What happened to Traci Braxton? Cause of death explored as Toni Braxton's younger sister passes away at 50

As per TMZ, singer-songwriter Traci Braxton passed away at the age of 50 on Friday, March 11. She reportedly died in the morning, and the news of Braxton's demise was shared to the publication by her husband, Kevin Surrat.

According to the report, Braxton's mother, sisters (Toni, Towanda, Tamar and Trina), extended family and friends were present with her at the time of her death.

Braxton is survived by her husband and their son, Kevin Surrat Jr. The latter took to his Instagram to pay tribute to his late mother. Surrat Jr. shared a picture of him embracing Braxton and captioned it:

"When I heard the news about my mother being sick first thing she said was I'm going to fight and beat this. She fought to the end and today she's at peace…"

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Traci Braxton's cause of death

As per the Crash & Burn singer's family's statement to TMZ, the late star was fighting Esophageal cancer for over a year. The statement also revealed that Traci Braxton was privately undergoing "a series of treatments" up until her demise.

While it is unknown when Braxton was diagnosed with cancer, it is medically known that esophageal cancer often does not present any symptoms in the early stages. According to Mayo Clinic, this form of cancer is also the sixth most leading contributor of cancer-based deaths globally.

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Traci Braxton's health problems

While Braxton was fighting cancer privately, she has been vocal about her health problems in the past. Previously, the Maryland native has had problems with eating and excess weight. However, the late icon had worked on losing her weight to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

In a 2013 interview with News One Now's Roland Martin, Braxton revealed that she had lost 64 pounds in the early 2010s. She said:

"When it came down to eating, I basically ate anything I wanted to eat [at anytime]. And I thought, it's OK, it's fine, it's healthy. I didn't have my mind right. I was upset with myself because I was gaining the weight."

However, at the time, the R&B singer decided to pay more attention to her health and had joined the gym. She was also under medication as the singer had lost much weight in a short time.

The singer, actress, TV and radio personality leaves behind a legacy of over three decades of her professional career. Until her demise, Braxton was also known for her philanthropy as she supported multiple charities and NGOs, providing aid to women and children in need.