Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was diagnosed with leukemia on Thursday, according to sources from the country. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Milan the day before for breathing problems. The 86-year-old media magnate is being treated in Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital’s cardiac unit.
Berlusconi is being treated for a lung infection and a “chronic blood condition” that is a type of leukemia, according to doctors. Alberto Zangrillo, Berlusconi’s personal physician, signed off on a medical bulletin issued Thursday afternoon that stated Berlusconi “had had for some time” leukemia in a “persistent chronic phase.”
The 86-year-old media mogul, who served three terms as Italy’s prime minister and now serves in the Senate, was admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday for treatment of a lung condition caused by a prior infection, according to aides.
Berlusconi diagnosed with leukemia and begins chemotherapy in hospital
Berlusconi has been diagnosed with leukemia, a disease of the blood cells, according to the daily Corriere della Sera. He has begun chemotherapy in the hospital, according to the Italian news agency Ansa. According to the report, he is in stable health.
Marina and Luigi Berlusconi arrived at the hospital on Thursday but did not talk with the media. Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party is a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition. He does not, however, have any role in the government.
“I spoke this morning with Professor (Alberto) Zangrillo (Berlusconi’s personal doctor) and he told me that Berlusconi spent a quiet night, his condition is stable,” Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani told RAI state television.
“We all want to be optimistic and we hope that the lion will return soon to take charge of the party. He’s our political leader and of course, he never gives up,” Tajani told the broadcaster.
Berlusconi had previously spent four days at the same hospital before being released on March 30. According to Italian media, he is suffering from cardiac problems.
Previously, after the pandemic, he was admitted to the hospital in September 2020 for Covid-related pneumonia. Later in the year, he had difficulties related to Covid and was hospitalized multiple times. Berlusconi underwent open heart surgery in 2016 and intestinal surgery three years later. He’s also battled prostate cancer.