Iro Kariophylli, the esteemed Greek journalist of Alpha TV, faced a long and painful battle against cancer that became increasingly difficult in her final days. Throughout her struggle, she endured chemotherapy, unbearable pain, and emotional turmoil while keeping most of it private. However, behind closed doors, she exchanged heartfelt messages with close friends and colleagues who supported her throughout her journey.
Hours after the sad news of her passing, fellow journalist Antigoni Andreaki shared a touching tribute on social media, revealing a private message she had received from Iro when both were undergoing treatment. In the message, Iro wrote:
‘You have my admiration! I’ve been going through exactly the same thing for the past three months now (intentionally not public yet, I’ll share it when I feel ready), with chemo sessions and pains so intense you bang your head against the wall. Every time I break down, I think of two things: the kids at the Pediatric Oncology clinic and all those who live or have lived this experience. Stay strong.’
In her post, Antigoni recalled how Iro reached out to support her despite facing her own illness silently. The two women bonded over phone calls during their treatments, offering each other company and strength even though they had never met personally before.
‘She always asked first: How are you? And she robbed me of the right to worry about her first,’ Antigoni wrote emotionally. ‘That alone made Iro so special. Special for many more reasons that today are best described by her loved ones. The last time we spoke, she texted me: Everything will be okay, don’t worry — and we never talked again…’
The story of these private messages highlights Iro’s compassion, resilience, and humanity, which touched many lives beyond the screen.