Who is Isabel Veloso, a 17-year-old girl with terminal cancer who shares her story on social media

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At 17 years old, young Isabel Veloso faces terminal cancer and, according to doctors, has only 4 to 6 months to live. On social media, the teenager born in Paraná shares with the public her routine in combating the disease and her achievements, such as passing university, getting engaged and preparing for the wedding.

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At the age of 15, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer originating in the lymphatic system. Isabel underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, and, in November 2023, she was cured. However, just three months later, the disease returned more aggressively. According to her, the exams showed a 17-centimeter tumor that covered part of the heart and lung.

On March 1st, the young woman told her followers that she received a palliative diagnosis from doctors, with only a few months to live. In a publication, she declared herself to her then boyfriend, Lucas Borbas.

“This time the cancer succeeded. I just hope that these next and last 6 months are the happiest and most sincere in our hearts. My love, today I understand that I did not come into the world to be cured, but to heal”, she began. “But even so, know that you were the most beautiful cure of my soul. I love him, more than anything that can exist on this earth. My eternal husband, boyfriend, faithful best friend and companion. Till death do Us part. Since forever and forevermore. I love you, Lucas Borbas,” she wrote.

After being accused by internet users of lying about the stage of the disease, the young woman found herself obliged to share the report she received from the doctors. “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, but I’m tired of so much fake news involving my name,” she wrote.

In the medical document shared by her, experts certified that Isabel Veloso had “Hodgkin lymphoma unresponsive to chemotherapy treatment”. The text also reported that the patient is “under exclusive palliative care” to focus on controlling and relieving symptoms.

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According to doctors, the location of the tumor is the main cause of the symptoms, in the mediastinum. The location is a space between the two lungs, in the center of the chest, where the trachea, heart, esophagus, thymus and part of the nervous and lymphatic systems are located.

Between the cure and the new diagnosis, Isabel graduated from school and was admitted to psychology university. Alongside her school friends, she celebrated her entrance exam results.

After the news of the return of the disease, Isabel began a journey to live new experiences and make dreams come true. In addition to traveling with her boyfriend and family, to see new places and “enjoy the time”, she and Lucas decided to get married.

“I want you to know that you are the protagonist of my life, the plot that gives meaning to each page turned. Our love is like a well-written script, full of surprises, twists and, above all, a guaranteed happy ending,” he wrote he, in a dedication to Isabel, a few days before the engagement proposal.

“May our story continue to be as enchanting and inspiring as the romantic films we love so much. I look forward to living each new chapter by your side, sharing moments of love, passion and complicity,” he said.

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On March 23, the young couple announced their future union, which was Isabel’s dream. The two will get married on April 13th, and the party will be held the following Sunday, the 22nd. According to the young woman, Lucas has been her companion throughout the years of treatment and the challenges brought about by the disease.

To seal the union, the two got a tattoo together, combining their fingerprints in a heart shape, with their initials, the wedding date and the words: “Forever”.

Last week, Isabel informed her more than 1.6 million followers on Instagram that she received good news when she underwent a CT scan: the disease had stabilized.

“I went for a CT scan and I’m very happy with the result, it showed that the tumor has stabilized in its growth, it’s still small, Thank God, everything is going well, who knows, maybe I’ll be here longer. I’m very happy with that. I wanted to thank you for every loving message I received before having the CT scan”, he said.