( CNN ) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , who remains a popular figure in his country , vowed in a video posted on YouTube to beat his recently diagnosed throat cancer . The two-minute personal message was published Tuesday , the same day as Lula was released from the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Sao Paulo , where he underwent his first round of chemotherapy this week . Doctors surgically inserted a port that allows the transfer of medicine straight to the former president 's vein . Lula then underwent his first chemotherapy session , which went `` without incident , '' according to the hospital . Doctors have said that they found a tumor located in Lula 's larynx . `` I believe I will win this battle . This is not the first time and wo n't be the last battle I will face . With your solidarity , it 's going to be much more peaceful , much easier , '' Lula said in the video , speaking in a raspy voice . The thanked the Brazilian people for their outpouring of support . `` There is no space for pessimism or to feel sorry . If the day does not go well , with a lot of guts we will make it better tomorrow , '' he said . Lula , known for the social programs he implemented at the same time that Brazil 's economy soared , was Brazil 's most popular president in recent history . His hand-picked successor , Dilma Rousseff -- a cancer survivor herself -- easily won the presidential election .
Former President Lula was diagnosed with cancer over the weekend . He had his first chemotherapy this week . He made a video thanking people for their support .