Father who lost three children to cancer dies of same disease
Cleveland Clinic states that ‘all people who have Li-Fraumeni syndrome have a 90 per cent chance of developing one or more types of cancer in their lifetimes’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A father who lost three children to cancer has died of the same disease.
Like his children, Régis Feitosa Mota was born with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a hereditary condition that increases the chances of developing cancerous tumours in the body.
The lifetime risk of developing cancer in people with LFS is 90 per cent, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and a 50 per cent chance of developing cancer before age 30.
Régis, 53, was diagnosed with cancer three times between 2016 and 2023. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January.
At the time, he said: “We discovered yet another disease. We have already treated lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which are now stabilised. But we have been treating them, they are not cured.
“This time, we discovered multiple myeloma, which even affects the bones.”
Régis said on social media last week that he was in the hospital waiting for a bone marrow transplant.
However, he passed away in Ceará, Brazil, on 13 August - Father’s Day in the South American country. His body will be cremated today, 14 August in Fortaleza.
Régis’ wife, Mariella Pompeu said: “My friends, I never imagined making this post. I never prepared myself for this moment because I was always convinced Régis would make a full recovery.
“It’s an indescribable pain. The ground has opened up and I don’t know what life will be like without his affection, companionship and absolute love.”
His brother Rogério Feitosa Mota said: “Our warrior went to meet his children exactly on Father’s Day. May God take you, my brother! We love you so much.”
Régis and Mariella lost three children within a four-year span. Their youngest child, Beatriz, died of leukaemia in 2018 at just 10 years of age. Their son Pedro died of a brain tumour in 2020 at the age of 22. Last year, their daughter Anna Carolina also died of a brain tumour at the age of 25, after previously beating leukaemia.
Adults with LFS have a 50 per cent chance of giving birth to a child with the same condition. According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases (DORD), which notes that Li-Fraumeni syndrome is “caused by an inherited (germline) pathogenic variant of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 17,” there is “no evidence of ethnic or geographic disparity in the occurrence of LFS, but a uniquely high prevalence of LFS has been reported in southern and southeastern Brazil”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments