Paola Domizio

"I was diagnosed in November 2008 at age 48. I found the lump in my breast and the lymph nodes under my arm just one day after my husband and I were awarded parental orders for our twin boys, who were aged four months at the time.

I was devastated - I had recently become a mother and all I wanted was to see my boys grow up. I was terrified that this would be taken away from me. However, as a doctor myself I knew that modern medicine can do wonders, so despite the diagnosis, I remained hopeful. This hope was maintained throughout six months of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, during which time the tumour shrank away and eventually was no longer palpable.

It was after the mastectomy, however, that I had my darkest moments. Despite the good clinical response to chemotherapy, pathology examination of my resected breast showed a lot of residual tumour. On the day before my boys’ first birthday, I was told that I had a very poor prognosis, and this plunged me into the depths of despair. I felt that I had no hope. I was convinced that I’d be dead before I reached my 50th birthday. I felt I’d be ruining my boys’ lives by condemning them to life without a mother and I was terrified that I’d never see them go to school and become fine young men.

I was told about The Haven by the breast care nurse. She saw my distress and felt that The Haven might be able to help me.  I first attended in August 2009, while I was still undergoing post-operative radiotherapy.  All of the treatments I have had at The Haven have been really helpful. At first I had acupuncture and kinesiology, and also attended the Mindfulness Stress Reduction course. More recently I have had mind-body therapy and nutritional advice. I am due to attend the EFT seminar next week.

Coming to The Haven has transformed my life. From a position of hopelessness nine months ago, I am now convinced that I have a long-term future. The positive atmosphere created by everyone at The Haven has completely changed my attitude to both my disease and to my life in general. After my surgery, I thought that the cancer was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. Now, with The help of the Haven, I am able to see the positives that it has brought. I have returned to work, I have enthusiasm for life again and I’m making plans for the future."

Paola Domizio