Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been diagnosed with a tumor in his larynx.
Medical officials in Sao Paulo made the statement Saturday. He is expected to undergo chemotherapy treatments as a first course of action.
The popular politician, known to Brazilians simply as "Lula," is being treated at Sao Paulo's Sirio Libanes hospital, which specializes in cancer treatment.
Current president Dilma Rousseff was treated for lymphatic cancer at the same hospital before she took office in January.
Da Silva served two terms as president, ending in December 2010. Term limits prevented him running for re-election, but he left office with approval ratings of 80 percent and above. He is still active in Brazilian politics.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
