Gaia Padovan, a 44-year-old Mediaset journalist, has chosen to share her illness with a post on Instagram and, with great courage, has recounted her journey and treatments, accompanied by extraordinary vitality and strength. Her post has received support from many friends and fans.
The Illness
“In May, I was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer with lymph node metastasis. It’s news that annihilates you – it’s her post – But it’s not a death sentence either. Because if you trust science and don’t lose hope or faith for those who have it, you can make it. First rule: Don’t fall into the internet trap because you are not a statistic; a third stage can mean everything and nothing, every story is unique. Completely trust medicine. We Venetians are fortunate to have excellence at our doorstep, the Iov research and care center among the best in Italy. I thank them infinitely. 40 days after the surgery, months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy await me. The illness is a very intimate matter, but I’ve chosen to share it to tell you the most important thing: prevention saves your life. Don’t delay that visit, overwhelmed by the anxiety whirlwind of modern life. And get support: whether it’s your neighbor, a lifelong friend, or the smile of a stranger. Because stress kills the body, oxytocin (hugs and smiles) – and research – makes it reborn.”
Chemotherapy
Gaia Padovan faced her first day of chemo and revealed her feelings before and after: “I felt poisoned; I tried to endure with the cap that freezes the head at 3 degrees, an attempt to save my hair, but no, I couldn’t do it. I said to myself, who cares, we’ll lose them, we’ll still be wonderful; I will wear the pink wig, which I didn’t think was appropriate at Mediaset. They will tell you that millions of people go through this nightmare and that many make it, they’ll tell you that you are a very strong woman, that you’ve always been. But you will be devastated. Shocked. Incredulous. Breast cancer is still today the leading cause of cancer death among women. You gamble with life, you are aware of it, and it’s panic. But little by little, you metabolize and stop asking yourself why me, with two wonderful kids and so many lives to live. But you move forward, one step at a time, one day at a time.”
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