A biopsy has confirmed that Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez has lung cancer.
The presidency said in a brief statement Friday that the treatment will be determined by ongoing tests and that Vázquez "is in excellent shape."
Vázquez announced Tuesday that he would undergo treatment because a right pulmonary nodule had been found with clear characteristics that it could be malignant.
The 79-year-old is an oncologist and has often said that he chose the profession after his parents and a sister died from cancer.
Vázquez is set to be in office until March.
During his first presidential term from 2005-2010, Vázquez championed some of the world's strictest tobacco regulations.
His wife died three weeks ago. Local media said the cause was a heart attack.