BRAZIL/FILE: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is diagnosed with cancer, set to undergo chemotherapy

Record ID: 451531

  • Title: BRAZIL/FILE: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is diagnosed with cancer, set to undergo chemotherapy
  • Date: 30th October 2011
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FILE) (REUTERS) LULA AND BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSSEFF DURING CAMPAIGN RALLY BRASILIA, BRAZIL (FILE) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF NATIONAL CONGRESS DURING ROUSSEFF'S INAUGURATION CEREMONY LULA PASSING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL SASH TO ROUSSEFF
  • Embargoed: 14th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Health,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJGU54HXQJGEQJEIC0LVD3YX
  • Story Text: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was diagnosed with throat cancer on Saturday (October 29), casting doubt on his political future in Latin America's largest economy.
    Lula, as he is universally known, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in the larynx and will undergo chemotherapy in the coming days, according to Sao Paulo's Sirio Libanes Hospital. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was treated for cancer at that medical center before taking office in January.
    The hospital, a renowned cancer treatment center in Latin America, said in a statement that Lula was "doing well" and would be released later on Saturday and return for outpatient treatment in the coming days.
    Rousseff also issued a written statement wishing her predecessor a speedy recovery, calling him a "symbol and an example" for all Brazilians. An aide said Rousseff, who was plucked from relative obscurity by Lula and groomed to succeed him, planned to visit the former president on Monday.
    Lula, 66, is a former union leader who rose from poverty to become Brazil's first working-class president. He led the country between 2003 and 2010, a period of robust economic growth in which more than 20 million Brazilians were lifted out of poverty and joined the middle class.
    Speculation has swirled that Lula could run for the presidency again in 2014 if Rousseff, his political protegee, were to decide not to seek reelection.
    Lula, who left office with an approval rating of 87 percent, was also expected to play a key role in next year's municipal elections, helping stump for candidates from his left-leaning Workers' Party, known as the PT.
    A folksy leader who has suffered occasional health problems over the years, Lula is a smoker with a weakness for cigarillos, or baby cigars. He was also known as a drinker, which contributed to his image as a man of the people.
    Both drinking and smoking boost the chances of throat cancer, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
    Lula is particularly known for his gruff voice, whose roughness seemed to mirror his own unpolished edges. A politician with a Midas touch among voters -- particularly among the lower-income classes that make up the PT's base -- Lula also helped bolster Brazil's influence on the world stage in his eight years in office.
    In Asuncion, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo announced Lula's illness at the 2012 Ibero-American Summit.
    "Word has come to us, not such good news," he beagn. "One year ago in Mar del Plata (local of 2010 Ibero-American Summit) you knew then when I participated last year that I had complained of cancer. The President of Venezuela is present among us has suffered the same and now we receive the news that our friend Lula da Silva has been diagnosed with throat cancer and will undergo chemotherapy at Sirio Lebanese."
    Lugo is a throat cancer survivor who received treatment at the same hospital responsible for Lula's care, expressed solidarity with the ailing Lula on behalf of his fellow Presidents attending the 2012 Ibero-American Summit.

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