A MOTHER and burlesque dancer with a terminal illness has praised the care given by a local hospice after she defied doctor's expectations.

Lorraine Castellano, 56, from Penarth, was given an expectation of 18 months to live when she was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in 2013.

But now she has praised the care she’s received at the town's Marie Curie hospice as the charity launches its annual Daffodil Appeal.

She says her dancing has given her a positive focus to face the journey and, having recently been told she has only three to four months left to live, she wants to use the time to tell others that they need to keep being themselves.

Ms Castellano is also determined to perform with the Burly Girls – a dance troupe she belongs to, which is part of the Cardiff Cabaret Club.

Their next show is on March 24 at St Peters Hall in Cardiff and it will be in aid of Marie Curie.

Speaking about her positive attitude to the cancer – which she calls Neal – she said: "You’ve been told you’ve got this disease and then everybody starts to change.

“All I would say to the person that’s been told (that they have cancer), is just keep being you.

"You’re independent. As tough as it is, there’s nothing wrong with you

“But it does take a lot of effort and strength to continue with all your interests and to continue doing all the things you love.

"As hard as it is, you mustn’t let them go, even if you can only do a little bit daily."

Over the years since her diagnosis, Ms Castellano – a former beauty therapist - has received complimentary therapies at the day therapy unit at Marie Curie’s Cardiff and Vale hospice in Bridgeman Road.

Treatments have included aromatherapy and reflexology as well as attending discussion groups to help with fatigue symptoms.

She said she found it difficult to deal with the fatigue from the chemotherapy until she attended a support group to help her manage the symptom at the hospice’s day therapy unit.

"When you are going through your chemotherapy you can’t believe how you feel, like you’re tired, but sleep doesn’t make it any better," she said.

"I was trying to complete too many big tasks.

"So then Marie Curie showed me and explained that if I did an hour of that, an hour of that, an hour of that, in one day I would have completed seven tasks.

"I may not have finalised every single one, but I feel better that I’ve got those done, rather than trying to do eight hours on one thing and still not completing it."

She praised the team at the hospice saying they try to accommodate her wishes as best they could.

As well as performing with the Burly Girls, Ms Castellano makes costumes for herself and for the other dancers, something she says she will continue to do for as long as possible.

“My burlesque and my burly is my faith, my holistic being is my faith, as others have religious faith,” she said.

“If you do have something, whatever it is, what I’m trying to say is don’t let it go.

“Don’t let this (cancer/Neal) take away from who you are, stand your ground.

"Even if it fights back, stand your ground. You can still achieve so much and the rewards are still there for you."

She is now thinking of other ways she can support Marie Curie during the charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal, which launched in Wales last week.

She says she hopes to be able to hold a sale of her clothing shoes and costumes around Cardiff.

Meanwhile, she is taking her Marie Curie collection tins with her wherever she goes, and hopes her story will inspire others to sign up to collect during the appeal through February and March.

Two of her Burly Girls are already signed up to support the charity, with one creating bespoke pasties and another planning a tea party for Marie Curie.