KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese-American pop singer Coco Lee was secretly battling breast cancer six months before her death, according to her close friend.
In an Instagram post last Wednesday, Lee's friend and music producer Jae Chong revealed that she was "down with the Big C" at the time of her death.
He wrote: "I remember when she told me about her illness a few months ago, I sat in my car and cried non-stop. She was a true fighter. She didn't want her fans and family to worry.
"We have all lost a beautiful and amazing friend. I pray that she is in heaven where there is no more pain."
According to a report by Hong Kong publication ST Headline, Lee was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer last year. She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and did not receive chemotherapy.
Lee hid her condition from her 86-year-old mother as she did not want her to worry. She only told her two elder sisters and fought the illness silently.
Lee attempted suicide by injuring her wrist at her elder sister Carol's home in Hong Kong on July 2.
She was rushed to the Queen Mary Hospital while unconscious and died after three days there.