Lucrezia Ciotti From the diagnosis of stage III cancer to total remission, Paola Barale breaks her silence about the disease she's faced over the past year. A guest on Le Iene , the host recounts the discovery of throat cancer caused by human papillomavirus, her 35 proton therapy sessions, and the difficult decision to keep it all out of the spotlight.
Today, after having overcome the most difficult phase, he launches an important message on prevention.
Paola Barale's cancer: stage three diagnosis and remission
After dealing with the disease away from the spotlight for about a year, Paola Barale decided to share her experience , revealing that she had been diagnosed with stage three throat cancer , caused by the human papillomavirus.
The host spoke about it on Le Iene , retracing her journey from the discovery of the tumor to treatment, up until the most anticipated news: the latest tests confirmed complete remission. " This means that for now I'm cured ," she declared, explaining that she wanted to share her story to raise awareness about the importance of prevention.
The first signs appeared in the form of a strange sensation in her throat. " I felt like there was a lump in my throat ," Barale said, admitting she had put off the tests her ENT doctor recommended: " Since I never had time, I let time pass ." After about a year, the increasing discomfort prompted her to return to the specialist. The positive swab and subsequent biopsy confirmed the presence of the tumor. The news left her speechless: " I had a momentary flash where I froze ."
Paola Barale's cancer treatments: 35 proton therapy sessions
The location of the mass made surgery risky: the tumor was near a vocal cord , behind the tonsils, and the operation could have compromised his voice. " It couldn't be operated on because it was attached to a vocal cord behind the tonsils. There was also the risk of losing my voice ," he explained. For this reason, an alternative treatment was chosen: 35 sessions of proton therapy , a radiotherapy technique that uses proton beams. It was a difficult process: " At first you're scared ," he admitted, explaining that he initially also took a tranquilizer. To avoid worrying his father, still suffering from the loss of his wife, he only told him part of the truth: " I told him I had a polyp, a bit like he had. He believed me ."
Barale chose to speak publicly about the disease to promote prevention. There is a vaccine against HPV , available free of charge for certain age groups, both males and females. Those who don't fall into the categories eligible for free vaccination can pay for it. It's an experience that, despite the difficulties, has changed her outlook on life: " It's changed me a lot; it's cleared away the things that didn't suit me ."
See this content on Instagram