( CNN ) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will begin chemotherapy in the coming days to treat a malignant tumor in his larynx , a hospital official said Saturday . Lula , 66 , will be treated at Sao Paulo 's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital , said hospital spokeswoman Mirtes Bogea . It is not clear what day the treatment will begin . He was diagnosed Saturday morning after undergoing medical examinations , Bogea said . `` This is a localized tumor , '' noted Bogea , meaning that it has not spread elsewhere in the body . She added that the tumor has not metastasized , a characteristic of most cancerous cells . Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters that he attended Lula 's birthday party last week and noticed that his voice sounded hoarse . `` But since he has been traveling a lot and delivering speeches , we all thought it was normal , '' he told CNN affiliate Rede Record TV . On Saturday , Mantega predicted Lula would beat cancer . He noted that former first lady Marisa Leticia has been with Lula ever since he came to the hospital for a check-up on Friday . `` He is a fighter , '' Mantega told reporters , adding he expected Lula will leave the hospital later Saturday . `` He has overcome lesser obstacles and will overcome this one as well . '' Raul Cutait , one of the doctors treating the former president told Rede Record TV that Lula appears well . He said it is also likely that therapy will begin early next week . Sao Paulo 's Syrian-Lebanese hospital is considered one of the region 's top cancer treatment centers . Founded in 1921 by Syrian and Lebanese immigrants , the facility 's staff has also treated Paraguay 's President Fernando Lugo and former Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar , who died in March after a long battle against abdominal cancer . Its patients also include current Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff -- Lula 's handpicked successor and is the first woman to hold the presidency -- who was treated in 2005 for lymphoma . Rousseff said on her Twitter account that she 'd spoken to Lula 's wife , and in a press release issued Saturday wished her predecessor a `` fast recovery . '' `` As you all know , I went through the same thing , with the competent team of the Syrian-Lebanese hospital , which allowed me to completely recover , '' she said . `` I am sure the same thing will happen to President Lula . '' Lula , who rose from a childhood of poverty to become a union leader , won elections in 2002 to become Brazil 's first working-class president . He is widely credited with helping steer the nation into becoming an economic powerhouse , leaving office last year with high approval ratings . Presidents , however , are barred from running for a third consecutive term . When Lula turned 66 years-old last Thursday , he addressed the Brazilian public via the Internet , saying that he had dedicated more than half his half to improving Brazil 's democracy . `` The cake is not one of the biggest cakes , '' he said , with a wink , during a speech . `` But I hope to give to all of you a tiny bite . ''
Brazil : Brazil 's finance minister says Lula is ` ` a fighter '' and can beat cancer . One of Brazil 's doctors says that he appears to be doing well . The ex - president is being treated at Sao Paulo 's Syrian - Lebanese hospital . His tumor is localized and has not spread , a hospital spokeswoman says .