A well-known live content creator who shared her journey battling cancer online has passed away shortly after proclaiming to her audience that she had been “cured”.
Chen Meiying, a 39-year-old mother, lost her life on October 12 following a year-long struggle with triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the illness. Her diagnosis in 2024 drastically altered her life, leading to the closure of her small clothing store and significant financial strain on her family due to mounting medical expenses.
Turning to live broadcasting on the social media platform TikTok, Meiying would perform traditional songs on camera in exchange for donations despite her health challenges. Originally from Chongqing, China, she maintained a positive and cheerful demeanor on screen, captivating her 17,000 followers with her warmth and constant smile.
In a surprising turn of events on April 16, Meiying removed her IV line and declared herself “cured,” only to face a devastating setback as the cancer recurred just two months later. The disease rapidly spread to her bones and internal mammary lymph nodes, leaving doctors with no curative options, only treatments to prolong her life.
Even as her condition deteriorated, Meiying remained steadfast in her daily routines, propelled by her teenage daughter, who was completing her final year of high school. Despite her pain, Meiying insisted on continuing the school run. She shared her final social media post on September 22, and by September 26, she was readmitted to the hospital. Meiying passed away on October 12 and was laid to rest in her hometown, leaving behind her elderly mother.
In one of her poignant statements, Meiying once expressed, “You can be poor, you can be tired, but you cannot be unhappy, because unhappiness makes you sick.”
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an extremely aggressive and challenging-to-treat form of invasive breast cancer. TNBC exhibits rapid growth and spread, limited treatment options, and generally carries a poorer prognosis compared to other breast cancer types.
According to Cancer Research UK, TNBC predominantly affects women under 40 years of age and is exceptionally rare in men.