SP politician Nuria Gorrite speaks about her breast cancer diagnosis: “The confrontation with my death has strengthened me.”

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

The shock last autumn was great: in September, Vaud government councilor Nuria Gorrite (53) was diagnosed with breast cancer. The SP politician had to undergo surgery and radiation.

In a few days she will start working again with enthusiasm, she said in an interview. “Of course you cannot emerge unscathed from a test that confronts you with your own death,” Gorrite told “24 Heures”. In her case, however, the test was positive: ‘The confrontation with my death has strengthened me.’

She is doing well, but the past few months have been very demanding. Her mother, who also had breast cancer, died in June. Her own diagnosis followed in September. “At first I was stunned,” she says. But then she quickly prepared for the fight.

She also experienced contradictions: she didn’t even notice the cancer, she had no symptoms – “I wasn’t aware that it was slowly killing me.” Paradoxically, it was the treatments that weakened her.

Gorrite speaks openly about her illness in an attempt to wake people up. Also in her case it is impossible to hide an absence of three months. “But it was also a way to tell the population that we as politicians are going through the same difficulties and facing the same fears.”

Precautions should be paid earlier

But above all, she thinks this is important: “This disease should not be taboo.” It is a fact that many women are affected by breast cancer, and unfortunately more and more young women are as well. Gorrite therefore demands that cancer screening tests are not only covered by basic insurance from the age of 50.

And she appeals to employers and people around those who are sick to be patient. “With this type of disease there is a before and an after.” Some treatments are difficult and lead to permanent fatigue. Unfortunately, with cancer there is a risk that the support patients receive in the acute phase of the disease will decrease later. “I feel fit enough to get back to work, but that does not apply to all people who experience such an ordeal.” (sf)

Source:Blick