Sao Paulo - Brazilian doctors confirmed on Wednesday that Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has lymphatic cancer, but have not yet revealed the severity of the illness or the suggested treatment.
Lugo was diagnosed last week with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer originating in the lymphatic system, and checked into a hospital in Sao Paulo on Tuesday for further tests.
"It's confirmed. Certainly, it's lymphoma," Miguel Lopez Perito, general secretary of the Paraguayan presidency told reporters. "He's in good spirits," he added.
A former Roman Catholic bishop, Lugo ended 60 years of single-party rule in Paraguay when he took the helm of the poor, soy-exporting nation two years ago. His term ends in August 2013.
Hospital doctors are due to give a news conference with details of the exam results later on Wednesday.
Lugo's doctors have said treatment will likely include 18 weeks of chemotherapy.
(Reporting by Hugo Bachega, writing by Raymond Colitt, editing by Vicki Allen) - Reuters