Inma Ibáñez, speaking in first person about her breast cancer treatment

On the occasion of World Breast Cancer Day, commemorated every October 19, Inma Ibáñez wanted to share her testimony to raise awareness about the importance of regular check-ups for early detection and the need to allocate resources to scientific research to advance treatments.

“With this, you go through bad days, regular days and better days; and the truth is that today I’m having one of the better ones, so I’m not going to complain,” begins Inma, with a smile on her face.

TO DEAL WITH IT, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT 

“I haven’t hidden it. This is a disease that affects, if I’m not mistaken, one in every eight women. In our case, if we talk about Valencia CF season ticket holders, we’re talking about around 6,700 women, and of them, 850 have suffered or will suffer from it. It’s sadly a very high number that we have to face calmly, with the confidence, certainty and hope that this can be overcome and cured thanks to medical advances, but it must be faced, we must deal with it, not just worry about it,” she explains.

Inma acknowledges, “What I’ve found hardest to accept is being left with zero energy, my defences drop, because I used to be very active, and it’s tough to see you can’t do anything. I’ve shed some tears. That’s hard.”

EARLY DETECTION, RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

“Although I noticed it before my annual check-up, regular check-ups are very important. My advice to all women is not to skip them, because they make the difference between whether it spreads or not, in the severity of the consequences, and in how tough the treatment will be,” she says.

In fact, Inma notes, “What scared me the most was the idea of metastasis, but the tests ruled out that it had spread anywhere else.”

“And what reassured me the most,” she continues, “was when the oncologist explained that the cancer I have today has a specific treatment with 99% effectiveness. At that moment, you breathe again and realise how crucial research and early detection are, and how necessary it is to invest in them. It’s vital that we all become aware of that.”

THE FAMILY AND VALENCIA CF

“I’m very lucky,” says Inma gratefully. “The support from my family has been total-from my husband, my children—who have understood that this is just a parenthesis in our lives.”

“The support from my colleagues has also been total-from the Board to my teammates in the Financial Department, and the rest of the departments and their directors, the Foundation, the staff at the Ciudad Deportiva, the Women’s team… They’ve made it possible for my involvement to be minimal so I can focus on my recovery,” she highlights.

Inma states confidently: “I’m very optimistic in general, and I think the worst is already over. I believe the hardest part is chemotherapy, and I have fewer sessions left than those I’ve already done; and of course, becoming aware of what’s happening to you. I’ll finish chemo, then comes surgery and recovery.”

“Everything in life has a positive side,” she affirms. “I’ve learned many things: to delegate better, to take better care of myself, to accept that sometimes it’s okay to do nothing, that I’m loved by many people, that I have huge support, and I’ve received so many hugs and so much affection from so many.”

MESSAGE OF FIGHT

Finally, Inma wants to emphasize several messages: “Those going through this are true warriors. Each of us faces it differently, but we all fight tooth and nail. I wish all of them the best of luck in their treatments, lots of strength, and I send them a huge hug as fellow fighters in this battle.”

“And the most important message is for those who might one day face it: each of us must take responsibility and get our check-ups. This message is for them and for everyone around them. And above all, it’s crucial to support research and early detection,” she concludes.