Fernando Cornejo could begin chemotherapy in January as health condition improves

SANTIAGO.- The retired player for Cobreloa and former Chilean national soccer team member in the 1998 World Cup in France, Fernando Cornejo, is recovering favorably from an operation performed to combat intestinal cancer and could begin chemotherapy treatment within a few weeks.

After a complex surgery at the Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica, Cornejo may be able to be discharged in one week.

The doctor in charge of the operation, Nicolás Jaruffe –chief of the Digestive Surgery Department of the Universidad Católica-, has indicated that the 39 year-old ex-player is recovering well, but should still take precautions.

"The player awoke well and is relaxed. He is in stable condition and is evolving favorably (although) he must spend at least one week in recuperation, so that he can later begin treatment with chemotherapy", stated the physician.

Fernando Cornejo Jiménez, who is originally from Quinta de Tilcoco and scored two goals while playing for the Chilean national soccer team, may begin chemotherapy in January to combat the metastasis in his liver that caused the disease.

The soccer player underwent surgery on Friday, December 26th to remove an intestinal tumor.