Football: Maradona leaves hospital following surgery

OLIVOS, Argentina -- Argentine football legend Diego Maradona left hospital on Wednesday, eight days after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain.

Maradona left the Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires by ambulance shortly after his doctor Leopoldo Luque told reporters he could go home.

Luque had earlier published on Instagram a photo of himself hugging the 60-year-old, who wore a bandage on his head.

Maradona is expected to continue his rehabilitation in Tigre, 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Buenos Aires, near his daughter Giannina's home.

"Diego has gone through perhaps the hardest time of his life," his lawyer Matias Morla said earlier Wednesday, adding it was a "miracle" that the clot "which could have taken his life, was detected."

"What is needed now is family togetherness and being surrounded by health professionals," said Morla. "With the doctors and his family, Diego will be as he should be: happy."

The World Cup-winning former Argentine captain underwent surgery last Tuesday to remove a clot lodged between his brain and skull.

He had looked unwell during a brief appearance on October 30 to mark his 60th birthday at the stadium of Gimnasia y Esgrima, the Argentine Primera Division team he coaches.

He seemed to have difficulty walking and did not stay to watch his team's game.

The following Monday, he was taken to hospital in La Plata, where the club is based, suffering from symptoms of anemia and dehydration.

Tests revealed the blood clot, after which Maradona was transferred to a specialist clinic in the capital.

Maradona has been admitted to hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues -- two of which were potentially fatal -- due to his drug and alcohol addictions.

Now free of drugs, Maradona remains dependent on alcohol.

Last week, his doctor had said the football icon would require prolonged treatment in a clinic with different specialties than the current one.

Maradona's daughters Dalma, Giannina and Jana have visited him daily at the clinic.

His oldest son, Diego Jr, who lives in Italy, announced last Thursday on social media that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and therefore would not be able to travel to Buenos Aires.

Due to Maradona's age and previous health issues, he is considered high risk in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit Argentina hard.

Several times in the last eight months he has been in isolation and was forced to stay at home recently after a bodyguard showed coronavirus symptoms, although he later tested negative.

Alongside Brazil's Pele, who turned 80 last month, Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Agence France-Presse

Roger Federer out of tennis until 2021 after knee surgery

PARIS, France --  Twenty-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer said Wednesday he would be sidelined until 2021 after undergoing his second knee operation in a matter of months.

The 38-year-old Swiss said he needed follow-up arthroscopic surgery "a few weeks ago" after undergoing a similar keyhole procedure in February.

Federer, whose last Grand Slam win was the 2018 Australian Open, said he "experienced a setback during (his) initial rehabilitation".

"I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level," he said in a statement on Twitter.

"I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season."

The announcement is likely to renew speculation about retirement for Federer, who holds the record for men's Grand Slam singles titles and was last month named as the world's highest-paid athlete.

Federer, whose first major trophy was in 2003, lies just ahead of his fierce rivals Rafael Nadal (19) and Novak Djokovic (17) on the all-time list.

After the initial operation Federer had originally planned to return for the now cancelled grass court season this month. His last tournament match was on January 30 in the Australian Open semi-final, where he lost to eventual champion Djokovic.

His last appearance on court was in front of 51,954 fans -- touted by organisers as a world record for tennis -- at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in early February.

Tennis ground to a halt in March because of the coronavirus and due to travel restrictions, the globetrotting sport faces an uncertain route back.

In April, Federer said he was "devastated" when Wimbledon, where he has won a record eight titles, was cancelled for the first time since World War II.

Federer, known for his elegant style of play, has got off lightly with injuries during a career in which he has won 103 singles titles, including all four majors.

He previously had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee -- the first operation of his career -- in early 2016, after suffering a freak injury while running a bath for his daughters.

But after failing to win a title that year Federer returned strongly in 2017, winning seven tournaments including the Australian Open and Wimbledon -- his most prolific season in a decade.

Agence France-Presse

French doctor still treating patients at 98

CHEVILLY-LARUE, France—When French doctor Christian Chenay saw his first patients in 1951, penicillin was state of the art.

Now 98 years old, he is still working and opens his surgery in the Paris suburbs 2 mornings a week for patients, some of whom he has treated for decades.

With no health woes of his own—he doesn't even wear glasses during his consultations—Chenay said a quiet retirement had no appeal.

"If you're over 60 they put you with the old people. One day you've got cards, the next day bingo, then there's sudoku... With all that you become a complete idiot. I'm better off being a doctor!"

Originally from Angers in western France, Chenay worked as a welder before becoming a doctor, ultimately qualifying as a radiologist before moving back into general practice.

His surgery does not look high tech—there is a fax machine but no computer on the desk—but Chenay says he keeps up to date with all the latest developments via his subscriptions to online medical journals.

He says a new development in his nearly 7-decade career is patients who erroneously diagnose themselves on the internet and then turn up at his surgery demanding drugs.

Many of his patients say they struggle to get appointments in Chevilly-Larue, which has 3 doctors for a population of 19,000, so they queue early to see Chenay who runs a drop-in surgery, promising to see the first 20 patients who sign up.

"(In France) we have the doctors, we have the sick people, but to bring the people together is really not easy," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron has faced months of unrest from hospital workers angry about tough working conditions and underinvestment, and Chenay said he had never seen a worse crisis in the sector.

The average retirement age for doctors in France is 67 and Chenay's son, who also practiced as one, has already given up work.

But Chenay does not see himself stopping.

"If you sit and watch TV all day you switch off pretty quickly, your head doesn't last long."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Thunder's George undergoes second shoulder surgery

MVP finalist Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder underwent left shoulder surgery on Tuesday to repair a small tear in his labrum, the team announced.

The surgery comes five weeks after George underwent right shoulder surgery to repair a partially torn tendon.

George had a sore right shoulder down the stretch of the season after injuring it against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 26, causing him to miss three games.

He aggravated the ailment against the Houston Rockets on April 9 and sat out the regular-season finale before returning for the beginning of the postseason.

When the team announced on May 7 that George had undergone surgery on the right shoulder, it said the 29-year-old also would undergo surgery on his left shoulder and that his status would be determined before the start of the regular season.

George, who is also a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, established career-best averages of 28 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals while sinking a career-high 292 3-pointers in 77 games this season. He also matched his career high of 4.1 assists per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and James Harden of the Rockets are the other MVP finalists.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mick Jagger to undergo heart surgery - report

LONDON -- Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger will undergo heart surgery this week following the postponement of the band's North American tour for medical reasons, according to a published report.

The US website Drudge Report, citing unidentified sources, said Jagger, 75, would undergo surgery this week in New York to replace a heart valve. New York Post's Page Six website, citing unidentified sources, said the surgery would involve placing a stent in the singer's heart.

Representatives for Jagger in the United States did not return requests for comment. A spokesman for the British band in London declined to comment on the Drudge Report article.

The band on Saturday announced it was postponing all dates on its tour of the United States and Canada to give Jagger time to receive medical treatment. It did not specify what treatment Jagger needed but said he is expected to make a full recovery.

The North American tour had been scheduled to run from April 20 until June 29.

Jagger was photographed on Sunday in Miami Beach, Florida on the beach with his current girlfriend, ballet dancer Melanie Hamrick, their young son, and daughter Georgia May, one of his seven adult children.

The British singer has not explained his medical issue but told fans in a tweet on Saturday that he would be "working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can."

After a storied sex, drugs and rock-'n-roll lifestyle in his earlier days, Jagger now follows a healthy diet, runs, and works out frequently.

Stents are typically used to prop open arteries that have been cleared of a blockage.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Liposuction, breast augmentation and Botox use up in US

WASHINGTON -- The number of surgical or minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are up in the United States, but trends are changing towards scalpel-free techniques such as the use of Botox, according to figures out Monday.

There were more than 17.7 million such procedures in 2018, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Long-term trends show that the number of cosmetic surgical operations are down -- a decrease of five percent from 2018 compared to 2000. There were around 1.8 million last year, 100,000 fewer than at the turn of the century.

Cosmetic nose, chin, ear, eyelids and forehead procedures have lost some popularity.

Liposuctions are also less popular, but remain much used (258,000 operations in 2018), and has seen a revival in recent years, with a five percent annual increase in each of the last two years.

Breast augmentations are still the most popular plastic surgery operation, with more than 300,000 each year and a four percent increase last year.

But in total there is almost ten times more minimally-invasive interventions than surgical operations: 15.9 million last year, a two percent growth over the previous year.

