FILIPINA actress Miles Ocampo faced and successfully overcame challenges that came her way last year, including the health problem she had experienced.
According to her, she is now “cancer-free” after she underwent thyroidectomy surgery to remove her thyroid glands after she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
The “E.A.T.” host shared the good news when she was asked by broadcaster Karen Davila about her current health condition in a vlog uploaded on YouTube.
“I’m cancer-free but ‘yun na nga, maintenance for life. Yung meds ko, habangbuhay na siya and doon na ko naka-base,” she said.
During the interview, the 26-year-old actress recalled her bout with cancer and narrated the changes she noticed in her body prior to learning about her diagnosis.
“Nung time na ‘yon parang, una sa lahat yung weight ko parang sabi ko, ‘Bakit hindi naman ako sobrang kumakain, nagpi-pilates naman ako, bakit ganito? Bakit hindi ako pumapayat talaga?’” shared Ocampo.
The actress also noticed that she gets tired easily and wakes up at midnight as she had breathing difficulties. There was also a lump on her neck, she added.
“Para akong sinasakal na ganyan. Eh takot po ako sa mga needles, takot po ko sa ospital. Takot ako sa mga ganyan. Nung naramdaman ko yon, parang may hindi na tama,” she added.
Ocampo then decided to have herself checked by a doctor during the time when she was filming for the action-drama series “Batang Quiapo.” She portrayed the role of young Marites, the mother of the protagonist played by actor Coco Martin.
“Yung doctor ko sinabi na ito yung situation ko, na parang ayaw pa nilang sabihin yung cancer sa’kin,” she narrated.
“[It was] malignant and ang laki na niya. Kung hindi ko pa po siya naagapan, posible talagang kumalat,” she continued.
The actress said even her manager knew about her condition but did not reveal it to her. What her manager told her that time was she needed to undergo the operation whatever the result of her biopsy.
Ocampo said she learned that it was cancer only after the operation. She also had oral radiation therapy to remove the remaining cancer cells.
If there’s one thing that helped the actress to overcome a life-threatening challenge, it is her faith in God.
“Yung mga times na yon na parang it’s so uncertain, hindi mo alam kung anong mga mangyayari, just trust Him. Trust Him. Kapit ka lang sa kanya, talk to Him,” she told the broadcaster when asked about her takeaway in her thyroid scare.
Ocampo capped off 2023 winning the Best Supporting Actress award at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal on December 27, 2023 for her performance in “Family of Two.”
