MADRID, 16 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish weightlifter Loida Zabala confirmed this Thursday that she suffers from lung cancer and that she will start treatment “right now” to try to combat it, making it clear that it has been “very shocking” news and that it is not going to be “an easy path”, but that he dreams “big” and that he sees himself “with energy to battle this new challenge in life.”
“I have lung cancer, it is a malignant neoplasm that has spread to the brain. There is a specific treatment in pills with which I will be able to combat these cells and I thank life and science for being able to start it right now,” said Loida. Zabala in a statement.
The woman from Extremadura, who has participated in four Paralympic Games (Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo), reported on November 4 that nine masses had been found in her brain and that, in the absence of a final diagnosis, it could be ” metastasis that comes from the lung”.
“It is very shocking news, difficult to describe in words, but I feel excitement and energy to battle this new life challenge. I am aware that it is not going to be an easy path,” stressed the Spanish athlete.
Zabala confessed that he felt “emotionally happy” and stressed that he must “be patient until January to check the effectiveness of the medications.” “But I dream big and that is that next year what would be or will be my fifth Paralympic Games will be held and I would like nothing more than to share them with you, who have been my light all these days,” he stated.
The 36-year-old from Extremadura achieved the Paralympic diploma in all her participation in the Games, with two fifth places in London 2021 and Rio 2016, and has also been Spanish Champion for 18 consecutive years and was European Champion in 2022, among other successes. sports.