Illness 250px|thumbnail|right|Chávez walking with a cane accompanied by Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa in Caracas in July 2011, shortly after his first cancer surgery On 30 June 2011, Chávez revealed in a televised address from Havana, Cuba, that he was recovering from 2 operations in Cuba, including an operation to remove an abscessed tumor with cancerous cells in the pelvic region. During the speech, he was noticeably thinner and paler and had a serious and at times sad expression, and stated that he regretted his lack of medical checkups. Analysts theorized that he was suffering from colorectal cancer. He returned to Venezuela from Cuba on 4 July, but on 17 July 2011, he returned to Cuba for further cancer treatments. At that time, some powers were delegated to cabinet ministers but he resisted requests by the opposition to give up all powers during his absence.
iLlnEss 250pX|ThuMbnaIl|rigHT|chávez wAlkiNg WiTh a cAnE aCCoMPanied by ECuaDorian presidEnt RafAel Correa iN caracaS in julY 2011, shOrtlY aFtEr His FiRST cancEr suRGerY on 30 junE 2011, chÁVez reveAlED in A teLeVIsEd addrEsS frOm hAVAna cUba, thaT He wAs reCOVeRiNg frOm 2 oPeRaTions in cuba, incLudIng an opErATion to remOve an abSCessEd TumOr with cancErOUs CeLls in thE pelVIc REgion. DurINg thE Speech, He was noTiceably tHinner And paler and Had A SeRioUS And at tIMes sad expressIon, AnD StaTED thAt he rEgretted His laCk oF meDical checkups. anaLystS thEoriZED ThAT He Was sufferinG from Colorectal cAncer. he RetUrneD tO ,venEzuela From cuba on 4 juLy, but oN 17 July 2011, HE rEtUrNEd to CUba For fuRthEr CaNceR TREATmeNTs. aT That Time, some poWers were dELeGaTed to CAbinet MinisTERs bUt he resiSted RequEstS by tHE oPPosItion to giVe up all poWERs dUrinG HIS AbsEnce.