Blogger Announces Own Death Via Pre-Recorded Video After Cancer Battle

British blogger Charlie Anderson-Read, 41, announced her own death on social media through a pre-recorded video after a years-long battle with cancer. Anderson-Read had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer at age 38, later developing bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma.

Her final message, recorded before her passing, was shared on October 10. In the video, viewed 2.6 million times, Anderson-Read stated, "If you are watching this video, I am, unfortunately, no longer here." She explained that a friend had posted the video on her behalf and expressed gratitude for the support she received from her followers.

"All of your messages and kind words have really helped me through what’s been a very difficult time," she said. "A lot of you have donated money to help out Louise and Florence for when I am no longer here and for that I’ll be forever grateful."

Anderson-Read, who is survived by her wife, Louise, and their four-year-old daughter, Florence, documented her cancer journey on social media. She shared details about her initial symptoms, which began after a stressful period at work. She noticed a decreased appetite and a hardening in her left side, which she initially attributed to stress.

She later experienced painful jabbing sensations in the area and fatigue that she associated with her parental and professional responsibilities. Early pancreatic cancer often presents with subtle symptoms, according to the American Cancer Society, which can include fatigue, jaundice, loss of appetite, back pain, nausea, vomiting, and blood clots. Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest cancer.

In her message, Anderson-Read expressed gratitude for her life and stated she had no regrets, with the exception of wishing she could have stayed longer with her family. "I wish I’d stayed with my family for longer and seen Florence grow up," she said. She also shared her hope that her videos might have helped others facing similar situations, noting the kindness and generosity she encountered throughout her ordeal.

Anderson-Read concluded her message with a plea for her followers to remain resilient: "Keep fighting — don’t let my passing have any negative effect on people, or on you. Keep fighting, you’ve got this."

Recently, a groundbreaking treatment for pancreatic cancer, daraxonrasib (Rasonque), received FDA approval in late August, potentially doubling survival times for some patients. Clinical trials showed a median overall survival of 13.2 months for patients taking the drug, compared to 6.7 months for those receiving chemotherapy.