Basia Gauci - Rak to nie wyrok

‘When I told my family I had cancer, they all cried. Except me’
Gozo breast cancer survivor turns diagnosis into advocacy

Basia Gauci has been nominated for a Pride of Gozo award for her work with Europa Donna.

It has been a decade since Basia Gauci discovered a lump in her left breast while taking a shower, a moment she recalls as instantly life-changing.

“I knew straight away that something must be wrong,” Gauci said, remembering how her first thoughts were disbelief.

“This can’t be happening to me... this must be a mistake”.

With no family history of cancer, the diagnosis came as a shock.

When doctors confirmed she had breast cancer, Gauci says she immediately chose to face it with determination.

“I adopted a positive mindset and a fighter attitude,” she said.

One by one, she rang her family members to break the news.

“They all cried – except me,” she recalled. “I kept telling them, ‘I’m not dying’.”

Determined to understand what lay ahead, Gauci bought books about breast cancer and educated herself as much as possible. She was also surrounded by the support of medical professionals. 

“The way I’ve been dealt with was amazing,” she said, praising the doctors who guided her through treatment.

Gauci, a Polish woman who lives in Sannat, underwent a mastectomy followed by reconstruction surgery. An expander was initially installed and, six months later, replaced with a silicone implant.

Today, as a breast cancer survivor, she aims to carry on with her life as normally as she can.

“We want to live our lives as normally as possible,” she said, while acknowledging that the possibility of recurrence always remains at the back of her mind.

Originally searching for a support group, Gauci learned about Europa Donna through a friend of a friend. The organisation represents the interests of European women affected by breast cancer. She soon became a volunteer and has remained actively involved ever since.

A graphic designer by profession, Gauci creates banners, leaflets, calendars and merchandise for Europa Donna. She also helps with branding for the organisation’s educational events, which include seminars on topics such as recurrent breast cancer and breast reconstruction. These events are attended not only by survivors, but also by nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Europa Donna is also involved in practical support initiatives, including organising taxi services for cancer patients travelling from Gozo between the ferry terminal and Mater Dei Hospital. Gauci is the main organiser of the annual ‘Walk for Hope’ event held in Marsascala, praising the local council as “really helpful” in bringing the event together.

Gauci has been nominated for a Pride of Gozo award, which recognises individuals and organisations who serve the Gozitan community with dedication, often without pay or reward. She said she was “very surprised” by the nomination, stressing that she does not do her work for recognition. She also emphasised that her efforts are not carried out alone, but as part of a “great team”.

Nominations for the Pride of Gozo awards are now open. Anyone wishing to nominate a deserving individual or organisation is invited to e-mail secretary@rotarygozo.org with brief details explaining why they should be recognised. The closing date for nominations is January 31.