Lucrezia Ciotti Alessandro Di Battista gave his first detailed account of his illness in Cuba and the subsequent surgery to remove a tumor . A guest on diMartedì , the former Five Star Movement MP recounted the stages of his diagnosis, surgery, and return to Italy, also explaining his current priorities.
Alessandro Di Battista's tumor discovered after his illness in Cuba
Alessandro Di Battista spoke on diMartedì , on La7, about the serious health problem he suffered while in Cuba for a journalistic report. The former Five Star Movement MP explained that the illness was linked to a cerebral edema caused by a tumor , diagnosed during his hospitalization in Havana.
" I started feeling unwell due to a cerebral edema caused by a tumor they found in me ," he said. The Cuban doctors quickly intervened with a treatment that reduced the swelling and made the operation possible. " They immediately got the treatment right, reducing the edema, allowing me to have the operation. They removed almost all of the tumor ," explained Di Battista, who will now face a new treatment plan.
« Now I will do the treatments hoping that they work ».
The former parliamentarian also emphasized the quality of the surgery he received in Cuba, despite the challenges of the local healthcare system: " In Cuba, they performed a highly sophisticated operation on me, using technology that was used here 30 years ago ." The most significant recognition, however, remains the one given to the neurosurgeon who treated him: " And yet, the neurosurgeon saved my life ."
Di Battista's return to Italy, the controversies, and his political future
After the surgery, Di Battista returned to Italy between September 11 and 12 aboard an air ambulance, with the transfer covered by his insurance. The former Five Star Movement member harshly contested the controversy surrounding the idea of a state flight and some widespread reports about his health . " I was fighting for my life and I read 'the grillino who takes state flights,' " he said, calling the story an "unworthy controversy." He also denied reports of an alleged coma: " I, while in the hospital bed in Havana, discovered I had emerged from a coma I didn't know I'd ever been in ."
Di Battista, however, expressed gratitude to Italian institutions and to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who, according to him, contacted him during his hospitalization. He remained cautious regarding his political future, ruling out putting a candidacy at the center of his plans for the time being. " Life is unpredictable ," and, above all, " my priority now is getting treatment ." The former MP, however, reiterated his intention to continue supporting the work of the Schierarsi association , looking ahead to future elections. In the meantime, however, his attention is focused on treatment: " But I have to start treatment soon. Rightly, I have to think about other things now ."
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