Teresina, Brazil – Flávia Bacelar, a 31-year-aged journalist, died Thursday, February 12, 2026, in Teresina after a rapid battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Her death underscores the challenges of diagnosing quickly evolving illnesses.
Bacelar passed away at the Hospital HTI due to multiple organ failure and cardiac insufficiency, according to a statement released by her family. She had been hospitalized since February 6 after experiencing back pain.
Initial examinations led doctors to believe Bacelar was suffering from a herniated disc, and medication was prescribed to manage the pain. However, her brother, Luís Paulo Cochá, explained that this treatment inadvertently “masked the disease,” delaying a correct diagnosis. During her hospitalization, nodules were discovered on her liver.
“We just couldn’t understand,” a friend of Bacelar’s told G1, reflecting the shock and grief surrounding her sudden illness, and passing.
Approximately ten months prior to her death, Bacelar underwent a procedure to remove a uterine fibroid. At that time, medical tests did not reveal any other health concerns. The family believes the cancer developed quickly following that procedure, and the origin of the cancer remains unknown.
Bacelar, a graduate of the Federal University of Piauí in 2017, worked as a reporter, communications advisor, and content creator for social media. The Piauí Journalists Union confirmed her death and expressed condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.
A memorial service was held Friday, February 13, in the Centro of Teresina. Her body was initially viewed at a funeral home in the Piçarra neighborhood before being laid to rest at the São José Cemetery in the Matinha district.
