Health advocate Doc Willie Ong has sarcoma cancer and here’s what we know about this.
DOC WILLIE ONG – Here are some things to know about sarcoma cancer, the disease the health advocate is currently suffering from.
A couple of days ago, many Filipino netizens were saddened after hearing from Doc Willie Ong that he was diagnosed with cancer. In a video on his social media account, Doc Willie revealed his sarcoma cancer and according to him, this might have been caused by extreme stress.
We have all known him as a health advocate, cardiologist, and social media influencer. He is battling sarcoma cancer in his stomach and is now undergoing treatment abroad. His doctors detected a 16-centimeter mass “deeply hidden” behind his heart, in front of his spine.
“My doctor said he has never seen a sarcoma that is this big, grows this fast, and is well hidden,” Ong said. The cardiologist furthered that this is a “very rare” form of cancer. He started to feel that there was something wrong in April 2023.
He experienced difficulty breathing, and swallowing, and he easily got tired, which, for him, was just part of getting old. In October 2023, he suffered from persistent back pains that caused him sleepless nights. It was the worst pain in his whole life.
About Sarcoma Cancer
According to the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, sarcoma is “a rare type of malignant tumor that develops in bone and connective tissue such as fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and the tissue that surrounds bones and joints”.
There are more than 70 types of sarcoma and the treatment will depend on the type, location, and other factors. It’s not clear what causes most sarcomas but some of the symptoms are:
- lump that may be felt through the skin that may or may not be painful
- bone pain
- broken bone that occurs unexpectedly
- abdominal pain
- weight loss
Some factors increase the risk of sarcoma such as inherited syndromes, cancer radiation therapy, chronic swelling, being exposed to chemicals, and being exposed to viruses like human herpesvirus 8.
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