Mary Donita Uy, 18, hailing from an impoverished part of Manila, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare cancer that affects bones and joints, two years ago and it had advanced to stage three by the time she was treated.
Unable to fund chemotherapy herself, Uy was resigned to the inevitable until the foundation learned of her situation and arranged for her travel to Taiwan in December last year.
Uy began treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in northern Taiwan. Doctors removed a 15-centimeter-long tumor from her right arm and conducted limb salvage surgery, replacing parts of the injured humerus with a metal prosthesis. Her surgeon in the Philippines had previously said the arm would have to be amputated.
The CGMH medical team said Uy can expect stable recovery with follow-up care and regular checkups back in Manila.
According to Chiou Shu-ti, director-general of the ROC Health Promotion Administration, bone cancers are disproportionately common in children and young adults.
Taiwan’s progress in bone tumor treatment in recent years has enabled the nation to play a significant global role through assistance programs such as those run by CTK Foundation, Chiou said. (YHC-SDH)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw