Maria Tomazos

One year ago Maria Tomazos underwent life changing surgery to have both her breasts removed.

It wasn’t a decision she took lightly, nor was it one she spent too much time dwelling over.

But it was a decision made knowing that time was not on her side.

At the end of 2021, at the age 45, Maria was diagnosed with a rare breast cancer. A cancer of the nipple. A cancer that’s as insidious as it is obscure.

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It was a persistent pain in her right breast that first got Maria’s attention in September 2021.

The unusual pain certainly wasn’t what she’d ever have associated with a cancer symptom.

However, with her mum Nitsa’s many battles with cancer over the years, Maria knew this wasn’t something she could ignore.

“Mum had a malignant melanoma 30 years ago, then thyroid cancer, a brain tumour four years ago, and currently has stage 4 lung cancer.

“I just had this lingering pain, and then I noticed a dark blemish around one side of my nipple. And my nipple was just flat. I knew something was wrong. And did what we are all told not to do - I googled my symptoms … and somehow managed to diagnose myself.”

What Maria discovered – literally on her own – was an extremely rare cancer called Pagets.

It’s a cancer that accounts for 5% of all breast cancers, in which cancer cells collect in or around the nipple

“They initially thought it was melanoma but after a biopsy it turned out to be exactly what I told my GP that I thought it was – Pagets.

“I got a call from my GP late at night confirming what I had suspected, and within a few days I’d undergone a Mammogram and ultrasound to tell me the extent of the cancer.”

Maria says she was advised the cancer was likely contained to the one breast, but says removing both was never a question.

“Honestly, they are just boobs. If I am getting rid of one then I am getting rid of both. I don’t have an attachment to them, and my life means more at this point in time.

“Doctors don’t know as much about Pagets and my view is that I don’t want to give this a chance to reappear again.

“I’m not brave. This isn’t courageous of me. It just has to be done. I have three kids and a big family. I want to stick around for them – it’s as simple as that.”

***

It’s Maria’s matter of fact approach to this enormous challenge that has also seen her use her highly popular social media platform – I Love Sweet Stuff – to spread the message about breast cancer awareness.

Maria has become very well known for sharing endearing videos of herself teaching her followers how to cook Greek meals, in a simple, direct and often comical way.

She talks to her audience in a personable, self-deprecating way that has seen her audience fall in love with her relatable content.

So there was never any doubt that Maria would use her Instagram page to announce to her 1600 followers – after a hiatus of several weeks – that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Maria also chose October 1 to tell her community - the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“I honestly never believed it would happen to me. I just didn’t. I guess that was pretty naïve of me.

“And now I feel a responsibility to make sure everyone knows what to look out for – and yes it can happen to you.

“I couldn’t think of a better time to share my news that during the month of October.

“One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before they hit 85. So far this year almost 20,000 women have been diagnosed. These statistics are just off the charts.

“We have to talk about this. We mustn’t be ashamed. These numbers are absolutely devastating.

“We need to use our voices everyday and make sure women everywhere are doing everything possible to monitor their boobs and keep an eye our for ANY change – it doesn’t matter how insignificant.

“Do it for yourself and do it for your family.”

Signs of breast cancer:

· A lump or mass in the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue

· Change is the shape, size, or appearance of the breast

· Discharge from the nipple

· Breast rash

· Changes in the skin over the breast, for example, dimpling

· Breast pain

· Inverted or pulling-in of the nipple

· Scaling, peeling, or flaking skin over the breast, particularly the dark area around the nipple

· Redness and/or pitting of the breast skin, resembling the skin of orange

What is Pagets?

Paget disease of the breast (also known as Paget disease of the nipple and mammary Paget disease) is a rare type of cancer involving the skin of the nipple and, usually, the darker circle of skin around it, which is called the areola.

Paget disease of the breast occurs mostly in women. Approximately 1 to 4 percent of all cases of breast cancer also involve Paget disease of the breast.

Doctors do not fully understand what causes Paget disease of the breast. The most widely accepted theory is that cancer cells from a tumor inside the breast travel through the milk ducts to the nipple and areola.

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