Former Uruguayan president José “Pepe” Mujica revealed that during his last medical check-up they detected a tumor in his esophagus whose treatment, according to the first diagnoses, is of a certain severity due to the autoimmune disease that he has been suffering from for more than two decades. “It is something obviously very committed and it is obviously complex in my case,” reported the 88-year-old former Broad Front leader, recognized internationally for his keen reading of the global situation.
“More than once the grim reaper was hanging around”
During a press conference that took place on Monday morning, Mujica said that the diagnosis was confirmed after a check-up last week at CASMU, one of the most important health cooperatives in Uruguay. “It turns out that it was discovered that I have a tumor in the esophagus,” said the former president, adding that this problem “is something obviously very compromised and complex in my case because I suffer from an immunological disease for more than 20 years that affected me, among others. things, the kidneys.
According to Mujica, this history makes the disease that was diagnosed have “obvious difficulties for chemotherapy treatment or surgery.” For this reason, the doctors treating him “are evaluating” his state of health and in the meantime will continue “doing cellular analyzes to see how this story continues.” “I want to tell you that in my life more than once the grim reaper was hanging around the cot, but he continued to herd me all these years. Surely for obvious reasons this time he comes with the scythe in polish, and we will see what happens,” commented the former president in front of the Uruguayan press.
Mujica, a former guerrilla who governed Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 and leads the Popular Participation Movement (MPP), assured that “as long as he can” he will continue to be politically active, “faithful” to his thoughts. Mujica said that he will continue with his work on the farm where he lives, entertaining with his vegetables and his chickens, and remarked that “as long as the situation holds, I will be there.”
During his brief statement, Mujica thanked the press and took the opportunity to “convey to the young people of this country that life is beautiful and is spent. It goes away. But to succeed in life is to start over every time you fall.” He also advised them that “if there is anger, to transform it into hope and to fight for love, not to be fooled by hate. And if drugs get to you, don’t be left alone because no one can be saved alone.” .
“The only freedom that exists is in the head and it is called will. And if we do not use it we are not free. And this must be understood. This challenge is faced by the new generations,” Mujica remarked and pointed out that “life is so beautiful that it makes no sense to sacrifice her for stupid things. “As for the rest, I am grateful, and at the end of the day, let them take away my dancing,” he concluded amid applause and shouts of “Let’s go Pepe!”
Mujica’s personal doctor, Raquel Pannone, told Montevideo Portal that, although there is still no scientific confirmation that it is cancer, due to the “characteristics of the tumor” and “the lesion that is seen,” Everything would indicate that it is a malignant tumor. At the end of April 2021, the former Uruguayan president had ingested a fish bone that caused him persistent pain. A series of studies confirmed that he had an ulcer in his esophagus and at that time Pannone ruled out that this was “due to another cause or pathology.”
“Strength dear Pepe”
Mujica’s announcement shook the Uruguayan political map, and expressions of support did not take long to appear. The candidate for the presidency of Uruguay for the Frente Amplio, Yamandú Orsi, said this Monday that the announcement by Mujica, a political godfather whom he considers his “guide from every point of view,” commits everyone “more than ever.”
Present at the press conference in which the former president spoke, Orsi spoke to the media about it. “At the same time that Pepe talks about his health, he commits us all more than ever because he himself tells us that until the end of his days he will continue with the same commitment as always,” remarked the former mayor of Canelones and supported candidate. by the Popular Participation Movement, a sector of the FA led by Mujica and his wife, former senator Lucía Topolansky.
The other presidential candidate of the Frente Amplio, Carolina Cosse, used the social network X to write a message in support of Mujica: “Strength, dear Pepe, we are with you.” Former president Julio María Sanguinetti spoke from the red ranks, saying: “To colleague Mujica, our friendship and hope.” For his part, the nationalist senator Sebastián da Silva said: “Let him continue doing what he likes most, let him enjoy that brute John Deere (for the brand of agricultural tractors) that I envy him so much, let him cut the alfalfa that he told me he planted.” last year and continue fighting for your ideas.
From Latin America, the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, spoke out, who in a heartfelt message said: “To brother Mujica, my admiration and solidarity. You are a beacon in the fight for a better world. We were always together in the good times.” moments and in difficult moments. Much love and strength, from me and Janja, to you and Lucía (Topolansky)”.
Meanwhile, the former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, sent “a fraternal hug to comrade Pepe Mujica” and expressed: “I am sure that he will manage to win this new battle against the disease. We respect his long political career and his contributions to Latin American integration. I hope May we soon meet to talk about the direction of our Great Homeland.”
