“He is going to be fine, because he is a strong man, a wise old man, honest, with integrity, an example,” the president said during his regular press conference from the National Palace.

On Monday, Mujica disclosed that the tumor was detected last Friday during a medical check-up, and explained that his case is “very compromised” and “doubly complex,” due to an immunological disease he has been suffering for two decades.

He pointed out that this creates difficulties for treatment with chemotherapy or surgery.

“In my life, more than once the reaper has been hanging around my bed, but it has continued to shepherd me all these years. This time it comes with his scythe in polish,” the former guerrilla and political prisoner said.

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