The most common procedure by far is an injection of the Botulinum toxin to hide wrinkles, with 7.4 million such procedures in 2018.

Also popular: soft tissue fillers like lip plumping with hyaluronic acid injections, with 2.68 million such procedures.

These figures are reported by the 8,000 certified physicians and members of the Society, and do not include data on complications or incidents related to these interventions. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

First Lady Melania Trump says she's 'feeling great' post-surgery

WASHINGTON - US First Lady Melania Trump, after surgery and 3 weeks out of public view, sought on Wednesday to quell speculation about her health, saying she was "feeling great."

Melania Trump's last public appearance was on May 10, when she accompanied the president to Andrews Air Force base in Maryland to welcome home three American hostages from North Korea.

She underwent surgery at Walter Reed hospital on May 14 for what aides called a "benign" kidney condition and was released on May 19.

Melania Trump, 48, addressed speculation about her health and whereabouts on Wednesday.

"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she said in a tweet.

"Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children and the American people!" she said.

At Walter Reed, the Slovenia-born former model underwent an embolization procedure for a "benign" kidney condition, according to her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

Embolization is most frequently used to cut off the flow of blood to a tumor or growth.

While the procedure is often performed on an outpatient basis, it is not uncommon to stay overnight to treat the pain.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Plastic surgery booms in China amid new wealth

SHANGHAI - Chen Yan is 35 and fears middle age is upon her, so like all of her friends she sees cosmetic surgery as the solution: time to get a new nose.

Plastic surgery is booming in China, fueled by rising incomes, growing Western influences, and the imperative of looking good on social media.

Some parents are even paying for teenage children to get work done to help their employment prospects.

"We Chinese think that after you've married, given birth to a kid and you’re past 30, they call you a middle-aged woman," said Chen.

"I don’t want to be a middle-aged woman that early."

The shop owner travelled from the central province of Hunan to pay 52,515 yuan ($8,000) in a quest for the perfect nose at Shanghai's private Huamei Medical Cosmetology Hospital.

Spread over four floors and featuring a peaceful convalescent roof garden complete with tea house, the vast majority going under the knife are young women.

It offers an array of options including breast augmentation, ear shaping, bone shaving, pubic-hair transplants and a procedure that promises to reduce armpit odor.

SUMMER RUSH

Stepping inside the hospital is like entering a five-star hotel.

In the immaculate foyer, patients are greeted by bowing hostesses in striped blouses, short black skirts and high heels as soothing music plays. A sign outside entices teachers and students with a 20-percent summer discount.

The surgeon Li Jian says 90 percent of his patients are women aged 16 to 70.

The under-40s want to look more beautiful, the over-40s want to look younger.

The most requested procedures involve removing bulk from the face and body, and nose jobs -- Chinese women typically seek slimmer, more "Western-looking" noses.

This year 14 million Chinese are expected to have cosmetic surgery, a 42 percent surge from last year, according to SoYoung, a popular app on the industry that used data from several sources including international consultancy Deloitte.

Summers are especially busy at the Shanghai clinic because recent university graduates believe better looks lead to better employment prospects, particularly in the entertainment business.

Increasing numbers seek plastic surgery in their teens, although the hospital does not treat those under 16, while 16 and 17 year olds require parental consent.

"Most Chinese people believe the thinner the face or nose, the more beautiful they look," Li said.

"Some people want to make themselves more beautiful when they take pictures of themselves. So they want themselves to become more European," he added.

"As a plastic surgeon I don't think that is beautiful, at least that is not Chinese style. So I refuse many girls who have that kind of opinion."

BECOMING ADDICTED

Sun Yibing, now 22, had her first procedure at 17 and has since become something of a celebrity after going under the knife 12 more times.

Bullied at school because of her looks and weight, she had operations on her eyes, nose, jaw, temples and elsewhere, and now sports rounder eyes, as well as a sharper nose and jawline.

But as her appearance has morphed, so has her view of surgery.

"I got addicted to surgery and yet was never satisfied with myself. I am not against plastic surgery but you have to be yourself instead of turning into others," Sun, who is from the central province of Henan, told AFP.

Sun partly blames minor celebrities who make their names on the internet in China -- often by live-streaming themselves singing or dancing and boasting about their surgery -- for hastening the stampede.

