Venezuela’s Chavez to get cancer treatment in Brazil

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo  Chavez will travel to Brazil for cancer treatment, a Brazilian  government source told Reuters yesterday, following his  return home after an operation in Cuba.

Chavez will come to Brazil’s Sirio-Libanes hospital, known  for treating cancer, for help battling the illness, according  to the source. No timeline has been set for his arrival, the  source added.
There was no immediate confirmation from Caracas. Asked if  Chavez would go to Brazil for treatment, a high-ranking  Venezuelan government official said: “I don’t know.”

Chavez’s announcement that he had cancer shocked the  country of 29 million people and upended the OPEC nation’s  politics, which he has dominated for 12 years. It raised  questions about whether Chavez will be able to run for  re-election next year.

He has not specifically said what type of cancer he has,  only that he underwent surgery in the pelvic region. He has  also said he may have to receive chemotherapy.

The Sirio-Libanes hospital is considered one of the best in  Latin America and is renowned for its cancer treatment center.

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo had cancer treatment  there and Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar was treated  there for years before he died earlier this year.