Results of U.S.checkup ‘show I’m not dying as my critics wish’, says candidate

He’s stopped smoking, but still eats “pretty much whatever I like”.

With the campaign, he attends at least eight village meetings or pulong pulong a night.

Almost five years ago, Tomas Osmeña was dealing with the persistent question of how long he had left to live.

Today the 64-year-old cancer survivor still finds himself asked that question, more frequently now as the campaign to regain the mayorship of Cebu City enters the homestretch.

“My opponents say that I am dying because that is the only way they can win the election,” he said.

For the first time yesterday, Osmeña released copies of his medical checkup results in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the latest one in Oct. 29, 2012.

He was treated there for stage 3 bladder cancer in 2008 with seven cycles of aggressive chemotherapy and surgery to remove his bladder.

The latest CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis showed he had no more sign of cancer.

At the end of the two-page report for “follow up for bladder carcinoma” of Osmeña, was the Texas-based hospital’s “impression”: “No tomographic evidence of metastatic disease with findings as described.”

Cebu Daily News showed the same report to two Cebu oncologists who went over the detailed technical description and gave their views on condition of anonymity.

Both said the findings indicated “there was no evidence of cancer in his body.”

“He’s clean,” said one doctor.

“It means for the past four years since Oct. 28, 2008, he has been cancer-free. It can still recur, but after five years, the possibility of that happening is less likely.”

Speaking at the 888 News Forum, where he released the medical record, Osmeña said he decided to release the report to preempt an alleged plan of the camp of Mayor Michael Rama to go public with a “fake” medical report showing the congressman was ill again with cancer. (See full copy in this page.)

Osmeña invited other physicians to read it and weigh in.

REVEAL RECORDS

Allegations of poor health and medical troubles being kept secret are a familiar tactic to discredit an opponent in a campaign.

In the Cebu election, Osmeña isn’t the only target of such talk.

By making public part of his medical record, Osmeña has set an interesting precedent.

Should other candidates now offer evidence to clear up speculation about their physical fitness for public office? Or will they wait till after the May 13 polls?

These include:

1. Reelectionist Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who has repeatedly denied allegations that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

2. Former congressman Raul del Mar, whose noticeable weight loss has fed rumors that he suffered a stroke or cancer.

(‘He’s fine,” insisted Osmeña yesterday, saying Del Mar, who is seeking a return to his seat as north district representative, was just busy campaigning 8 to 9 pulong pulong meetings a night and still drives himself to meetings.)

3. Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, Team Rama candidate for Cebu city councilor, underwent brain surgery to treat a recurring parasite infection in October last year. He remains at home with limited speech and motor functions. His wife attends campaign sorties on his behalf.

4. Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV, vice gubernatorial candidate, was hospitalized for two weeks after he suffered a stroke in mid-March. He remains at home in Danao City, sometimes in a wheelchair, and has not been seen again on the campaign trail.

Yesterday, Osmeña released two computer print outs of narrative results of CT scans performed in Oct. 29, 2012 in the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, a world-renowned cancer research institute and hospital.

One report for a CT scan of the chest turned out to be a clerical error; it was labeled “Mcgill, Bobby” indicating the name of a different patient. Osmeña later said he pulled the wrong report from his home files by mistake.

The second printout bore his name “OSMENA, TOMAS R 64 yo” and birth date for a CT abdomen and pelvis “without contrast”.

It said a comparison was made to previous studied of an exam made in Oct. 28, 2008. That was the month, he was treated in the Texas hospital.

Among the findings: The spleen was normal in size. There was some “mild diffuse fatty infiltration” in the liver. A nodule in the left adrenal gland is stable and had previously “only very minimally increased in size since 10/28/2008.” There was no evidence of any lymphadenopathy or fluid in the pelvis.

Finally, there was “no tomographic evidence of metastatic disease”.

In short, there was no sign of cancer, according to two Cebu oncologists asked by CDN.

Nevertheless, Osmena said he regularly goes to Texas for checkups

It used to be required every two months, then three months, he said.

“It’s now down to every 9 months,” said Osmena, with the next check up scheduled in June.

“They say that cancer can recur that is why I need regular check up. But so far there has been no sign of cancer. My doctor said that as time goes on, the change of it coming back is already remote,” he said.

OVERCONFIDENT

Mayor Rama, sough for comment, said his rival should not feel over confident about his health.

“Ayaw siya pasultiha ana. Atakihon gani siya karong adlawa,” said Rama. (He shouldn’t be saying that he’s cancer-free. He could have an attack this very day.)

“Bisan unsa ka healthy ang taw, kung atakihon walay mahimo.”

(No matter how healthy a person is, if he’s struck by illness, he can’t do anything.)

Osmeña said he was aware his opponents are trying to reduce votes for him by questioning his health.

After his brush with cancer, he said he’s stopped smoking cigarettes because he was told by US doctors there was link to his habit and his illness.

“But there is no direct connection between drinking and cancer,” he told CDN, when asked if he stopped his alcohol intake.

The candidate said he still drinks, “but no longer the way I used to in my younger days.”

Osmeña said the functions of a chief executive is not like joining the Olympics. What matters is that your mind is sharp and you can make good decisions

Remember that US president Theodore Roosevelt “fought the Germans from a wheel chair and won”, he said. /Eileen G. Mangubat and Doris Boncac