Hugo Chavez concludes first chemotherapy session in Cuba

[News_Editor]

Hugo Chavez concludes first chemotherapy session in Cuba

2011-07-23 03:55:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

HAVANA, CUBA (BNO NEWS) -- President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez on Friday announced that he had successfully finished his first chemotherapy session after a cancerous tumor was removed from his body last month.

"This battle for life continues," Chavez said from La Havana, Cuba where he is receiving medical treatment. "I must inform that I have successfully concluded the first chemotherapy session," he stated, thanking "Fidel Castro's Cuba, the doctors, and the spiritual support."

Chavez also informed that he was physically preparing for a second chemotherapy session and completely eliminate any risk of having cancerous cells in his body with further treatment.

The Venezuelan President showed to be in good spirits, adding that he was now weighing 86 kilograms (190 pounds), as he was "too fat" at 100 kilograms (225 pounds). In addition, Chavez said he had been unable to sleep, but he was now going to bed at around 11 p.m.

Chavez was on a three-country tour that included Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador when doctors detected a tumor with cancerous cells in his pelvic area during his planned medical checkups in La Havana. He had an initial surgery on June 11 to drain his pelvic area and begin antibiotic treatment. A second surgery was then performed to remove a cancerous tumor.

President Chavez has been active in Venezuela's agenda from La Havana. On Thursday, he approved a Somalia aid fund worth $5 million. The United Nations on Wednesday declared a famine in the two regions of southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle in southern Somalia. Malnutrition rates in Somalia are the highest in the world, peaking up to 50 percent in certain areas of the country's south.

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