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Gary V survives heart surgery, cancer: 'Work of the Lord'

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Korina Sanchez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/07/07/20180705-gary-v.jpg"/><figcaption>Gary Valenciano with Korina Sanchez</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - After his 35th anniversary performance on &quot;ASAP,&quot; Gary Valenciano felt severe pain in his chest which he at once suspected was something serious. He had a hectic week of daily performances prior to &quot;ASAP&quot; and he did more shows in the following days.Then came the bad news after a checkup: he needed an open-heart surgery.Valenciano was found to have a 95 percent blockage in a main artery to his heart. The blockage is called &quot;The Widow Maker,&quot; a condition peculiarly afflicting mostly males. His chest was cracked open, his heart was harvested, made to stop beating, revived, and then returned to his chest cavity.Doctors were not optimistic, but hopeful he would heal well. Valenciano is diabetic. And heal well, he did. Doctors were surprised at how well his chest wound was drying up fast. Not long after, Valenciano felt pain in his lower back while recovering. Doctors examined him and diagnostics showed the pain was &quot;simply muscular.&quot;But then something else serious was accidentally discovered in the other side of his body from the imaging: he had a six-centimeter tumor attached to his kidney. It was malignant. Valenciano was in utter disbelief. His family was devastated. How could this all happen to one man and in one blow? He had to go through surgery - immediately, again. On the operating table, doctors found the malignant tumor to be confined and extractable. This meant that there was no metastasis or spread anywhere and that they could take out the entire tumor, slice off part of his kidney --- and that would be it. Gary would be cancer free and would not even need chemotherapy or radiation. And that, Gary is now: cancer-free.&quot;I came very close to dropping dead in full public view on national television that day. I&#x27;m told that one more jump could&#x27;ve done that job. I was miraculously saved from that,&quot; he said.&quot;Doctors were again baffled I was healing so well after my open heart surgery, despite my diabetes. They say I have the heart of a strong 25-year-old.&quot;&quot;And when they saw the tumor in my kidney and were able to take it all out without any need for chemo? Well, we all agree: this is the work of the Lord, and nothing else. I am blessed.&quot;Valenciano said he is recovering from the two surgeries extremely well. His mother and sister flew in from abroad to visit and received happily the good news. Right now, he is taking it easy, but excited for new projects already lined up for his return to television &quot;very soon.&quot;The full exclusive interview of Gary Valenciano will air this Sunday at 8:30 pm on &quot;Rated K&quot; on ABS-CBN.

After his 35th anniversary performance on "ASAP," Gary Valenciano felt severe pain in his chest which he at once suspected was something serious.

After his 35th anniversary performance on "ASAP," Gary Valenciano felt severe pain in his chest which he at once suspected was something serious.

Gary V survives heart surgery, cancer: 'Work of the Lord'

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Gary V survives heart surgery, cancer: 'Work of the Lord'

Korina Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 07, 2018 05:35 AM PHT

|

Updated July 07, 2018 01:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Gary Valenciano

Korina Sanchez

Rated K

kidney cancer

open heart surgery

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