Mandela diagnosed with cancer

By M.S. Prabhakara

CAPE TOWN: The former South African President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, who turned 83 last week, has been diagnosed with microscopic prostate cancer. He is to undergo a seven-week course of radio therapy. The Nelson Mandela Foundation which made the announcement on Tuesday said the cancer was not of a high grade. In a radio interview, Ms. Zelda la Grange, Mr. Mandela's secretary, clarified that the expression `microscopic prostate cancer' meant that microscopic cells in his prostate had turned malignant. There was a tumour in his prostate, but this was not in an advanced stage; and there was no need for panic. It is microscopic cancer. And it is limited to the prostate. It is not of high grade and is definitely not life threatening now. Mr. Mandela underwent prostate surgery in November 1985, while serving his life sentence in Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town, following diagnosis of an enlarged prostate gland after what he describes in his autobiography as a routine medical examination by the prison doctor. Again, following another routine medical examination in November last year, he was diagnosed as having an abnormality in his blood, related to a raised level of prostate specific antigen in his blood. During the media conference that followed, Mr. Mandela joked that his death was not imminent. At present, even as these latest disclosures about other abnormalities in the condition of his prostate are being made, Mr. Mandela is in Arusha as the facilitator of the prolonged peace process in Burundi, attending what could be a clinching regional summit with the Presidents of Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and the leaders of various political parties and rebel groups in Burundi.

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Section  : International
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