The former minister of the Civil House () was diagnosed with lymphoma, according to a statement released by the Sírio-Libanês hospital this Friday (15). He is a pre-candidate for federal deputy for São Paulo.
“The patient José Dirceu de Oliveira e Silva was admitted to the Hospital Sírio-Libanês, in São Paulo, on May 10th for general examinations, which revealed the diagnosis of lymphoma”, informed the medical bulletin.
The text also says that Dirceu “is in good clinical condition and will remain hospitalized to begin specific treatment”, without details. The team that assists the former minister includes doctors Raul Cutait, Roberto Kalil and Celso Arrais.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in lymphocytes, cells of the immune system that circulate through the lymphatic system — nodes, spleen, thymus and other lymphoid organs. There are dozens of subtypes of the disease, with varying aggressiveness and prognosis, and the hospital note did not specify the subtype or the spread of the former minister’s case.
Dirceu, 80 years old, took over the Civil House during the first Lula government, in 2003, and left the post in 2005, during the Mensalão — a scandal that led to his arrest in 2013 for active corruption. He was released in 2017.
The politician, who was a student leader and participated in armed organizations resisting the military dictatorship, is still considered one of the PT’s main strategists and political organizers.
Dirceu’s team reported that the prognosis is good and pre-campaign work continues normally.
