Cory Aquino responding to chemotherapy, says son
abs-cbnnews.com | 04/22/2008 12:44 PM
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Agence France-Presse
Former president Corazon Aquino is
responding well to chemotherapy and is slowly regaining strength, her
son said Tuesday, just weeks after the announcement that she had colon
cancer.
Aquino, the former housewife who challenged and eventually replaced dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, has not been seen in public since last month, when her family announced her illness.
Her son, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, said the 75-year-old icon of the political opposition has regained her appetite and is even sending text messages to family members.
"There seems to be a consistent trend towards the patient responding very, very well and in a rather quicker fashion than expected. Also, the anticipated side effects have been very minimal," the senator quoted the family doctor as saying.
Aquino however will remain out of public eye, with doctors fearing she may contract infections due to her fragile state.
On Sunday, she had been seen on a televised program hosted by her high-profile daughter, Kris, where she thanked the public for their prayers.
Aquino was swept into power in 1986, after a popular revolt toppled the regime of dictator Marcos and sent him into exile in Hawaii, where he died three years later.
She is credited for bringing back democracy to the Philippines, even as her six-year term was marked by several bloody coup attempts.
Aquino is known as a moral crusader and until last month, has remained a public figure who is known to fight for various causes, including anti-corruption efforts.
She has recently led street protests along with ex-president Joseph Estrada calling for the ouster of incumbent Gloria Arroyo, who family has been accused of massive corruption in corruption.
