Gustavo Petro, leader of the Colombian left, revealed that he suffers from cancer

Left-wing senator Gustavo Petro, one of the leaders of the Colombian opposition, revealed on Friday that he suffers from “cancer early in the junction of the esophagus with the stomach” that was diagnosed by a doctor in Cuba last month..

“I decided to travel to the Republic of Cuba to undergo complete health exams. There, on March 2, I was diagnosed with a disease: cancer early in the junction of the esophagus with the stomach ”said the senator, who is on the Decency List.

Petro, who lost in the 2018 presidential elections against the current president Iván Duque, assured that after the diagnosis he returned to Colombia to “obtain a second medical opinion and after laboratory analysis and endoscopies the existence of an injury was determined in the same place”.

“I decided to return to Cuba on March 18 to confront all the medical studies and opinions and make my own determinations. On Monday April 13 in the morning I will have a new endoscopy, this time with surgical intervention to try to completely remove the damaged tissue, “he said.

He explained that “if due to the delicateness of the tissues where the lesion is located, it cannot be completely removed and if the existence of cancer is confirmed,” he will enter “treatment of chemo and radio therapy ”.

“Due to the existence of the virus, my confinement is and will be total,” said the opposition senator on the situation the country is experiencing due to the coronavirus, of which there are 2,223 confirmed cases and 69 deaths.

Given Petro’s revelation, politicians from all sides, both left and right, expressed their support for the also former mayor of Bogotá (2012-2015) and wished him a speedy recovery.

One of them was leftist senator Iván Cepeda, from the Polo Democrático Alternativo party, who expressed his solidarity with the congressman from the first moment he learned of the diagnosis.

“I told him that, as a survivor of the same disease, I am fully convinced that it will go forward. I send him and his family a hug with all my affection,” said Cepeda, who overcame colon cancer.

Roy Barreras, from the National Unity party and a doctor by profession, recalled that Petro is his partner in “the First Committee of the Senate” and stated that “early detection will surely allow him to overcome this type of cancer and return to the popular struggle that has been his life. “

Even ex-president Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), one of his fiercest contractors, expressed his support, saying on Twitter: “Our wishes for the recovery of the health of Senator Gustavo Petro. Colombia can feel proud of its doctors, who they will be successful in treating Dr. Petro. “

The Ombudsman, Carlos Negret, who also suffered from this disease, also sent his support and said: “On behalf of the thousands of patients who have ever been diagnosed with cancer, count on our solidarity. Timely attention will take you to a good port. ”