Venezuela's Hugo Chavez says he is free of cancer

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he is free of cancer after returning from health checks in Cuba following four cycles of chemotherapy.

He travelled to the island four months ago to have surgery for cancer there.

"Everything went perfectly. I got top marks, 20 out of 20," he told reporters.

Mr Chavez had previously described his treatment as successful. But secrecy about his illness fuelled speculation it may be worse than officially stated.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15395083

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. So is Libya - today is a twofer.

[teddy51]

4. lol... Good one! n/t

[Muskypundit]

11. LOL

:fistbump:

[harmonicon]

14. HAHA! November 22nd, 1963 = hilarious!! high-five!! nt.

[Ohio Joe]

2. Good

Cancer is a horrible way to go.

[devilgrrl]

3. Oh noes! Not Hugo Chavez!

[teddy51]

5. Whatever one may think about Chavez, he has not been repressive

toward his people. In fact he has done much to help the people of Venezuela.

[Exultant Democracy]

8. I have a friend that hates him with the fire of a thousand burning suns, his family had mega bucks

from the oil industry.

From what I gather the majority of the wealth (that they didn't hide in overseas bank accounts) ended up being nationalized. (I've only heard this story from my friend so I won't swear by it)

Either way this friend of mine is a spoiled rich kid and he and his entire family have gone to ivy league school and they all make more then enough to fit snugly into the top 1%. None the less he very upset that the fortune he didn't earn and will never need got used to do good things for poor people.

[Matilda]

9. I wish more people would understand that those who criticise Chavez

generally come from the elites, who've had it all their way for so long.

Chavez isn't perfect, but he's doing his best for the people, and there are no indication that he himself enjoys a privileged lifestyle, or has been squirrelling away millions. if he were more corruptible, perhaps the elite wouldn't hate him so much.

[K8-EEE]

10. The actress Maria Conchita Alonso is like that too....

I'm sure she comes from lots of $$!

[Amonester]

18. Human Rights advocates criticize chavez for prison conditions

"No problem shows more the incapacity and indolence of the Chavez administration as the prison problem. The number of prisoners has almost doubled since Chavez took over, as homicides have tripled in the country. But beyond the sheer numbers there is an incredible inhuman tragedy taking place in Venezuela these days and the Government “of the people” has been unable to deal with it."

http://devilsexcrement.com/2011/06/15/as-the-prison-crisis-worsens-chavez-government-creates-yet-another-ministry/

Human Rights = elites now...

[bitchkitty]

6. Good news for Venezuela! n/t

[roody]

7. Good on him.

[unkachuck]

12. congratulations Hugo, and it's good to know....

....that Bolshevik medicine is still alive and functioning well in Cuba....I only wish my capitalist medicine functioned as well for me....

[harmonicon]

13. I hope it's true.

Unfortunately, I imagine that almost all of us know or have known someone declared "free of cancer" only to have it come back, months, years, or decades later.

[teddy51]

16. Agree, not buying this either! n/t

[Psephos]

15. It's a political statement, not a medical report.

It's to keep the opposition from capitalizing upon his medical troubles.

No one can know if advanced cancer is in remission after just four months. Depending on the cancer, a couple of years is the absolute minimum, and even then, one must remain vigilant and aggressive. His true condition has been and will remain a state secret.

I don't blame Chavez at all for making his good-health declaration - it's good politics - but it's a theatrical, not medical, statement. Politicians in any country keep their real medical issues secret routinely. Think of JFK for an obvious example.

[daleo]

17. Maybe he's free of cancer

But the CIA will never give up.