
Villarreal-Garza, C., Platas, A., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Bargalló-Rocha, E., Aguilar-González, C. N., Ortega-Leonard, V., Ramos-Elías, P., Hidalgo-Carrera, J., & Soto-Perez-de-Celis, E. (2017). Information needs and internet use of breast cancer survivors in Mexico. The Breast Journal, 23(3), 373–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbj.12747
Villarreal-Garza, C., Ferrigno, A. S., De la Garza-Ramos, C., Vazquez-Juarez, D., Moreno-Jaime, B., Remolina-Bonilla, Y., Segura-Gonzalez, M., Mariscal-Ramirez, I., Perazzo, F., Garnica-Jaliffe, G., Neciosup-Delgado, S., Conde-Flores, E., Mysler, S., Hernandez-Ayala, A., Barajas-Sanchez, A., Rios Mercado, M. D. S., Noh-Vazquez, N. M., Garcia-Rodriguez, R., Platas, A., & Tamez-Salazar, J. (2023). Effect of receiving a customizable brochure on breast cancer patients’ knowledge about their diagnosis and treatment: A randomized clinical trial. Cancer Medicine, 12(14), 15612–15627. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6215
Villarreal-Garza, C., Mesa-Chavez, F., Lopez-Martinez, E. A., Fonseca, A., Pineda, C., Rivera, F., GarciaGarcia, M., de la Rosa-Pacheco, S., Mohar, A., Ellsworth-Beaumont, C., & Platas, A. (2020). Gaps in knowledge and understanding of patients with metastatic breast cancer in Mexico. Cancer Control, 27(1), 1073274820920637. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073274820920637
Ferrigno Guajardo, A., Salazar-Alejo, M., Mesa-Chavez, F., Gutierrez-Ornelas, J., Platas, A., VerduzcoAguirre, H., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2025). Effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based stressreduction intervention to reduce anxiety in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(7), Article 623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09681-6
Ferrigno Guajardo, A., Vaca-Cartagena, B. F., Mesa-Chavez, F., Platas, A., Fonseca, A., Cruz-Ramos, M., Miaja Avila, M., Rodriguez, A. L., Cabrera-Galeana, P., Mohar, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2024). Sexual function and satisfaction in young women with breast cancer: A 5-year prospective study. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 8(6), pkae111. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkae111
Vaca-Cartagena, B. F., Ferrigno Guajardo, A. S., Azim, H. A., Jr., Rotolo, F., Olivas-Martinez, A., Platas, A., Fonseca, A., Mesa-Chavez, F., Cruz-Ramos, M., Rodriguez, A., Mohar, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2025). Describing quality of life trajectories in young Hispanic women with breast cancer: Five-year results from a large prospective cohort. The Breast, 79, 103866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2024.103866
Vaca-Cartagena, B. F., Mesa-Chavez, F., Guajardo, A. S. F., Azim, H. A., Jr., Rotolo, F., Platas, A., Fonseca, A., Cruz-Ramos, M., Rodriguez, A., Mohar, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2025). Evaluating changes in the breast cancer-related quality of life of young women with breast cancer: Long-term results from a multicenter prospective cohort. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 17, 17588359251337493. https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251337493
Miaja, M., Platas, A., & Martinez-Cannon, B. A. (2017). Psychological impact of alterations in sexuality, fertility, and body image in young breast cancer patients and their partners. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 69(4), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.24875/ric.17002279
Villarreal-Garza, C., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Platas, A., Mohar, A., Partridge, A. H., Gil-Moran, A., Fonseca, A., Vega, Y., Bargallo-Rocha, E., Cardona-Huerta, S., Lopez-Aguirre, Y. E., Barragan-Carrillo, R., & Castro-Sanchez, A. (2017). Fertility concerns among breast cancer patients in Mexico. The Breast, 33, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2017.02.010
Mesa-Chavez, F., Razeti, M. G., Blondeaux, E., Platas, A., Delucchi, V., Fonseca, A., Fontana, V., CruzRamos, M., Anserini, P., García Garza, M. R., Chiappe, E., Mohar, A., Orlando, L., Cabrera-Galeana, P., Cinieri, S., Bargallo-Rocha, E., Del Mastro, L., Villarreal-Garza, C., & Lambertini, M. (2025). Fertility and ovarian function preservation in young women with breast cancer: A joint analysis of the Joven & Fuerte and PREFER prospective studies. The Breast. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2025.104592
Villarreal-Garza, C., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Barragan-Carrillo, R., Bargallo-Rocha, J. E., Platas, A., Peña-Curiel, O., Torres, J., Castro-Sanchez, A., Mohar, A., & Rivera, S. (2021). Physicians’ attitudes, knowledge, and perceived barriers toward fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients in a developing country. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 73(6), 347–353. https://doi.org/10.24875/RIC.20000064
Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Castro-Sanchez, A., Barragan-Carrillo, R., de la Rosa-Pacheco, S., Platas, A., Fonseca, A., Vega, Y., Bojorquez-Velazquez, K., Bargallo-Rocha, J. E., Mohar, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2021). Adherence to adjuvant tamoxifen in Mexican young women with breast cancer. Patient Preference and Adherence, 15, 1039–1049. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S296747
Castro-Sanchez, A., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Platas, A., Mohar, A., Fonseca, A., Vega, Y., FimbresMorales, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2018). Suboptimal use of effective contraceptive methods in young Mexican women with breast cancer. JCO Global Oncology, 4, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.18.00064
Tamez-Salazar, J., Mireles-Aguilar, T., de la Garza-Ramos, C., Garcia-Garcia, M., Ferrigno, A. S., Platas, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2020). Prioritization of patients with abnormal breast findings in the Alerta Rosa navigation program to reduce diagnostic delays. The Oncologist, 25(12), 1047–1054. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0228
Mireles-Aguilar, T., Tamez-Salazar, J., Muñoz-Lozano, J. F., Lopez-Martinez, E. A., Romero, C., Platas, A., & Villarreal-Garza, C. (2018). Alerta Rosa: Novel alert and navigation breast cancer program in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, for reducing health system interval delays. The Oncologist, 23(12), 1461–1466. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0226
Villarreal-Garza, C., Ferrigno, A. S., Mesa-Chavez, F., Platas, A., Miaja, M., Fonseca, A., Cruz-Ramos, M., Mohar, A., Bargallo-Rocha, J. E., & Chapman, J. W. (2021). Improving collection of real-world data: The experience of the Joven & Fuerte prospective cohort for Mexican young women with breast cancer. Clinical Breast Cancer, 21(6), e675–e680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2021.04.005
Villarreal-Garza, C., Platas, A., Miaja, M., Fonseca, A., Mesa-Chavez, F., Garcia-Garcia, M., Chapman, J. A., Lopez-Martinez, E. A., Pineda, C., Mohar, A., Galvez-Hernandez, C. L., Castro-Sanchez, A., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Barragan-Carrillo, R., Muñoz-Lozano, J. F., Goss, P., Bargallo-Rocha, J. E., Aguilar, D., Cardona, S., & Canavati, M. (2020). Young women with breast cancer in Mexico: Results of the pilot phase of the Joven & Fuerte prospective cohort. JCO Global Oncology, 6, 395–406. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.19.00264
Villarreal-Garza, C., Platas, A., Miaja, M., Mesa-Chavez, F., Garcia-Garcia, M., Fonseca, A., Pineda, C., de la Rosa-Pacheco, S., Galvez-Hernandez, C. L., Bargallo-Rocha, E., Castro, J., Rodriguez-Gomez, D., Cruz-Ramos, M., & Mohar, A. (2020). Patients’ satisfaction with a supportive care program for young breast cancer patients in Mexico: Joven & Fuerte supports patients’ needs and eases their illness process. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(10), 4943–4951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020- 05334-y
Villarreal-Garza, C., Aranda-Gutierrez, A., Guajardo, A. S. F., Allende-Perez, S., Platas, A., CosioBarroso, I., Peña-Nieves, A., Fernandez, J. R. E., Velazquez-Martinez, A., & Cabrera-Galeana, P. (2025). Support and care needs among Mexican women with metastatic breast cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(6), Article 494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09529-z
Fajardo-Espinoza, F. S., Martínez-Palacios, D., Rodríguez-Fonseca, Y. E., Pérez-Camargo, D. A., Gálvez-Hernández, C. L., Bejarano-Colina, T., Torres-Domínguez, J. A., Rodríguez-Velázquez, A. L., Cedillo-Compeán, V., López-Bejarano, R. L., Enríquez-Cárcamo, V. I., Lopez-Castro, L., MenéndezAponte y Guzmán, R. M., González-Pérez, A., Barranco-Cortés, A., Madariaga-Cobos, A. C., BlandónHernández, L. M., Cabrera-Nieto, S. A., Labra-Alvarado, L. I., Mohar, A., Matus-Santos, J. A., Villarreal-Garza, C., Platas, A., Bargalló-Rocha, J. E., & Cruz-Ramos, M. (2025). Challenges in implementing a multidisciplinary integrative oncology intervention for young women with localized breast cancer. Nutrition, 139, 112859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.112859
Villarreal-Garza, C., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Platas, A., & Ramos-Elias, P. (2015). Specialized programs to support young women with breast cancer. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 9(3), 308–316. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000155
Villarreal-Garza, C., Castro-Sánchez, A., Platas, A., Miaja, M., Mohar-Betancourt, A., BarraganCarrillo, R., Fonseca, A., Vega, Y., Martinez-Cannon, B. A., Aguilar, D., Bargalló-Rocha, E., CardonaHuerta, S., Peña-Curiel, O., & Matus-Santoso, J. (2017). Joven & Fuerte: Program for young women with breast cancer in Mexico—Initial results. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 69(4), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.24875/ric.17002280 Villarreal-Garza, C., Águila, C., Platas, A., & Lara-Guerra, H. (2014). Breast cancer in young women in Mexico: Unmet needs and clinical challenges. Revista de Investigación Clínica, 66(6), 547–558.
