Jose Mujica, the former president of Uruguay and one of the most important figures of the Left in Latin America, has announced that he has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, the treatment of which is “complicated” as he said.

The former head of state (2010-2015) – known for his simplicity and honesty as the “poorest president in the world” – learned of the tumor on Friday, just weeks before his 89th birthday.

“It’s obviously something very dangerous” and “doubly complicated in my case,” he said at a press conference, explaining that he has been suffering for two decades from an autoimmune disease that has affected kidney function, among other things, and made it difficult to treat with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery .

The autoimmune disease forced him to resign as a senator in October 2020 due to the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

“Life is beautiful, but it wears you down,” Mujica said at today’s press conference, making sure to send a social message aimed at young people. “The important thing is to get up every time you fall” and “when you feel angry, turn it into hope”, he emphasized.