Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. (ap)
BOGOTA – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is out of the operating room and doctors say surgery performed for his prostate cancer was successful. He is now recovering at the Fundación Santa Fe Hospital in Bogota.
Dr. Adolfo Llinas, medical director of the hospital, said there the two and a half hour operation presented no complications for the 61 year old.
Lead surgeon Felipe Gomez said Santos should be back home in two or three days.
Santos first announced he had prostate cancer to reporters on Monday, stating he had a 97 percent chance of a full recovery. Surgery was performed under local anesthetic to avoid temporarily relinquishing presidential responsibilities.
The news comes two years into Santos' four-year term and with his government set to begin formal peace talks this month with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leaders.
When he made announcement, Santos revealed his family has a history of prostate cancer. His older brother, Luis Fernando, had exactly the same operation 14 years ago, "and today is in perfect health," he noted.
“This could happen to anyone. Prostate cancer is much more common than people imagine. I am calm because this cancer was detected very early thanks to my discipline in repeating medical exams year after year,” he said.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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