Spanish doctor: Fidel Castro does not have cancer, is recovering slowly

Spanish doctor: Fidel Castro does not have cancer, is recovering slowly
Associated Press
Posted December 26 2006, 8:56 AM EST

MADRID, Spain -- The Spanish surgeon treating Fidel Castro on Tuesday
said the ailing Cuban leader does not have cancer and is recovering
``slowly but progressively'' from a serious operation.

Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido flew to Havana last Thursday to see the
Cuban leader and determine how his treatment was progressing. At a news
conference, the surgeon refused to clarify what ailment Castro is
suffering from, which Cuba has classified as a state secret.

Castro, 80, has not appeared in public since undergoing emergency
intestinal surgery in July, but has since released little information on
his condition. Castro placed his younger brother, Raul, in charge of the
government.

``He hasn't got cancer,'' Garcia Sabrido said at Madrid's Gregorio
Maranon Hospital, where he is chief surgeon.

``It is not planned that he will undergo another operation for the
moment,'' he said. ``His condition is stable. He is recovering slowly
but progressively.''

Garcia Sabrido was referring to the intestinal surgery that Castro
underwent this summer. Castro is in great spirits and ``wants to return
to work every day,'' he said.

Spanish authorities on Monday confirmed that Garcia Sabrido had traveled
to Cuba's capital with advanced medical equipment to determine if Castro
needed additional surgery.

Cuban authorities deny Castro suffers from terminal cancer as U.S.
intelligence officials have said, but have nonetheless stopped insisting
Castro will return to power.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-1226fidel,0,3886194.story?coll=sfla-news-cuba