President Granger to return today

President David Granger is expected to return to Guyana today after undergoing chemotherapy in Cuba for cancer.

From left: Guyana´s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed; President David Granger; Cuba´s First Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa; the Cuban interpreter; and Vice Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga (MINREX) in Cuba

On October 30, the President and First Lady Sandra Granger departed for Cuba for him to undergo medical tests after he was feeling unwell. He was subsequently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, which is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. According to a statement from Guyana’s Embassy in Cuba, President Granger was being treated at the Investigaciones Medico Quirugicas (CIMEQ) in Havana.
The Embassy also confirmed that the President had begun the second phase of chemotherapy.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Embassy announced that the Head of State would return home today.
Granger will continue his daily routine of work, treatment, and rest under the supervision of his medical team. The Embassy also noted that the President may be required to return to Havana at a time prescribed by his medical team in order to evaluate the progress of his recovery and to extend his schedule of treatment.
Granger, in a statement on Monday, assured all citizens that he was receiving the best possible medical advice and attention.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in your body’s lymph system. Lymphoma occurs when the lymph node cells or the lymphocytes begin to multiply uncontrollably, producing cancerous cells that have the abnormal capacity to invade other tissues throughout the body.
The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is further classified into a variety of subtypes based on the cell of origin (B-cell or T-cell), and the cell characteristics. The subtype of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma predicts the necessity of early treatment, the response to treatment, the type of treatment required, and the prognosis. The risk of developing Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma increases with age.
In May of this year, Granger and the First Lady had travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to undergo what was referred to as their annual medical check-up.
At the time, and in response to reports in the press, the Government had revealed that the couple did their examinations under a Caribbean medical insurance scheme at the Good Health Medical Centre. Those results, Government had said, indicated a clean bill of health.