Doc Willie Ong Says He’s Undergoing Treatment for Cancer
DOC WILLIE ONG – “Doktor ng Bayan” Doc Willie Ong has been diagnosed with sarcoma cancer, which he says may have been caused by stress.
Cardiologist Willie Ong, a well-known health advocate and former vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections, is currently battling cancer. Known as “Doc Willie,” Ong shared his diagnosis through social media on Saturday.
The 60-year-old cardiologist revealed that doctors have discovered a 16 x 13 x 12 centimeter sarcoma in his abdomen, located behind his heart and in front of his spine.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Doc Willie Ong described the tumor as “very, very big” and one of the largest they have encountered. The video, recorded on August 29, was released later due to the complexities of his chemotherapy treatment, as mentioned in a Facebook post.
Sarcoma is a term for a range of cancers that originate in bones and soft or connective tissues, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Doc Willie Ong first noticed symptoms in April 2023, feeling fatigued and experiencing difficulty with breathing and swallowing during medical missions. Initially, he attributed these issues to aging. By October, he began experiencing severe back pain that extended to the upper spine, affecting his ability to sleep.
The pain intensified in August, leading him to describe it as “the worst pain of my life,” with a severity rating of 10 out of 10.
“Worst pain of my life. 10 out of 10. Iiyak ka. Buong gabi walang tulog,” Ong recalled.
He was admitted to the hospital that month and diagnosed with a rare and aggressive sarcoma. Despite the challenges, Ong remains optimistic.
“Malungkot ako? Hindi. Suwerte nga ako may asawa ako nagbabantay. Suwerte ako may [mga] anak ako… binabantayan ako. I’m so blessed,” he said.
He also noted the positive aspects of his situation. He said, “Is this negative or positive? Negative, may bukol. Pero positive, naging close sa akin ‘yung dalawang anak ko, na dati may barrier kami. Pamilya ko naging close.”
Ong has a substantial social media following, with 9.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 17 million followers on Facebook. In 2022, he ran for vice president alongside presidential candidate and former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno under the Aksyon Demokratiko party.
Ong previously served as a consultant for the Department of Health from 2010 to 2014. He graduated from De La Salle University College of Medicine in 1992 and earned his Master in Public Health from the University of the Philippines Manila in 2002.
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