Procedure reveals that Pelé's cancer has spread to other organs

Former player Pelé has made headlines in the country in recent days following the revelation of a hospitalization in his fight against cancer. The idol of Santos and the Brazilian National Team raised concerns among fans after it was disclosed that the tumor, initially in the colon, has spread to the liver and lung. Of the three tumors, the one that worries doctors the most is the liver tumor, which cannot be removed surgically. Pelé, who is 81 years old, has been undergoing treatment for cancer since September of last year, when he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which is a part of the large intestine, an organ that is part of the digestive system. The surgery to remove the tumor took place that same month, and shortly thereafter, the former player began chemotherapy treatment. Upon returning to the hospital last Wednesday (19) in São Paulo, the former player underwent a procedure called staging, which, according to oncologist Felipe Márcio from Rede Meridional, consists of checking the exact location and extent of cancer in the human body. "Staging describes aspects of the cancer, such as location, whether it has spread, and if it is affecting the functions of other organs in the body, among others. Knowing the stage of the tumor helps define the type of treatment and predict the patient's prognosis," says the doctor. Pelé left the hospital on Thursday (20) after a brief hospitalization to continue treatment for the colon tumor, the Albert Einstein hospital reported, and is "in stable clinical condition."