She now fears that the rush to cash in has brought growing numbers of unscrupulous and poorly trained surgeons into the industry.

"A couple of years ago people still were quite conservative about having cosmetic surgery," she said.

"But I am afraid that the plastic surgery industry is a mess now with good and bad clinics mixed so customers don’t know what is what," she added.

I'M THE LAST ONE

Back at the hospital a woman in a waiting room peers out from beneath her bandaged eyelids. Another, in obvious pain after surgery, appears almost to be trying to hold her head together.

Chen had already done minor work to her nose and had a crease inserted in her eye lids -- so-called double eyelid surgery aimed at creating rounder, more Western-looking eyes is one of the most popular in China.

But it took her six years to summon the courage for a full nose job, finally taking the plunge after all her friends did so.

"I got here later. I’m the last one to come," she said.

Following surgery, she said that the hospital recommended a bone-shaving operation to narrow her jawline using a surgical drill.

Some Chinese women hanker for a more "V-shaped" visage, but the procedure comes with potential complications including infection or even facial paralysis.

"I just want to make myself look more beautiful," said Chen, who is unsure whether to proceed.

She explained: "No matter how old a woman is, she should make herself more and more beautiful."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tiger Woods undergoes fourth back surgery

LOS ANGELES - Superstar golfer Tiger Woods announced on his website Thursday that he has undergone a fourth back surgery to alleviate pain, one that likely sidelines him at least until October.

"The surgery went well, and I'm optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain," said Woods, who hasn't played competitive golf since pulling out of the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3 with back spasms.

Typical recovery time after his latest procedure is about six months, the article on Woods' website said. That timeline would mean missing the remainder of this PGA Tour season and the Presidents Cup matches.

Woods first had back surgery shortly before the 2014 Masters and had two more procedures after the 2015 PGA season, following which he was sidelined for more than a year.

"When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long," Woods said on his website.


The announcement comes two days after Woods said his back was "progressing" as he briefly answered questions at a function in Missouri to announce a golf course being designed by his TGR Design.

The 14-time major champion hit two golf shots in front of an appreciative crowd -- the first finding the water.

Now, according to his website, Woods "will rest for several weeks, then begin therapy and treatment.

"While each procedure and case is unique, patients typically return to full activity in about six months."

The procedure performed was a minimally invasive Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, aimed at relieving pressure on the nerve that was leading to sciatica and severe back and leg pain.

"Conservative therapy, which included rehabilitation, medications, limiting activities and injections, failed as a permanent solution and Woods opted to have surgery," the website said.

- Tiger's major chase stalled -

Injuries have helped stall the 41-year-old Woods' pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles.

Woods missed the Masters this month for the third time in four years. His last major title came at the 2008 US Open, and the 2015 Masters marks the last time Woods even made the cut at a major.

Woods ended a 16-month layoff when he played the Hero World Challenge unofficial event in the Bahamas in December.

His first US PGA Tour event after 17 months was at Torrey Pines in January, where he missed the cut. He withdrew in Dubai after a first-round 77, and pulled out of the US PGA Tour event in Los Angeles in February and the Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

He even cancelled a planned press conference at the Los Angeles tournament, saying doctors had advised him to "limit all activities" as he tried to get his balky back on track.

Doctor Richard Guyer of the Center for Disc Replacement at the Texas Back Institute performed Woods' surgery and said Woods' rehabilitation would be gradual.

"After he recovers from surgery, he will gradually begin his rehabilitation until he is completely healed," Guyer said. "Once that's accomplished, his workouts will be geared to allowing him to return to competitive golf.

bb/js

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Migraine sufferers at higher surgery stroke risk: study

PARIS - People who suffer migraines are at a higher risk of stroke after surgery, researchers said on Wednesday.

This means that a history of migraines, which affect about one in five people, should be taken into account when weighing the pros and cons of undergoing an operation, said a study in The BMJ medical journal.

"Given the high prevalence of migraine in the general population, the... association (with stroke) carries public health importance," the authors wrote.

A research team from the United States, Denmark and Germany analysed the records of nearly 125,000 surgical patients at Massachusetts General Hospital and two satellite campuses between January 2007 and August 2014.

Of the group, 771 (0.6 percent) suffered a stroke within 30 days of surgery.

Just over eight percent (10,179) of the surgery group had a history of migraine, compared to 11.5 percent (89) of the 771 who suffered a stroke.

The team calculated the risk of stroke at 2.4 attacks for every 1,000 surgeries -- a number which rose to 4.3 in 1,000 for migraine patients.

The risk was highest for those whose migraines had an "aura" -- described as flashing lights or other warning signals experienced before an attack.

According to the World Health Organization, about 6.7 million people died of stroke in 2012. Survivors often suffer long-term disability.

Stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off due to a clot blocking the path or due to a leak in a blood vessel. Brain cells are starved of oxygen, and die.

Migraine, more common in women, is characterised by a severe headache often associated with disturbed vision, sensitivity to sounds, smells and light, and nausea.

Migraine has long been considered to increase the risk for stroke, the study authors said, but is still widely perceived as a benign condition.

This study was the first to assess whether migraines boost stroke risk after surgery.

"Physicians should be aware of this increased... risk," said the team. And further research was needed into preventing post-operative stroke in migraine sufferers.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

First US uterus transplant fails

The first uterus transplant to be performed in the United States failed after the recipient suffered complications that prompted doctors to remove the organ, the Cleveland Clinic said on Wednesday.

"We are saddened to share that our patient, Lindsey, recently experienced a sudden complication that led to the removal of her transplanted uterus," the hospital said in a statement that did not give the patient's last name.

She was "doing well" and "recovering" after surgery to remove the organ, it added without elaborating.

The transplant, which lasted nine hours, took place on February 25. Doctors announced several days later that the operation had been a success.

On Monday, the surgical team held a news conference during which the 26-year-old recipient briefly appeared smiling.

The hospital said it is reviewing why the transplant failed, adding that its clinical trial -- which aims to carry out uterus transplants in 10 women -- will continue.

Doctors at Sweden's University of Gothenburg were the first to successfully perform a uterus transplant in 2013.

The recipient gave birth to the first child to be conceived in an implanted womb in September 2014.

The Swedish team has enabled four healthy births to date.

The transplant is temporary, meant to enable women to deliver up to two children over a five-year period.

The transplanted uterus must then be removed to end exposure to drugs meant to prevent women's bodies from rejecting the transplanted organs.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Former Brazil soccer great Pele undergoes prostate surgery

SAO PAULO - Brazilian soccer legend Pele has undergone prostate surgery and is in stable condition, a Sao Paulo hospital said on Thursday.

This is the second time Pele, 74, has been hospitalized in six months.

In a statement, the Albert Einstein Hospital said Pele had undergone a transurethral resection of the prostate. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health's website, the procedure involves removing an internal part of the prostate gland in order to treat an enlarged prostate.

Earlier in the day, local news site Globo Esporte said Pele had a prostate condition known as hyperplasia, which it said increases the risk of a urinary infection. The report did not cite sources.

Pele, whose given name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was released from the same hospital in early December following a two-week stay with kidney problems.

With more than 1,280 career goals, and an unequaled three World Cup titles during his playing career, Pele is considered by many the greatest soccer player of all time. (Reporting by Tatiana Ramil; Writing by Brian Winter; Editing by Peter Galloway, G Crosse)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How heat can cause varicose veins

MANILA -- Spending time in the sauna or soaking your feet in a tub of warm water after jogging or working out in the gym can cause varicose veins, a dermatologist warned.

In an interview on DZMM's "Magandang Gabi Dok," Dr. Gwen Wong, a dermatologist, explained that heat can cause veins to bulge and become visible on the surface of the skin.

"I think the heat, it's contributing to 'yung lumalabas ang ugat," she said.

Although the condition may be temporary, repeated exposure to heat may cause the condition to be permanent.

"Pwedeng temporary, pero kapag paulit-ulit, gym tapos sauna tapos gym, maaring maging permanent," Wong said.

Varicose veins and spider veins are caused by poor blood circulation.

"Pag ang blood nagfo-flow, let's say sa lower legs, hindi na nakakabalik dahil dun sa ating mga valves eh depektibo na, especially pagka medyo nagkakaedad na tayo. At minsan eh hormonal, or minsan nga, tama 'yun, dahil sa pagiging obese ng isang tao o mabigat ang timbang, hindi na po nakakabalik [ang dugo] ng maayos sa puso," Wong explained.

