Is Pres. Gloria sick?
I ask this question as prayerful Filipinos are now ‘storming Heaven’s Gates’ with healing prayers for President Cory Aquino as close relatives and friends continue their healing Novena while she remains at the Makati Medical Center.
Though described as being “in stable condition” the family has stopped all medical interventions for her and said they are “leaving her fate to God.”
In like manner, if Malacanang tells us what the true state of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s health is, Filipinos will set aside any partisanship and pray for her good health.
But instead of such a report what we have are two dispatches that raise questions about why Mrs. Arroyo went straight to Asian Hospital upon her return from Japan and Brazil.
The two reports assert PGMA sought medical help for “leaking breast implants and a growth in her groin area.”
Manila Bulletin:
President Arroyo underwent removal and replacement of breast silicone implants at a hospital in Muntinglupa City, a source told the Manila Bulletin.
Meanwhile, a Palace official announced that President Arroyo has ended her two-day self imposed quarantine “with a clean bill of health,” and is expected to resume public engagements “in a few days.”
The informant, who requested anonymity since the source was not authorized to speak about the matter, said the President was scheduled to undergo augmentation mammoplasty at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinglupa.
In addition, a cyst or lump in the groin area was also scheduled to be removed by surgery, said the hospital source.
A biopsy was also done on her breast, the source said. This does not mean that the President was ill. This was part of regular medical procedures, the source added.
The President canceled the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in preparation for her quarantine. She checked in at the hospital on Wednesday.
Security measures have been tightened at the hospital during the President’s confinement. All persons, whether visitors or employees, are subjected to intense inspection, a source said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo has left Asian Hospital and Medical Center after undergoing self-quarantine following her 13-day visits from influenza-infected countries, including the former British colony of Hong Kong, Brazil, Colombia, United States and Japan.
In an interview shortly after the awarding ceremony of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace, Ermita said the President will be out of the hospital “within the day.”
Remonde said President Arroyo yesterday checked out of the hospital at around 2 p.m. in the pink of health.
“She underwent certain check ups while on quarantine and all the results were okay. She has returned to Malacañang,” he said in a text message.
He also denied rumors that the President had some silicone removed from her body.
Ermita said President’s nearly three-day stay at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa has given the President a “breathing space” from her hectic schedules.
But, he was quick to add that Mrs. Arroyo remains in touch with him and fellow cabinet members, citing that she “calls anytime she wishes to.”
“The President is taking advantage of her time na nag-self quarantine siya so mabuti na lang nakakapahinga si Presidente dahil masyadong hectic naman ang kanyang byahe and many, many other out of town trips before those trips abroad so mabuting nakakapahinga si Pangulo,” Ermita said.
The President just returned from her long trip on Monday with baskets of foreign investments and employment opportunities for Filipino workers.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/208951/gma-medical-checkup-ok
Jarius Bondoc In the Philippine Star:
If Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can make secret a trip to Colombia, more so the real aim of her overnight stay at Asian Hospital. The post-travel self-quarantine for A(H1N1) is a handy cover for gynecological procedures. The President has been suffering dysfunctional bleeding, likely due to polyps or myoma in the uterus. She had first walked into the hospital one dawn in 2008 for D&C (dilation and curettage) and left at dusk. News then was that she had an executive check. She’s had three follow-ups this year, the last in June. Menopause is inducing abnormal tissue growth and hormonal imbalance, a source said.
Wednesday dawn Arroyo checked in again — for less serious causes. She needed mammoplastic repair of leaking breast implants done in the ’80s. Occasion too to have doctors take out an inguinal cyst (in the groin), and laser off extra hair growth in that area and the armpits. Though a bit groggy, Arroyo was set to check out yesterday afternoon.
Hospitalizing a President isn’t easy. Patients in five rooms at the VIP 10th floor had to be moved, to billet bodyguards and cooks; P4,000@, or total P20,000 a day. Arroyo was given two connecting suites, P18,000@, or total P36,000 a day, one for her, the other for the family.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=483276&publicationSubCategoryId=64
Malacanang is issuing a wholesale denial of both stories.
But it must surely understand that the President, as Head of State and Head of Government must be fully transparent about her health.
The national interest is indubitably linked to a sitting President’s health.
Her health impacts on the entire nation’s political well being.
UPDATE:
Malacanang has now reversed itself and is admitting that Mrs. Arroyo has had breast augmentation done on her and was diagnosed with a cyst in her groin area:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/03/09/arroyo-admits-she-has-breast-implants
Popularity: 1% [?]
From the looks of it, she had her gynecologic examination (due to the dysfunctional bleeding and the rest). This probably included breast x-ray. The leak may have been caused by rupture of the breast implant during the x-ray procedure (mammography) as the breast is compressed. It helps really to disclose to the radiographer that implants are present in ones breasts.
Well, we’ll never know if the leak happened before or during the breast x-ray. One thing that’s cause of concern is that imaging of the breast to detect breast cancer may be limited depending on the size, shape, and location of the implants as the implants obstruct the view. Another thing is that if leak (from the implant) is present in some areas in the breast, this will confuse doctors whether the x-ray image will signify cancer or not. Then biopsy of the abnormal findings might really be in order.
Lastly (as I gather from this googling result), there’s a case report of a ruptured breast prosthesis mimicking a primary lung tumor.
I don’t know if the mole is real or not but it’s actually a “beauty mark” according to this list.
She wouldn’t be the mole of Asia for nothing, you know.
With all the boring stuff on the net lately, I invite you to this slightly fun game. Enjoy!
A President who has a silicone breast implant? M
A President has silicon breast implant? Maybe she wants to look
like Angelina Jolie.
The pressure of the office has a lot ot do with the aging of a leader. I still am confused why she desires still for the Office of
Presidency. Why not give it to younger men or women? They still
have the good health and stamina for the office. Let they themselves
age also.
You can see the aging in the face of Pres. Barack Obama. He has not yet finished his one year in office. It is said that a President ages
ten years faster when he or she enters office. As you age, your
health also deteriorates.
This is stupid.
No, the public doesn’t have a right to know various details about any President’s body parts. It is expected that announcements would be made if there is any reason for a temporary change. Until, if ever, such a time…one should respect decorum.
This is one of those head-shaking moments when looking at the press. A bunch of hen-house bok-bok-boking. Talk about delicateza, or lack thereof…….
People sold the Hyden Kho-Katrina Halili Toro-Toro CDs. What
do you expect from these news hungry Filipinos? They will do
anything to titilate their senses…
Hyden,
Yeah, you’re right. Sad, no? It’s not just Pinoys; it’s everywhere.
But voyeurism is illegal for a reason; people deserve the right to their own “space”. What is freedom if man cannot have his/her privacy?
My first wish is sincere, that I hope her ailment, if there is one, is minor and not too troublesome.
My second was a joke, but in very poor taste, so I have self-edited it away, in the interest of preserving a small smattering of PhilAm friendship this day. However, I hope by next year, this holiday is done away with, as I fear it serves to wrankle more than please, and the Philippines can unattached itself completely from that great gory beast in the West (which you reach by traveling east, one of life’s little confusing nuances).
Joe