With cancer ‘under control,’ Miriam considering 2016 presidential run

(Updated 12:40 p.m.) Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Wednesday announced that she is considering running for president in the 2016 elections after being informed that the spread of cancer in her left lung has been controlled.

In a press statement sent out to the media, Santiago said that Dr. Mark Kris, a distinguished medical oncologist who serves as chief of the Thoracic Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, has pronounced that the "cancer growth in her left lung has been arrested."

 

Santiago said that she was "elated and gratified" with this news.

 

Santiago said Dr. Kris had a consultation with her and her team of local doctors last July 17. She said the Dr. Kris and the team of local doctors examined at the St. Luke’s Global City Medical Center all the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) Scans which Kris had already fully studied in his New York clinic.

 

Santiago said that she was also "happily surprised" by the results of Publicus Asia's recent survey, where she placed second among the respondents' top choices for president. Leading the survey was Senator Grace Poe.

 

The survey was released also last July 17.

 

Last December, Santiago placed third in a Pulse Asia's survey, following Vice President Jejomar Binay and Poe.

 

“To remain in the consciousness of voters despite an absence of over a year is certainly a challenge, including remaining in public service. And I consider it in that light,” said Santiago, who has been on medical leave from the Senate because of cancer. —ALG/RSJ, GMA News