Isabel Veloso has terminal cancer; Learn what Hodgkin's lymphoma is, its symptoms, and treatment opportunities

Influencer Isabel Veloso, 17, said on social media that she is facing terminal cancer and has only four months left to live. According to the woman from Parana, she did just that Lymphoma He lives with a 17cm tumor, part of his lung and heart.

When she was 15 years old, Isabel was diagnosed with the disease and underwent a bone marrow transplant, in addition to chemotherapy. She even reported that she was cured in November 2023. But three months later, the disease returned.

With a date set for the wedding next Saturday (13), The teenager presented a medical report proving her health condition to her 1.6 million followers this morning. The young woman was accused of pretending to be sick to collect money for the concert.

The document highlights that the teenager suffers from “Hodgkin lymphoma that does not respond to chemotherapy” and that she is undergoing “exclusive palliative care.”

“Some patients may experience symptoms such as fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Itching all over the body is also relatively common. It is a disease that has a cure rate of more than 80-90% with treatment.

The hematologist adds: “The majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma are between 20 and 30 years old. However, Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare disease, with an incidence of 2 to 3 cases per 100,000 population per year.

Treatments

According to the doctor, treatment is carried out with chemotherapy, and in some cases it may include radiation therapy. “The treatment time usually depends on the stage of the disease and can last from two to six months,” he explains.

In Isabel Veloso's case, she underwent a bone marrow transplant, but the hematologist explains that not all patients need to undergo this procedure. “The vast majority of patients will only be cured with treatment that includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Bone marrow transplantation is essential for patients who experience disease relapse after the first treatment,” he explains.

“The relapse rate of the disease after bone marrow transplantation is about 50%, but there are some cases in which this rate may be higher or lower, and this depends mainly on how the disease appeared before the transplantation and how it is controlled during the operation.” He adds.

The final patient

Hematologists prefer not to use the term “terminal” to refer to the stage of the disease. “I cannot say that the term 'terminal' is appropriate for any cancer case. It is possible that this term is used in those patients for whom curative treatment can no longer be offered. This does not mean that strategies cannot be offered to the patient to improve their quality of life.

For patients who do not respond to treatment, he highlights some precautions that should be taken. “It is very important that a hematologist caring for a patient with this type of cancer explain the disease and expectations regarding symptom control and quality of life,” he begins.

“In addition, it is also very important that you are monitored by a palliative care doctor who will help the hematologist and the patient in providing care for a better life. We have recently created the Palliative Care Committee of the ABHH (Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hematology) which has brought more Progress and patient care.

“It is very difficult to determine the lifespan of any patient with disease that is refractory to available treatments. Hodgkin lymphoma can present periods of greater growth and stability and the period may be longer or shorter than that,” he explains.

Treatment opportunities

“I would like to point out that Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease that mainly affects young people and has high cure rates. We are seeing many advances in treatments for the disease and immunotherapy promises to improve rates even further. Detecting the disease in its initial stage makes it possible to treat more than “90% of patients, which makes early diagnosis very important.”