Doc Willie Ong : The Battle with the Big C
LAST week, Doc Willie Ong— one of the most prominent physicians in the country today and certainly the most followed on social media—disclosed that he has cancer known as sarcoma between the back of his heart and the spinal column compressing the right atrium, the esophagus and the inferiors vena cava and that he experienced excruciating pain and “brushes with death.” Stress and anxiety are a tax to good health especially with the immense popularity of Doc Willie, who lost the vice presidential race in the last 2022 national election.
He is an iconic social media personality who rose to prominence for giving medical advice through his Facebook and YouTube channel. Doc Willie started maintaining an online presence when he set up a YouTube channel in 2007, where he posts videos providing health tips and medical explainers targeted to a general audience. As of November 2023, his YouTube channel “Doc Willie Ong” has 9.04 million subscribers, and is the 15th most subscribed YouTube channel in the Philippines.
I met Doc Willie when he entered the internal medicine residency training program at Manila Doctors Hospital where he was the chief resident in his senior year. He used to cover in my clinic when I was busy in my early years of clinical practice.
He then finished his fellowship In cardiology at the UP-Philippine General Hospital where he was the chief fellow on his senior year . He also achieved the award for the highest academic performance when he earned his Masters in Public Health at UP-Philippine General Hospital.
A few days ago I had a video call with Doc Willie. He’s in Singapore undergoing chemotherapy.
He was stronger and vibrant at the time of our conversation. He quipped :
Sabi pa nga niya, “Sir mas marami na ang buhok ko sa kanya .”
We talked about many things e.g. his medical condition, the trigger for the cancer, his dream for a better Philippines, his quest for inner peace and national unity.
Doc Willie mentioned that his treatment is a great privilege , and this act of including the plight of many others with cancer in his narrative is commendable . He is correct: while Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has case rates for certain conditions and recently announced increases (e.g., up to P1.4 million for breast cancer), most Filipinos are still highly likely to bankrupt themselves in the process of dealing with catastrophic illnesses like cancer , diabetes with dialysis heart attack, and stroke.
He took a screen shot of our video call and sent to me this special message :
“Thank you Dr Leachon. No need to inform me sir. I know what you do for our healthcare. Do not gain unnecessary enemies.
Focus on the selfless goals.
For now, I just focus on resting and healing. The next 2 weeks is a battle of side effects of my chemotherapy . I do not wish any of our countrymen to have such illness like mine.
I love them all, the supporters and bashers alike. We will help ALL!”
I was named Anthony by my dad to honor St. Anthony of Padua. My dad Emil , was a devout Catholic and lawyer and a graduate of UP law school 1957. He was a former RTC Judge in QC. Like Dr. Ong, he was selfless, humble, kind , intelligent and definitely with a big heart for helping. He died of liver cancer in 2014 at age 81.
I am praying for Dr. Willie Ong on a daily basis and I promise to continue your health advocacy in my own small way to advance preventive heath education and promote health reforms for the community.
So I pray ..🙏
“St. Anthony, lover of the least and lowly, you reached out to the sick with a generous and compassionate heart. Please be with me at this time of ill health of Dr. Willie Ong , and accompany him as he faces this sickness and all the uncertainties of infirmity. Help him experience God’s healing power through your prayers, as well as my own. “
Amen.
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Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.
Independent Health Reform Advocate
Past President ,
Philippine College of Physicians
Department of Internal Medicine
Manila Doctors Hospital
