Chief Raoni, 94, Receives Palliative Care at Home After Cancer Diagnosis

Indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire, a globally recognised voice for the Amazon rainforest and for Indigenous rights, is receiving palliative care at his home in Brazil's Mato Grosso state after being diagnosed with cancer in his digestive system, his institute said on Monday.

The Raoni Institute said the diagnosis was confirmed following his hospitalisation in Sao Paulo in June for a severe intestinal obstruction. He underwent surgery at that time and later returned to the region of Peixoto de Azevedo in Mato Grosso.

According to the institute, doctors chose palliative care in view of Raoni's advanced age of 94, his overall clinical condition and the high risks that aggressive cancer treatments would carry.

The institute stressed that palliative care does not amount to a halt in treatment. It said the approach is intended to manage pain and other symptoms, prevent complications and provide nutrition, hydration, medical supervision, nursing care and physical therapy, with the aim of preserving the best possible quality of life.

Raoni is resting at home, the institute said, surrounded by his family, his community and specialised health teams. The care plan also includes intercultural and spiritual support, allowing traditional healers to work alongside medical professionals in a manner consistent with his Indigenous heritage.

In its statement, the institute asked for respect for Raoni's privacy, his need for rest and his family's decisions, while saying it wished to share information about his condition transparently.

Over decades, Raoni travelled widely around the world to draw attention to the protection of the Amazon and the rights of Indigenous peoples, becoming one of the most prominent figures associated with those causes.