Palacio: ‘I am very lucky to be alive’

Date: 07/02/02

By Martin Banks

LEADING MEP Ana Palacio - the only woman so far appointed to the powerful praesidium which will steer the Convention - has told of her courageous fight against cancer.

The 52-year-old Spanish deputy says her year-long battle against the disease made her put politics into perspective and appreciate how lucky she is to be alive.

'It's been an incredible experience. When you are cruising at normal altitude you tend to forget how fragile life is,' she told European Voice.

The Madrid-born politician, who is the sister of Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio but prefers to drop the 'de', is now well on the road to a full recovery two months after completing her treatment, which included painful chemotherapy sessions.

Palacio has earned great respect among political colleagues and opponents alike for the way she has handled the disease, which was at an advanced stage when it was first diagnosed in December 2000.

Despite losing her hair during her treatment, she refused to wear a wig and still turned up regularly for meetings in the European Parliament. After being given the all-clear, says she is now determined to 'throw herself' back into work.

Last week, she was selected by Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar as his government's representative on the Convention which begins its deliberations into options for Treaty reform at the end of this month.

Palacio, a member of the European People's Party, is one of a dozen politicians, and so far the only woman, on the Convention's praesidium, headed by ex-French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

The Spanish MEP, who also chairs the Parliament's justice and home affairs committee, said: 'I've finished my treatment and am well now. It doesn't mean the cancer will not return, because it might, but then none of us know if we'll still be around in 12 months, do we?

'The one thing this has taught me, however, is that life is fragile, something that is easy to forget.'

Palacio, who is single, added: 'I believe that society has an unhealthy attitude to cancer but I have tried to remain as positive as possible since I was diagnosed and my work in the European Parliament has helped.

'I am honoured to be chosen as my government's representative on the Convention and will do all I can to make it work.'

MEP Ana Palacio has told of her fight against cancer.