Syria's first lady Asma al-Assad diagnosed with Leukemia
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The Syrian presidential office says that during the treatment process, the first lady will temporarily step away from public events.
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Asma al-Assad, wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, meets with humanitarian and business groups in Damascus, Syria, on April 7, 2021. (SANA)
The wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Asma, has been diagnosed with leukemia, the presidential office said on Tuesday.
"After First Lady Asma al-Assad was diagnosed with several symptoms and clinical signs [of the disease] and underwent a comprehensive series of medical tests and examinations, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia," the statement read.
During the treatment process, she will maintain "appropriate social distancing" and will temporarily step away from public events, the office said.
In August 2019, 48-year-old Asma al-Assad underwent a successful surgery to remove a malignant breast tumor discovered the previous year. The presidential office announced then her full recovery.
Asma runs the Syria Trust for Development, a major NGO that coordinates numerous aid and development initiatives in Syria.
Last year, she joined the president on a landmark visit to the UAE, marking her first known official international trip with him since 2011.
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