People who spend many hours standing or sitting can also suffer from varicose veins.

"Depende po ito sa lifestyle, kung ano 'yung trabahong ginagawa. Halimbawa, buong araw nakatayo, o buong araw nakaupo, kailangan meron din tayong ginagawang mga ehersisyo," Wong added.

One can prevent varicose veins from developing on the legs by raising it above the heart while resting at home.

"Kailangan ini-li-lift po 'yung legs above the heart. Hindi po effective yung inilalagay lang sa silya," Wong said.

Although varicose veins can be treated through sclerotherapy, severe cases of varicose and spider veins may require surgery.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Derrick Rose set for knee op on Friday

CHICAGO - Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose will have surgery on Friday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, the Chicago Bulls said Thursday.

Rose will undergo a meniscectomy, which is removal of part or all of the meniscus, and Bulls general manager Gar Forman will discuss the 26-year-old's prognosis after the procedure.

If the tear is small, it's possible Rose could return within six weeks.

It's the second straight season that Rose has needed surgery for a similar injury in the same knee.

The right knee injuries come after he missed an entire season recovering from a torn left knee ligament.

In their first game since announcing Rose's injury, the Bulls fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

"Our reality is that the games are going to keep coming," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.

"We've been through it before. Our team, the thing that I think makes them special is how they care about each other. So we'll have a spirit about us that we're going to have to fight through things."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bulls' Rose to undergo knee surgery

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will undergo surgery for a torn meniscus is his right knee, the National Basketball Association team said on Tuesday.

The 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player, who was averaging 18.4 points per game this year, reported pain in his right knee earlier in the day, the Bulls said in a statement.

"An exam and subsequent MRI confirmed a medial meniscus tear of the right knee," the team said.

The Bulls said a timeline for recovery would be determined after the surgery.

The knee surgery will be the third for Rose since 2012. Those injuries have knocked him out of most of the last two seasons.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Singapore PM has successful operation for cancer

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has successfully undergone surgery for prostate cancer and is expected to make a full recovery, his office said on Monday.

On Sunday, Lee's office announced he would have an operation on Monday to remove his prostate gland and would take a week of medical leave, with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean heading the government.

"The surgery went very smoothly, and he is expected to recover fully," Professor Christopher Cheng, the lead urologist at the Singapore General Hospital, was quoted as saying in a statement.

Lee, 63, was previously diagnosed with lymphoma in 1992 but the cancer went into remission after successful chemotherapy.

Cheng said there was no relationship between the previous lymphoma and the current prostate cancer.

Lee's illness raises questions about the need for a public succession plan should he step down in future, as his ruling People's Action Party has not named a successor.

"Given that prostate cancer is not uncommon among people of a certain age and is, indeed, easily treated, the issue is not urgent," said Manu Bhaskaran, Singapore-based partner at Centennial Asia Advisors, a policy advisory group based in Washington, D.C.

"However, more people could well focus on the issue now."

But the strength of political institutions and the durability of the national consensus was more important to political stability, he said.

"On both these scores, Singapore does well," Bhaskaran said.

Singapore's two previous changes of prime minister since independence in 1965 involved well-flagged transitions to previously anointed successors.

Lee hinted in an interview with domestic media last month that his successor could be a member of his cabinet.

"Yes, he may already be in the Cabinet, but it is not entirely certain, because I will bring in some MPs and some new people with leadership calibre in the next general election," he said.

The next election must be held by January 2017, but media and internet blogs have speculated it could come as early as this year, after celebrations in August of Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lakers' Bryant to have surgery, season in jeopardy

Kobe Bryant's NBA season could be over after the guard agreed to have surgery on a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the Los Angeles Lakers said on Monday.

The five-time National Basketball Association champion will have surgery on Wednesday and a timeline for his return will be issued following the procedure, the team said in a statement.

Bryant injured his shoulder last week in a loss to the Pelicans in New Orleans and it could lead to the 16-time NBA All-Star being shut down for the Lakers' final 37 games of the 2014-15 regular season.

The 36-year-old guard was averaging 22.3 points from 35 games this season for a struggling Lakers team that is last in the Pacific Division with a 12-33 record.

