Former Brazilian president diagnosed with throat cancer, will begin treatment right away

October 31, 2011

Former president Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, who stepped down as Brazil's leader earlier this year, will soon be undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Just a few days after he turned 66, Lula's doctors found a malignant tumor in his throat, but it is small enough that it will not require surgery, according to Bloomberg.

This is good news for anyone who has hopes that Lula will run for office in 2014. A surgical procedure may have spelled disaster for Lula's voice, which would've marred any future attempts to reenter politics. While the former leader will likely be able to give speeches once more, chances are that the chemotherapy treatment he will undergo will cause him to lose his hair, and the beard that he has sported since the 1980s.

Even though Lula will be starting treatment soon, his supporters are hoping that he will run for reelection in 2014. Lula left office with 87 percent approval ratings and the only reason he did not seek reelection in 2010 is a constitutional rule that bans people from spending more than two successive terms in office.

People can make calls to Brazil with international phone cards to talk to their friends about the former leader and speculate about the 2014 elections.

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