MANILA — After being diagnosed by his doctors of having early stage tongue cancer in November 2017, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. on Sunday said he has been declared cancer-free after a successful surgery.
In a WhatsApp message to reporters, the central bank chief announced about the “curve ball” he received and how he dealt with it.
“Fortunately, it was very early stage and quite localized. I underwent surgery soon after to remove the problem. That was successful. My doctors say I’m now cancer-free. So I don’t expect this curve ball to slow me down,” he said.
Espenilla said he also underwent radiation therapy “for insurance” as per his doctor’s advice.
“That’s completed now,” he said, but pointed out that “radiation therapy has unavoidable side effects.”
The sessions of therapy has caused “speaking difficulties for me due to dry throat and mouth sores,” he said.
“That should go away in time and my doctors expect me to achieve more or less full recovery in a month or so. Now, that’s my personal normalization. I just have to hang on and be patient. Meanwhile, it’s work as usual for me. Onward with the financial market reforms!,” he said, stressing his optimism that “this personal medical issue will not distract (me) from the important work at hand.”
Espenilla, who was appointed as BSP chief in May 2017, is currently in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his wife and some friends.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, in a Viber message to journalists Sunday, said: “The good news is that our prayers have been answered and that Nesting is cancer-free and recovering from the ill effects of the treatment.”
“He has my full support and that of the President,” he added. (Joann Villanueva/ PNA)
