Belizean Community Rallies as Dr. Eck Faces Cancer’s Return

Belizean pediatrician Dr. Cecilio Eck is once again in a fight for his life, after learning that his biliary tract cancer has returned. Dr. Eck was first diagnosed back in 2024 and has undergone multiple rounds of treatment since then. In fact, he made it back to work last year following what doctors called a successful surgery. But despite the recent setback and the spread of the disease, Dr. Eck remains remarkably optimistic. And now, members of the business community are coming together to support him. They’re organizing a fundraiser on January thirtieth at the Belize House of Culture to help with his ongoing treatment. Today, we caught up with Dr. Eck to hear how he’s holding up and to learn more about the upcoming event. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story in our special edition of Belize on Reel.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been just over a year since beloved pediatrician Dr. Cecelio Eck first learned he was battling stage four biliary tract cancer, a diagnosis that shook his family and friends. The disease spread aggressively, and Belizeans from near and far rallied to support him, raising funds to help with his treatment abroad. By July of last year, there was finally a glimmer of hope. Dr. Eck underwent a complex shoulder reconstruction surgery, and for a moment, it seemed things were turning around. But tonight, there’s difficult news: the cancer has returned, and it’s once again spreading.

 

Dr. Cecilio Eck, Cancer Patient

“The treatment was working. We got chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the chemo and immunotherapy was working quite well. On maybe the first week of December, I started to feel some pain in my left hip. And despite the medications that were prescribed, it became progressively worse. Hence we had to come back to Merida to get that scan done. Unfortunately, the scan was done in Merida, so we had to fly to Mexico City to get that scan done, which proved that the cancer had returned.”

 

Dr. Eck explains that the cancer has reached his hips, causing intense pain whenever he sits or lies down, and making even simple movements difficult.

 

Dr. Cecilio Eck

“So we did some radiotherapy. Today I should receive the eighth of ten treatments of radiotherapy on the hips, and I’m already feeling some relief from the pain. It is working. We hope that the new chemo will work to decrease the cancer in my body.”

 

Dr. Eck has dedicated himself to pediatrics for over two decades. Across Belize, parents and children have grown to see him as a trusted doctor and friend. Candice Joseph said that throughout her child’s difficult treatment, Dr. Eck has been a source of comfort.

 

Candice Joseph, Parent (File: July 19^th, 2024)

“From day one, we were very comfortable with him. And being a first time mom, you know that we would have, like, so many questions. And I needed to have a pediatrician that I felt comfortable with. I could call him at any time, and he would not have problems. Any type of attitude, like I would start off by saying, you know, I’m sorry to be calling you this late. I know it’s a Sunday, but Kai has a fever or something is happening. He has a spin wheel of lollipops that he turns and it has like so many different options and the kids just light up right away when they see that. Then he has a book of stickers that he pulls out. I remember my daughter going and when she left the office, she had stickers like every part of her all over her face, all over her hands, and she didn’t even remember that she was feeling sick.”

 

MADISCO is hosting a fundraiser called Hope for Dr. Eck on January thirtieth at seven p.m. at the Belize City House of Culture. The night will feature live music, raffles, food, drinks, and even a complimentary glass of wine at the door. Content Marketer Luisa Balona tells us more.

 

Luisa Balona, Content Marketer, MADISCO

“You can expect great music from different entertainment persons. For instance, we will be having DJ Woody, DJ Clarks and Smurf Entertainment, Stone Jam, and Fyaah Statta sounds. We’ll also be having great food and also we’re gonna be hovering our own bar so you can get your drinks there. We’ll also be having wines as well. For instance, we have the prestige. Just to give an example of the type of wines we’ll be selling there.”

Guests will also have the chance to win prizes such as an aroma‑spa therapy sessions and can also purchase high‑end wine and luxury furniture. But Balona says the real reason to attend goes far beyond the prizes, it’s about Belizeans coming together to support a truly meaningful cause.

 

Luisa Balona

“Not only is it a worthy cause, but here is a very dear person to many, not just us here at MADISCO. Like I said earlier, he was my pediatrician when I was a child and. I remember all the times when it was my birthday, he would send little cards wishing me happy birthday. So that was very special. And I know it’s not just me, but he does that to every other child within Belize, I assume.”

 

A key part of Dr. Eck’s care is the strong sense of trust he builds with his patients. And it is that trust that keeps him in the hearts of his patients for years to come.

 

Khailyn Tillett, Patient (File: July 19^th, 2024)

“One of my favorite days was a time when I went for a checkup and he was being  really goofy with me and I got a lot of stickers and I got a lollipop.”

 

Tickets are going for a hundred dollars, and you can pick them up at the MADISCO office, grab them online, or buy them right at the door. Throughout his ongoing treatments, Dr. Eck has shared how deeply grateful he is for the unwavering support he’s received from Belizeans. But he also wants people to know that his journey isn’t just about him, he hopes his story inspires others to keep pushing forward, no matter the challenges they face.

 

Dr. Cecilio Eck

“I’ve chosen to make this my illness public for the simple fact that I want to raise awareness for cancer and I want everybody to not be so afraid of it. This is what usually happens, you get a cancer, it has spread all over. You go, you get multiple opinions. And during the treatment, sometimes it works for a little while and then the cancer changes and becomes smart. And because of that, you’ll have to get a couple steps backward before new treatments are started again. That, and that’s where I’m at. So no hope is lost. We’re still hopeful that we can get over this.”

 

All Belizeans are invited to purchase a ticket and donations towards Eck’s treatment is encouraged. Britney Gordon for News Five.