Miriam says bone marrow woes may lead to leukemia

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is worried about her worsening health condition caused by a bone marrow disease.

After delivering a commencement speech at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City yesterday, Santiago told reporters that her bone marrow disorder may develop into leukemia if she continues to produce less red blood cells.

The senator admitted that her health has been deteriorating. She said she plans to go to the United States for treatment after consulting with her doctors in the country. She wants to do it before she assumes her duties as judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands.

Santiago told graduates of the Our Lady of Fatima University that she wants to study medicine to find a cure for her disease.

“I think I will no longer seek re-election, I will think about whether I want work as judge of international criminal court. I want to be a doctor,” she said. “Doctor of medicine because of my bone marrow condition, apparently no one knows how to beat it and I will probably retrogress into leukemia.”