The prostate cancer of Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon does not leave him incapacitated, on Monday said the director of the hospital where the official will be receiving treatment.
After a “microscopic non-aggressive tumor” was found by a doctor during Garzon’s recovery therapy from surviving a stroke in June, he decided on Monday to abdicate his role as Colombia’s Vice President due to the detection of a prostate tumor, though he would allegedly be able to continue his duties in full capacity.
Garzon was advised to undergo radiotherapy in order to remove the tumor, which will consist of 39 sessions at least five times a week.
Julio Cesar Castellanos, the director of San Ignacio Hospital in Bogota where the Vice President will receive his treatment, said that, “In general the patients tolerate very well the sessions that are applied daily,” giving reason that the vice president could continue working normally if he so chose.
“The incapacity is determined by the general state of the patient and not by the sickness. There are 20 minutes in the machine, it is a very simple procedure, you don’t feel anything and after you can proceed with your normal activities all day,” added the medic as reported by RCN Radio.
The Urology Service of the Queen Sofia Clinic informed media that Garzon’s prostate cancer corresponds with a localized disease, of small size and under low risk of progression, according to La W Radio.
The tumor detection follows much debate about the health condition and capability of Garzon to fulfill his role as Vice President. Discussion was instigated after the Vice President suffered a serious stroke in June and had been recovering slowly. Garzon had previously refused to submit to medical exams that were ordered by the Senate to verify his health condition.
