The TikToker had been sharing her health journey on the platform, amassing over 55,000 followers, who are now saddened by her loss.
Rachel Yaffe died on October 11, 2024, leaving behind her parents, Linda and Wayne Yaffe, brother, Jordan Yaffe, sister, Jessica Yaffe, grandmother, Sydney Bass, and her loving dog, Layla.
Rachel, who was born on November 11, 1996, was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer when she was 20. In a 2023 TikTok video, she disclosed her diagnosis, explaining that her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety.
However, a doctor she already knew decided to run tests because she understood the 27-year-old felt something was off with her body.
After she had an ultrasound and consulted a liver specialist, the true cause of her symptoms was revealed. It was a 20-centimeter tumor on her liver, which was obstructing blood flow to her calves and causing shoulder pain.
Rachel had a biopsy done on the same night she learned about the tumor. A few days later, the results showed that the tumor was a rare form of liver cancer, fibrolamellar carcinoma, typically seen in teenagers and adults below 40.
This cancer is different from others that affect the liver because it grows in people who have healthy livers. People do not have symptoms when the cancer first begins, but when it grows, they experience nausea, vomiting, pain in the shoulder, malaise, and jaundice.
A couple of days after Rachel was diagnosed with fibrolamellar carcinoma, she met a surgeon who told her she was going to be okay as he would remove the tumor. The TikToker noted that she was still in denial about the gravity of her illness, so she believed him.
In August 2024, Rachel shared a health update, as she often did on TikTok, saying that she had been living with her parents for a while as she underwent proton therapy, a form of radiation.
However, she was back in New York and was feeling happier and stronger. She was also glad to be back in the city where most of her support systems were. Rachel revealed that she was walking more, going to the gym, and eating clean with the help of a metabolic doctor and nutritionist.
Rachel, who looked lively and delightful, added that she had some fun things to look forward to in the coming days as she was craving joy and lightness in her life.
Her last TikTok shared in September 2024, before she passed away, showed Rachel in gratitude mode. She was thankful to be back to living in her own space and to reconnect with her friends. Rachel described how these moments of happiness benefitted her mental health.
As for her physical health, she had lost so much strength while undergoing radiation that she was working hard to regain. Her walks and food regimen were helping a lot, even though her appetite wasn’t great.
Despite the mental and physical challenges, Rachel was determined to thrive by focusing on the little things that brought her joy. The TikToker indulged in Rom-coms, Netflix originals, and reality shows when life felt heavy.
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She also took walks with her dog Layla, as they recorded reels and TikToks. Rachel was passionate about sharing her life journey and had a lot of dreams about her future.
Sadly, her life, which she was determined to live to the fullest even as she battled a rare form of liver cancer, has been cut short. Rachel was laid to rest on October 14, 2024, in a private service.
The family requested no flowers. They asked that contributions in her memory be made to Experience Camps, a no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver.
