Vanity
L1 documentary Vanity, which follows Maastricht football international Vanity Lewerissa in the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
In 2017, Vanity won the European Football Championship as a member of the Dutch team. Five years later, while her teammates defend their title in England, Vanity has a breast removed. On the day the Dutch team wins against Switzerland, she learns she may leave the hospital, awaiting news of possible metastases. During the most difficult period of her life, Vanity receives support from her former teammates Lieke Martens, Daniëlle van de Donk and Kika van Es. Just before the European Championship match against Sweden, they send an app to their friend who is fighting for her life.
Medical oncologist Ingeborg Vriens guided Vanity through that difficult year. She knows that the football star’s story is no exception. Twelve per cent of women with breast cancer are younger than fourty. This is precisely why Vanity is telling her story. Awareness is crucial to detecting breast cancer as early as possible.