Mourning a fighter: TikToker Rachel Yaffe succumbs to rare cancer
American social media is in mourning. This is due to news from the family of Rachel Yaffe, a TikToker who battled a rare liver cancer for seven years. Her family announced that her fight against cancer had ended.
16 October 2024 15:03
Cancer can affect anyone. Although it seems obvious, each year, 19-20 million people worldwide learn that they have a potentially deadly condition. Projections by the World Health Organization indicate that by 2040, this number could rise to 30 million annually. Many avoid getting checked for fear that a doctor might find something. The real enemy, however, is not the diagnosis itself but the disease progressing silently. Sometimes, despite years of treatment and numerous surgeries, cancer wins. These situations occur regardless of a person’s age, gender, religion, or social status.
American TikToker lost her battle with a rare cancer
Rachel Yaffe was a 27-year-old American whose TikTok content mainly focused on her battle with a rare liver cancer called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. This disease primarily affects young, healthy individuals, with only about 200 people globally diagnosed each year. Rachel discovered her illness at just 20 years old. In her videos, she explained that she sought medical help because she felt something was wrong. Her doctor, noticing her concern, referred her to an oncologist, who uncovered the cause of her discomfort: an 8-inch tumour on the liver. Further tests confirmed it was fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.
Rachel Yaffe fought tirelessly for seven years against cancer. Despite her dedication, the disease progressed to stage IV, the most severe stage, often deemed incurable. Even after surgery to remove the tumour, cancer cells returned, affecting her liver and lungs.
A meat-based diet was supposed to help
The TikTok emphasized the importance of healthy eating. Rachel Yaffe's account featured recipes and shopping hauls from local farmers' markets. One significant change in her life was her shift from veganism to a keto-carnivore diet.
In a video, she shared that she had adhered to a plant-based vegan diet for quite some time. However, after reviewing her blood test results with new doctors, they identified deficiencies in key nutrients that she required from proteins and fats. As a result, she began transitioning toward a keto-carnivore diet, which is a relatively recent change for her.
TikToker lost the battle with cancer
Throughout her fight with the disease, Rachel underwent several life-saving surgeries and was intubated. Doctors attempted treatments, including radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and proton therapy. Despite all efforts, the TikToker's condition worsened over time. Her final video, posted on September 1, 2024, mentioned her struggles and efforts to maintain strength, especially in a bustling city like New York. Rachel noted she was still adhering to a diet to support her body in the fight against cancer. "I am occasionally pretty low appetite, so it’s been a little bit difficult both physically and mentally but I’m working on really just focusing on the small things that bring me joy and really, really prioritising my mental health as well. That’s kind of the update on where I’m at right now," Rachel summarized.
On October 11, 2024, Rachel Yaffe's family published an obituary announcing her passing. The notice read: "She is survived by her devoted parents, Linda (nee Bass) and Wayne Yaffe; cherished brother and sister, Jordan Yaffe and Jessica."
