“Ieo look”. Photos with high heels and a green shirt before the operation at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. Nicoletta Saracco, 33, died after a long illness. Without, however, losing the irony. Precisely because of her will to live, her strength of mind, because of her way of dealing with cancer, she had become a symbol (smiling). A testimonial of the fight against breast cancer.
Who was
Nicoletta was originally from Civitanova, in the Marche region, but lived in Milan, where she worked in the fashion world as a designer and painter. Exuberant, extravagant in dressing and showing herself, she has always tried to keep her good mood up. On her Instagram profile she called herself a «cancer fighter» and her followers (8,698) supported her daily with messages and photos. She found out she had breast cancer four years ago when she was 29. First the pain, the fear. Then, the desire to help other women in the same situation. And the almost natural decision to talk about the treatments and the disease with irony and lightness (which is by no means superficial).
“Illness is feeling”
“I want to tell you my story and raise awareness about prevention.” To raise funds for research she had created Ni.Art Gallery, an online clothing and accessories shop whose logo (painted by herself) was a faceless Madonna. Hers Her address book, “Boobs, heels, make-up, tumor: anti-panic instruction manual” was followed by thousands of people and was intended to explain, not only the therapies to which cancer patients have to undergo every day, but to tell the feelings of women who live with cancer. “Illness is also feelings, emotions, smiles mixed with tears,” she wrote in one of his most recent posts.
rburattino@corriere.it
