Featured Image Credit: @elenahuelva02 / Instagram
Topics: Cancer
Emma Guinness
An inspirational young woman who won legions of fans for documenting her battle with cancer has passed away at the age of 20.
Elena Huelva, 20, who died yesterday (3 January) had been battling Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, since 2016, and she shared her fight with the illness with her almost 936K Instagram followers.
The social media influencer's condition tragically took a turn for the worst earlier this month when her cancer spread to her throat, making breathing difficult.
Prior to her update, she told fans that she was glad she had been able to share her story with so many people.
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The young Spanish woman said: "My life has not been in vain."
However, she admitted that 'things are not going well.'
The 20-year-old explained: "They found more disease in my windpipe, which is very dangerous, as you know, because that's where we breathe.
"I don't need to say much more. I want to make it clear that I've already won."
She emphasised that she was happy to have shared her story as she wanted to raise awareness of cancer and said she was content that she achieved her goal.
"I know that my life was not in vain, because I fought and got what I wanted," she said.
Despite her cancer spreading, she was able to spend her final Christmas at home with her family, the Daily Mail reports.
Huelva revealed that she'd recently had a scare in what was to be her final Instagram post on Sunday (1 January).
Alongside a picture of her hand in another, she wrote: "Today I woke up not in the best way, in fact, nothing good, a big scare.
"These are very difficult days, they are becoming more and more complicated, but as you know I am stronger and more complicated!
"I want you to know that I already won, a long time ago. We continue, always."
News of her death was revealed on the platform by a family member, who took to Instagram stories to share a picture of the late 20-year-old, writing: "Since this morning, Elena dances and looks down at you from her star. Thank you for everything."
Following the update, fans were quick to pay tribute to the influencer.
One praised: "You are an example for everyone and the footprint you leave every day is huge."
"Rest in peace princess," added a second.
Prior to her death, Huelva wrote a book about her experience with cancer, which was published last year.
You can find out more about Ewing sarcoma, which is most commonly found in people aged between 10 and 20, from the NHS here.