Dr. Eck Shares Update on Cancer Battle and Return to Paediatrics

Beloved paediatrician Dr Cecilio Eck has shared a hopeful update on his fight with stage four cancer.

It’s been over a year into his cancer battle, and he says this journey has been nothing short of humbling.

He pointed out that the fight against this diagnosis comes with a hefty price tag, but despite that, he’s grateful for the immense support he’s received from everyone.

“It still is humbling for me that so many people in the community, so many of my friends, my colleagues and people that I didn’t know I have impacted or influenced came and gave freely,” Dr Eck said.

He added, “The ones that touch me the most are my patients and my little babies who would come. I have a good friend who sold avocados and brought his little can with money. I think that’s the most surprising thing to me.”

Since his diagnosis, he has undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy and spent endless hours in the hospital.

Dr Eck spoke about the financial and emotional challenges of treatment. He explained that each treatment costs about $25,000 every three weeks.

Despite the hardship, Dr Eck said his faith and community have kept him strong. “This episode shows me there are no guarantees. You live each day to the fullest,” he said.

His most recent scans have been optimistic, and he continues treatment with hope of remission.

“I just completed one year of treatment. And the last scan that they did is very hopeful. I’ll have another scan done in the middle of December, and if that one is completely negative, denial, give some thanks because it would mean that I’m closer to remission,” he said.

Dr Eck still has another year of treatment to go, but in the meantime he’s back in his office tending to his ‘little patients’.