Former President of Uruguay, Jose ‘Pepe’ Mujicais in a crucial phase of his recovery after radiotherapy treatment aimed at combating esophageal cancer.
Last Tuesday he had an ultrasound that did not show significant irregularitiesbut a new one is expected endoscopy which will be definitive to evaluate the removal of the tumor. This information was shared by his wife, Lucía Topolansky, in an interview with the newspaper El País revealed in the last few hours.
Topolansky explained that there is still time to carry out this “final exam”as Mujica must wait to recover from the after-effects of the treatment, which has weakened his health. “Clinically, he has a fairly positive outlook, but he is very weak now. You have to be able to start regaining strength.“, the former vice president explained.
Mujica exercises to improve
To improve his health, Mujica has begun taking walks around his house, complementing this activity with exercises performed on a device that simulates the movement of walking.
This device allows you to exercise while sitting, which Topolansky described graphically: “You are reading and you are exercising.”
In addition to regaining physical strength, it is essential for Mujica to regain his appetite, as he has been eating little due to persistent pain in the affected area of his digestive system.
“These processes, from what we have been told, are like this: they take time,” “He is on a steep slope, he has to climb to be able to have all his energy,” said Topolansky, who was optimistic about her husband’s recovery. She said that although Mujica is “fighting to get better,” there is still a long way to go: “He is on a steep slope, he has to climb to be able to have all his energy.”
Mujica was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in May. An initial diagnosis made through a digestive endoscopy revealed a tumor in the lower esophagus, not too extensive. This diagnosis was confirmed by Raquel Pannone, Mujica’s personal physician, who has assisted him in the health field for more than 15 years..
The radiotherapy sessions were carried out at the COR clinic, a famous medical institution in Uruguay, established by former President Tabaré Vázquez and currently run by his son, Álvaro. According to Dr. Pannone, the radiotherapy treatment was carried out through an agreement with Casmu, the mutual insurance company to which Mujica is affiliated.
Pannone also said that due to the recent nature of the treatment, it is not yet time to conduct a complete re-evaluation of Mujica’s health. However, primary studies have been carried out, such as an ultrasound, which indicate that “the situation is within expectations.”
This period of weakness has been influenced by the lack of a regular diet and the suspension of normal physical activity, which has significantly diminished Mujica’s strength.
Dr. Pannone stressed that at the age of 89, it is more difficult for Mujica to regain his lost strength, and the recovery process will be slow. “We are working on it, on his recovery, but it will be slower,” the expert concluded.
