Panama President Laurentino Cortizo, 69, announced this Monday (20) that he has myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of cancer that attacks blood cells.
According to Cortizo, after routine checkups in late May, although everything was fine, doctors noticed a drop in hemoglobin and leukocyte counts.
On the recommendation of specialists, a bone marrow biopsy was performed and samples sent to a laboratory in the United States. On June 16, doctors informed him that the diagnosis was “intermediaterisk myelodysplastic syndrome.”
In a television news item, Cortizo said a second physical would be held in Houston, also in the United States, in July to determine the extent of his illness.
“I want to say that I feel good, I’m in a good mood and I will continue with my regular work,” said the Panamanian President.
Decreased hemoglobin
“The disease the president was diagnosed with is a type of blood cancer,” said Julio Sandoval, a doctor specializing in internal medicine and critical care medicine.
According to him, this type of cancer leads to a decrease in hemoglobin, changes in the number of platelets and white blood cells in the patient, who may experience tiredness, exhaustion, weakness, a lowgrade fever and weight loss.
The disease can be caused “by a genetic disorder that develops silently and occurs after the age of 60,” Sandoval explained.
Life expectancy, which depends on the cancer subtype, can range from six months to fifteen years, he said.