Breast cancer detected in woman Assad, treatment starts the same day

damascus - The Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad is being treated for breast cancer. State press agency SANA has distributed a photo on which the 42-year-old receives something via an infusion, while her husband Bashar is sitting next to her.

The Syrian leader's wife smiles at the image and seems to be in a hospital room. 'Asma al-Assad begins the first phase of her treatment because of a malignant tumor in the breast', the Syrian government reports in a statement. 'It was discovered earlier today. '