The 82-year-old football legend underwent surgery for an intestinal tumor in September 2021. Earlier this week, he was hospitalized again to evaluate his chemotherapy treatment.
According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha, Pelé’s body no longer responds well to chemotherapy and it has been decided to go for palliative treatment. He focuses on relieving his physical discomforts such as pain and shortness of breath.
The hospital in Sao Paulo, where he has been treated since Tuesday, now reports that Pelé’s condition is “stable”. “He is responding well to treatment for his respiratory infection, with no worsening in the last 24 hours.”
Pelé himself said in a written message on Instagram that he feels “strong and hopeful” as he continues treatment for colon cancer. “I want to reassure everyone. I am strong and hopeful and I will continue with my treatment as always.”
Pelé’s daughter also put the seriousness of the situation into perspective on her social media. “The media is going crazy again. My father is in the hospital and on medication. But I’m not suddenly going there now. This is not an escalation or an emergency.”
