Senator Santiago: 90% of cancer cells have regressed

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago told her colleagues that many of her cancer cells have regressed but she could not attend plenary sessions just yet.

Within the last two weeks, the feisty senator spoke in two public forums, cracking up her audience with her witty one-liners while taking a dig at Vice President Jejomar Binay and National Police Director General Alan Purisima.

But given her condition, she later appeared exhausted after her engagements.

“I have difficulty looking pretty and I have difficulty walking once in a while because of my cancer,’’ she said before sitting down for a press briefing following her speech at the Philippine Christian University last Wednesday morning.

In early July, Santiago announced she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. She was also suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, which made her miss Senate sessions.

In a letter to senators last Thursday, Santiago said 90 percent of her cancer cells have regressed six months after she was diagnosed with lung cancer and took “modern medication.’’

Even so, she said she was not yet “physically fit’’ to attend the plenary sessions “because of the characteristic debilitating fatigue that marks cancer.’’

“However, I have managed to discharge my duties as chair of certain committees. In addition, I continue to file bills and resolutions on a weekly basis,’’ she said in her letter.

“I have also managed to discharge some speaking obligations, on condition that the event will not last more than two hours, which is my physical limit at this time,’’ she added.

Congress is resuming sessions on Monday after a three-week-long break.

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