A TIKTOK star who shared her journey with a “rare cancer” has tragically died aged 27.
Rachel Yaffe, from Maryland, US, was just 20 when she was diagnosed with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare form of liver cancer that only affects 200 people worldwide every year.
TikTok star Rachel Yaffe tragically passed away aged 27
TikTok/@rachelkyaffeThe digital creator had made a farewell post on social media before her death[/caption]
TikTok/@rachelkyaffeRachel was diagnosed with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare form of liver cancer[/caption]
Soon after receiving her diagnosis, she started posting about her “healing journey” and gained over 60,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram.
But Rachel tragically died on Friday following a seven-year fight with the rare disease, an obituary reads.
The creator made a heartfelt farewell post on social media shortly before she passed away, saying she was still optimistic despite feeling weak after another bout of radiation therapy.
She seemed upbeat in the clip, but she also revealed how her appetite was beginning to fade.
“Finding the little joys helps me stay motivated even on my worst days,” Rachel captioned the video.
The video has since been flooded with messages and tributes from fans expressing their condolences.
One person wrote: “Rest in peace, you were so young.”
Another added: “You deserved far more than the time you were given.”
Rachel, who shared her online battle with cancer, said that in her late teens, she felt like something was wrong but put it down to a gluten intolerance.
But she was directed to a specialist who found a 20cm tumour in her liver after seeing a doctor who understood her concern.
A biopsy then revealed Rachel had fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, an uncommon type of cancer that primarily strikes young, healthy individuals.
The condition is very rare, affecting only 200 persons worldwide each year.
The majority of cases involve teenagers and young adults, while patients as young as two and as elderly as 74 have been reported.
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