FORMER President Corazon Aquino was supposed to check out of the Makati Medical Center (MMC) yesterday but was advised to remain in confinement as she has to take pre-chemotherapy procedures, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr. said yesterday.

"She will undergo these procedures for at least two weeks," Aquino said.

He said the family will be issuing medical bulletins.

On Monday, television host Kris Aquino, revealed that her mother’s biopsy test last March 19 showed she had cancer of the colon.

The charismatic former chief executive was admitted at the MMC at around 6 p.m. Monday. She is staying in an executive suite at the 9th floor.

A source from the MMC said Mrs. Aquino would undergo "colectomy" in which the affected tumor will be removed this week.

The source explained that cancer patients must take this procedure before undergoing chemotherapy.

"There is a need for cancer patients to undergo this procedure before taking the chemotherapy unless they are already in their fourth stage of cancer. Mrs. Aquino’s is still in the early stage of her cancer and it still can be cured," the source said.

Dr. Alex Asuncion, head of education and information of the Philippine Cancer Society, said the colon cancer of former President Aquino remains treatable if it is still in an early stage.

"But I think it could already be on the third or fourth stage already… the problem with colon cancer is hindi basta lumalabas ang symptoms nito until nasa medyo late stage na," Asuncion said, but noted his observations are general, and not specific to Aquino’s case.

He said early detection could increase the chances of surviving the illness just like any other disease.

He said most common symptoms of colon cancer are constipation, weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, abdominal pain and dark blood stool.

The disease causes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix and is often discovered through a process called colonoscopy.

Asuncion added that one of the most common treatments for the disease, which also known as colorectal cancer, is surgery.

"Other conventional ways are, of course, chemotherapy and radiology. This is aside from the operation that would remove the portion where the cancer is found," he said.

He said one of the main causes of colon cancer is unhealthy diet, low fiber intake, high fat intake and heredity. – Ashzel Hachero and Gerard Naval