Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is free of cancer

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is free of cancer

2011-10-21 19:28:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

CARACAS (BNO NEWS) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Thursday said he is free of cancer after returning from Cuba where he underwent medical tests. It concludes several months of treatment.

Chávez said that a series of medical tests performed in Cuba this week revealed no abnormal cell activity in his body. "I have concluded a vital stage of treatment (...) The tests support the conclusion that I am free from disease," he said.

The left wing president traveled to Havana on Sunday night to take a series of medical examinations. This was the fourth time he traveled to the island for treatment since he was diagnosed with cancer in June.

The Venezuelan President was on a three-country tour which included Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador when doctors detected a tumor with cancerous cells in his pelvic area during a planned medical checkup 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.

The left wing president has been in office since 1999 and plans to run for re-election in late 2012 despite his disease.

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