Beloved Belgian singer, television personality, and former politician Margriet Hermans died on Wednesday at the age of 72, just weeks after revealing that she had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The news was confirmed by her daughter, the singer, entertainer, and TV presenter Celien Hermans, who revealed her mother had made the decision to end her life after receiving her devastating diagnosis. In late April, the star was told she had cancer. In mid-May, it transpired it was a neuroendocrine carcinoma "with limited treatment options".

In a moving Instagram post Celien penned: "With intense sadness, but also with indescribable gratitude, Dad (Frank) and I say goodbye to my dearest mom. To Flanders, she was a singer, a television personality, a politician, a woman with a distinctive voice and a big heart. To me, she was above all my home. My safe haven. My greatest critic and supporter. My best friend and most honest sounding board. My business partner and colleague. My everything," she began.

Writing about her mother's final weeks she continued: "...I took her to the hospital [after her diagnosis], where chemotherapy was started sooner than planned. Unfortunately, Mom was already severely weakened by that time."

"Due to the extremely painful circumstances, the terrible discomfort, and the very limited prospect of a quality existence, Mom has made the difficult and courageous decision to take her life into her own hands here as well. Even if it means the end of her life."

Margriet first rose to prominence during the 1980s and 1990s as a singer and television host. During this period, as one of the biggest singers in Belgium, she unsuccessfully attempted to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest on three occassions - in 1987 with the song In Slow motion, in 1989 with Wat ik bedoel and in 1999 when she sang Ik vaar met je mee.

It was a rare mis-step for the star who, ironically, never envisioned a career in music. "I never thought myself that I would become a singer...I wanted to see the world, become a bus driver, and travel. I didn't think I had the looks of a singer. But I was in the choir and enjoyed it," she said in an interview with Humo.

Away from music she had a hugely successful radio and TV career which began at Omroep Limburg on Radio 2. In the 1990s, she was given her own talk show Margriet on public television. Reflecting on it years later, she said: "That was a wonderful period. I am most proud of the fact that we were able to give Flemish artists a platform..."

She later entered politics and served in the Flemish Parliament between 1999 and 2009.

In recent years she had returned to music finding a whole new generation of fans. However in May this year she cancelled all her planned performances and public activities following her diagnosis.

Speaking at the time she said: "I have had a fantastic life full of love, friendship, and fun. With unique and sometimes tough challenges, wonderful opportunities, fantastic performances, political engagements, and so much more. A life to look back on with great gratitude."