Desireé Regalado Bello Turns Cancer Battle into Inspiring Books for Charity

Desireé Regalado Bello will never forget August 19, 2024. That was the day she learned she had stage 2 breast cancer, with a large tumor filling her entire right breast.

Days before, she had found a painful lump on her nipple, which hurt most when she was driving. At first, she thought it was just a hormonal issue from her period, but the pain got worse. Desireé felt deep down that something serious was wrong, so she went straight to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC).

Her first challenge was getting an ultrasound. The hospital initially refused, saying they couldn't skip the rule that required her to see her family doctor first. But once she was on the examination table, the doctor who saw her immediately called for an ultrasound machine. The doctor confirmed an "acoustic shadow" – something unusual – was visible and ordered an urgent mammogram. Desireé was told the results would take two weeks.

Desireé couldn't wait. "I couldn't stand the constant worry of not knowing what it was," she admits. She went to a private clinic, explained her urgent concerns, and had the test done that very day. The results showed a 99% chance of malignancy. At 41, this news made her rethink everything, starting with how to tell her 13-year-old daughter.

After the diagnosis, Desireé began her journey through oncology and gynecology. She initially felt relieved, thinking she might avoid a mastectomy, as her gynecologist suggested surgery first, then chemotherapy. However, she later received a call confirming this plan wasn't possible. The tumor was too large – "very rare for her age," they told her – and needed to be shrunk with chemotherapy before surgery. This led to a mastectomy (she also had a small spread to a lymph node), followed by radiotherapy. Finally, she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as a preventative measure, since her cancer was hormone-related.

Desireé underwent two surgeries, and everything happened very fast. She started chemotherapy on October 9, 2024. Although she was meant to finish in spring 2025, she had to stop early due to "toxicity in her body." The combination of induced menopause, two operations, and the exhausting fatigue from radiotherapy and ongoing hormonal treatment left her feeling "chaotic," as she describes it, because "it is still a mutilation of your body."

One of the hardest moments was telling her family and her daughter, Sayra, about her illness. This was especially difficult because her father was already in the hospital. She shared the news in the HUC waiting room, with her sister and niece by her side. "We all broke down crying, hugging each other," she remembers. Desireé says of her daughter, "She wanted to be strong for me, but I knew she was broken inside, even though she always tried to cope as best she could."

Hearing the word "cancer" brings a fear that's hard to explain, but Desireé decided to change her perspective. "Of course, it's a terrible disease that causes a lot of pain," she says, "but it's also true that when we face tough times, we can find something good and learn, even in the darkness." One big lesson she learned was to live each day to the fullest, enjoy family and friends, and give more hugs and kisses. She also learned to appreciate small things, like her hair and eyelashes growing back – "or even a simple runny nose, because the illness leaves you completely dry," she explains. She lost everything, but now she smiles, proud that her hair has grown back "at lightning speed."

Desireé believes the support of family and friends is crucial for dealing with her illness every day. "And even if you don't have that," she adds, "there's always someone to support you: the doctors, the people you meet during treatment, and the staff at the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC)." She had chemotherapy during Christmas last year. "They gave us shortbread, nougat, chocolate... small gestures that brought joy amidst the hardship," she recalls.

Because of this, she promised herself that this holiday season, she would bring a box of nougat for others going through treatment, so they could also experience those small joys. She also feels it's important to have time alone, "because you need your time to cry, process everything, and come to terms with your new image." She shares her entire journey in her book, 'What Cancer Taught Me.' It's like a diary, written as therapy to express her feelings, detailing everything she experienced with the aim of helping others facing similar challenges.

She used her laptop to write during moments of "lucidity" when she felt a bit better. "I wanted to share a message of resilience, hope, and faith, and also support charities," she explains. All profits from her books go to the AECC.

Desireé says that when she reread 'What Cancer Taught Me' to check it over, she sometimes felt like someone else had written it. But then the toughest parts would come, and she'd break down as painful memories resurfaced. "Honestly, it hooked me: I started reading and couldn't stop," she admits. Many readers have told her they felt the same way.

At the end of the book, there are QR codes that link to 'Guerrera,' a song she wrote earlier, a digital album with photos, acknowledgments, and some of her most difficult moments.

As a preschool teacher and a woman with a "restless soul" – she's also an interior designer and musician-composer – Desireé thought about children battling the disease. This inspired her second book, 'The Castle of the Warriors.'

This book is full of symbolism and designed like an escape room for pre-teens, where they solve mysteries and find clues. The castle represents the hospital, the warriors are the children, the invasion is the disease, and the guardian is the oncologist. The story teaches them to solve puzzles using three superpowers, without directly mentioning cancer. A final QR code explains all the symbolism.

Other recent challenges include losing her "great battle friend," Manolo Trujillo, and being unable to return to work. "Psychologically and emotionally, it's very hard to accept," she says. "I've been devastated because I've always been very active with children – getting on the floor, jumping, doing activities. Now, suddenly, I feel very old and spend my days in a lot of pain." Despite this, and unsure of her immediate future, she hasn't ruled out continuing to write, volunteer, and give talks.

For Desireé, cancer was a painful interruption, both physically and psychologically, but it also sparked a new purpose. She has shown that even when life forces you to pause, it doesn't have to be the end. Through her books, music, and activism, she has turned her pain into a powerful force for change.

Desireé, who lives in Puerto de la Cruz, is determined that her illness won't stop her. No matter the pain, she will fight for the best possible quality of life and remain her active self.

Her story is an invitation to live life fully, appreciate small victories, and shows that resilience can turn personal vulnerability into an unstoppable force for others.

Desireé published both books at the same time. For her, writing them was therapy – a way to express herself and share a message with both adults and children. She wrote them in a month and a half and self-published them, investing a significant amount of her own money. She was happy to do so, knowing all proceeds go to charity. If you buy them directly from her, 100% of the money goes to the AECC. She even offers to deliver them personally when possible: "Write to me on WhatsApp at 692 563 178, and I'll bring them to you without a problem," she promises. Buying her books now serves a triple purpose: it helps others, makes a thoughtful gift, and supports the AECC.