Hugo Chavez, the enigmatic President of Venezuela, will be returning to Cuba for follow-up treatment after the earlier removal of a baseball-sized tumor from his pelvic region.
In a statement, the quasi-popularist Chavez chose decidedly militaristic language to inform Venezuelans of his impending treatment:
He acknowledged on Wednesday for the first time that he expected to eventually undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment, saying such care would be to "armor the body against new malignant cells."
On June 30th, Mr. Chavez announced to Venezuelan people that he had undergone two surgeries to remove the tumorous growth.
Since his return from Cuba, Mr. Chavez has maintained a high public profile.
During the past two weeks, Chavez's Twitter account has posted a flurry of messages commenting on everything from the Venezuelan soccer team's performance to a concert led by Venezuelan-born conductor Gustavo Dudamel. He's also appeared on television leading a Cabinet meeting, addressing troops and attending Mass. He has sought to project confidence, often telling supporters: "We will live!"
While appearing almost daily for news cameras, the Venezuelan President has heeded his doctors advice to rest before his upcoming cancer treatment.
Chavez told state television Friday that while recovering from surgery, he has been waking up at 5 a.m. and reading German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. He said he has also taken up painting again and has been creating a landscape from one of the windows of the presidential palace.
Landscapes. Nietzsche. Sounds grim.
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