Health advocate Willie Ong diagnosed with cancer

MANILA, Philippines — Health advocate, cardiologist and social media influencer Willie Ong announced yesterday that he is battling “sarcoma cancer” in his stomach and is now undergoing treatment in an undisclosed hospital abroad.

In a video message recorded from his hospital bed on Aug. 29, Ong, popularly known as Doc Willie, said his doctors detected a mass measuring 16 centimeters “deeply hidden” behind his heart, in front of his spine.

Cleveland Clinic in the United States describes sarcoma as “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.”

The symptoms depend on the tumor’s size and location and treatments may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

“My doctor said he has never seen a sarcoma that is this big, grows this fast and is well hidden,” Ong said.

Ong noted sarcoma is a “very rare” form of cancer and it still lacks research and medicines.

Ong recalled that he first felt discomfort in April 2023 when he was carrying out medical missions. He had difficulty breathing and swallowing and easily got tired.

He, however, thought it was part of “ageing.”

But in October 2023, he started experiencing persistent back pains.

In August, Ong had to be brought to a hospital in Manila for his worsening back pains which prevented him from sleeping on his back.

“Worst pain of my life. 10 out of 10. I cried. I was not able to sleep whole nights,” he added.

Ong believes that “stress” caused him to develop cancer.

But despite his condition, Ong kept an upbeat spirit.

“Am I sad? At first yes, but not anymore. I am happy as long as the Lord has a purpose. Will I get better? I don’t know. I don’t care if I get well or not,” he said.

Ong added that he is happy because his illness drew his family closer.

“I am lucky because I have a wife who looks after me and I have children who I love very much,” he said, referring to his wife Liza who is also a doctor.

He urged his followers not to be sad and to, instead, spread love and compassion to others.

Ong, a former columnist of The STAR, ran for vice president in the 2022 polls and was also a consultant of former health secretary Enrique Ona.