Brazilian doctor Patricia Keller has tragically passed away after a long and difficult battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Her grieving mother confirmed that Patricia died on September 14th after her health suddenly deteriorated.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare soft tissue cancer that develops from primitive mesenchymal cells which fail to form into normal skeletal muscle. The disease is known for its aggressiveness and poor prognosis in advanced cases.
Speaking to NeedToKnow, Patricia’s mother shared: “They tried the CPAP mask, which is the last step before intubation – it was sad to see her like this.
“She called me to say goodbye, she told me she loved me, that she loved her family, asked for forgiveness, and said she couldn’t take it anymore.
“She was suffering a lot; she was in a lot of pain.”
“This cancer is terrible, very difficult.”
Despite her diagnosis, Patricia never stopped fighting. She regularly shared her treatment experiences and uplifting videos on social media, using her journey to inspire and encourage others battling the same illness.
In her last messages, she said: “My story isn’t about my cancer, I have so much more to tell you than that.
“When people ask who we are, we have to remember that we are many things.
“I’m not just Patricia from chemotherapy, from treatment.
“I’m not just that.
“My story isn’t just about illness, it’s about life.”
She said: “I had three biopsies and was diagnosed with malignancy.
“We sought another opinion, and it was confirmed that it was a malignant, aggressive tumour.”
