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Kris Aquino shares health update: Time is now my enemy
Kris Aquino has revealed more information about her health condition.
The actress and host on Friday shared a video of herself as a medical worker took swab samples inside her nose and mouth.
The video included a note about her illness, which she said were explained by her attending physician Dr. Niño Gavino, “an exceptional Filipino-American doctor based in Houston who successfully diagnosed what’s really wrong with my health.”
“I’ll miss you—my friends and followers very much. Time is now my enemy, naghahabol kami hoping na wala pang permanent damage to the blood vessels leading to my heart,” Kris wrote on her Instagram caption.
According to the note she posted, she was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis or EGPA, formerly known as Churg-Strauss Syndrome.
It said EGPA explained her adult-onset asthma, weight loss, gastrointestinal intolerances, and fluctuating blood pressure, which prevented her from traveling.
The post said Kris received steroids for treatment, but she had severe reactions to the drug and she was allergic to several medications.
It was then decided for her to undergo treatment with Nucala (Mepolizumab), a non-steroid EGPA treatment that was available only in the US, and possibly another drug called Rituxan (Rituximab).
“The subsequent 9-12 months will be crucial for us to see if she can achieve remission and continue the regimen further,” said the note.
It also said that with no medical intervention, life expectancy of those with EGPA was at about 25%, while with proper treatment, 5-year survival rate is at 62%.
“Only one in every one million get this form of vasculitis per year. That is how rare and hard to treat Ms Aquino’s case is,” it said.
According to Kris, the doctor also said it would take 18-24 months to know if her treatments worked.
“For now and the next few years—sadly, it’s goodbye. Praying na kayanin ng katawan ko itong matinding pagsubok,” she said.
“Kahit 17 hours away na kami nila Kuya Josh and Bimb to fly to and the Pacific Ocean separates the [Philippines] from [US], I’d still like to end this with #lovelovelove.
Last month, Kris revealed that she had learned she was suffering from a life-threatening illness. – RC, GMA News
