Brazil football legend Pele has reportedly been moved to palliative care after he became unresponsive to chemotherapy in his battle with cancer.
An online source defines palliative care as specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure.
According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S Paulo, Pele (82), was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Tuesday to re-evaluate his cancer treatment.
The chemotherapy has now been suspended and Pelé is receiving end-of-life care, being treated only for symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath, reported Folha de S Paulo.
On Thursday, Pele posted on his Instagram account saying his visit to the hospital was routine.
Albert Einstein Hospital also released a statement confirming Pele had been diagnosed with a respiratory infection that required antibiotics. His condition was said to be stable.
Pele’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, who is in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, on Thursday said her siblings were with their father and that his health did not require her to jump on a plane back to Brazil.
Pele, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
He rose to international fame aged just 17 when he scored six goals for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup.
Pele scored two of the goals in the final in which Brazil beat the hosts, Sweden, to win their first world title.
He retired from football in 1977 and has been suffering from health problems in recent years.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2021 and spent two weeks in the hospital last December. | The Guardian