Surgeon declares that Fidel Castro does not have cancer
{{date|December 27, 2006}}

{{missing image|Image:Fidel Castro 102006.jpg|right|thumb|[[w:Fidel Castro|Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz]] in October 2006}}
José Luis García Sabrido, the chief surgeon at Gregorio Marañón hospital in [[w:Madrid|Madrid]] who treated 80-year-old [[w:Fidel Castro|Fidel Castro]] last week, announced that the intestinal bleeding which led to surgery was not caused from cancer. Rather, he had a "benign illness" with a series of complications. He is currently recovering from a serious operation. When asked if Castro had cancer, Sabrido responded, "From what I know, I absolutely deny it."

Sabrido refuses to declare which caused Castro's illness, keeping in the Cuban government's wishes, however ''[[w:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'' says [[w:diverticulitis|diverticulitis]] is a common, non-cancerous cause of intestinal bleeding.

US politicians still believe that Castro is seriously ill; there is speculation in [[Portal:Washington, D.C.|Washington]] and among Cuban exiles that Castro has [[w:colon cancer|colon cancer]]. [[w:John D. Negroponte|John D. Negroponte]], the [[w:United States Director of National Intelligence|United States Director of National Intelligence]], told ''[[w:The Washington Post|The Washington Post]]'' that Castro is "terminally ill" and will be dead in "months, not years."

Fidel Castro transferred his position to his brother Raul on July 31 due to intestinal surgery. The Cuban government has since kept his health situation relatively secret; this is the first time a medical expert outside the Cuban government has commented on his health since he dropped from the public view in July.

According to recent reports, Castro will be healthy enough to be President of Cuba again. 

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20980594-2703,00.html
|title=Surgeon clears Castro of cancer
|author=MCT
|pub=The Australian
|date=December 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/187465,CST-NWS-spain27.article
|title=Castro slowly recovering: surgeon
|author=AP
|pub=Chicago Sun-Times
|date=December 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/27/world/americas/27castro.html?hp&ex=1167195600&en=7c6bf5aa4e47df60&ei=5094&partner=homepage
|title=Spanish Doctor Denies Castro Has Cancer
|author=James C. McKinley, Jr.
|pub=The New York Times
|date=December 27, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/27/castro-return-061228.html
|title=Ailing Castro will be fit to govern: Doctor
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=December 27, 2006}}

==Related news==
* {{wikinews|title=Fidel Castro temporarily hands power to his brother Raul|date=August 1, 2006}}

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[[Category:Cuba]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Fidel Castro]]
[[Category:Cancer]]
José Luis García Sabrido, the chief surgeon at Gregorio Marañón hospital in Madrid who treated 80-year-old Fidel Castro last week, announced that the intestinal bleeding which led to surgery was not caused from cancer. Rather, he had a "benign illness" with a series of complications. He is currently recovering from a serious operation. When asked if Castro had cancer, Sabrido responded, "From what I know, I absolutely deny it."

Sabrido refuses to declare which caused Castro's illness, keeping in the Cuban government's wishes, however The New York Times says diverticulitis is a common, non-cancerous cause of intestinal bleeding.

US politicians still believe that Castro is seriously ill; there is speculation in Washington and among Cuban exiles that Castro has colon cancer. John D. Negroponte, the United States Director of National Intelligence, told The Washington Post that Castro is "terminally ill" and will be dead in "months, not years."

Fidel Castro transferred his position to his brother Raul on July 31 due to intestinal surgery. The Cuban government has since kept his health situation relatively secret; this is the first time a medical expert outside the Cuban government has commented on his health since he dropped from the public view in July.

According to recent reports, Castro will be healthy enough to be President of Cuba again.
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