Bryant had sat out eight of the Lakers' previous 16 games for "rest" reasons.

The former league most valuable player, who stands fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, played in only six games last season due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries as Los Angeles posted a 27-55 record.

Bryant, who joined the Lakers as a first-round pick out of high school as an 18-year-old in 1996, is signed through next season after inking a two-year extension in 2013 for $48.5 million.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Vice Ganda to undergo operation in January

MANILA – "It's Showtime" host Vice Ganda has opted to postpone an operation to remove a polyp in his throat to January next year.

Although he is currently doing fine, the comedian said he still needs the surgery to remove the polyp, which is affecting his vocal cords.

“Sa ngayon okay naman pero kailangan kong operahan sa January kasi hindi natanggal 'yung polyps ko eh. Hindi ako pwede magpaopera ngayon kasi ginagawa ko pa 'yung ('The Amazing Praybeyt) Benjamin.' Kailangan ko mag-total voice rest after nun (operation),” he told ABS-CBN News on the sidelines of the 28th PMPC Star Awards on Sunday.

With his extremely hectic schedule -- aside from “It’s Showtime” and “Gandang Gabi Vice,” the comedian is rushing to finish the “Praybeyt Benjamin” sequel for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival -- Vice Ganda said he is just praying that he be given enough strength so he may fulfill all his responsibilities.

“Idinadaan ko na lang sa dasal na wag mawala yung katinuan ng utak ko kasi minsan nakakapagod din yung stress at pressure ng lahat pero mas nangingibabaw yung nag-e-enjoy pa ako,” he said.

“Iisa lang naman ang inspirasyon ko lagi -- ayaw ko na bumalik sa kahirapan. Mas gusto ko na mapagod sa trabaho kesa mapagod sa kakahanap ng trabaho na hindi makita,” he added.

Asked if he feels pressured to replicate the success of the original "Praybeyt Benjamin" movie, Vice Ganda said: “Siyempre lahat naman ng tao, goal mag-succeed pero ang pressure kailangan i-take mo ng positibo sa sarili mo. Alam naman ng Diyos kung ano ang intensyon namin sa proyektong ito kaya hindi kami pababayaan ng Diyos.”

Aside from Vice Ganda, “Praybeyt Benjamin 2” also stars Alex Gonzaga, Richard Yap and James “Bimby” Aquino-Yap Jr.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Nadal appendectomy 'went well', spokesman says

MADRID - Rafa Nadal is expected to be released from a clinic in Barcelona on Tuesday after undergoing a successful appendectomy, the world number three's spokesman said.

"Rafa feeling well, surgery went well, if everything goes as planned out of the hospital tomorrow," spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo said on his company's Twitter feed (@b1pr) on Monday.

After losing in Basel last month, Spaniard Nadal announced that his difficult 2014 season, when he has endured injury, illness and worrying defeats, was over and he would be having surgery for appendicitis.

The 28-year-old is aiming to return at the Qatar Open in Doha on Jan. 5 -- a tournament he won this year before his body started letting him down.

Nadal will speak to the media on Tuesday, assuming he is well enough to be discharged, Perez-Barbadillo said.

Nadal missed last week's Paris Masters event and will also be absent from the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, where he has twice reached the final. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Martyn Herman)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jasmine Tridevil’s third breast makes her reality TV ready? 3 boobs get looks

Jasmine Tridevil is pitching her reality show to MTV and is expected to be on Inside Edition. The wannabe reality star has offered up a reason for people to be interested in her as she went under the knife to get a third breast because she desires to be a reality star. According to US Magazine on Monday, the woman even hired a camera crew to follow her around to capture how this idea of a third breast became a reality.

Apparently the third breast was part of a surgically procedure that Jasmine Tridevil decided to have done. The star was looking to make her mark in reality TV and came up with an idea that is seen at the circus. It’s also going to be seen on the show “American Horror Story” this fall as Angela Bassett plays a character with three breasts.

The Huffington Post is reporting on Monday that the 21-year-old Florida woman claims to have paid $20,000 for the cosmetic surgery to add a third breast. Looking to attract attention, the idea has really shocked most people. Trying to figure out how the star would have proper clothing and what she would look like in a bikini appears to top the list of questions people have.

There is no doubt that Jasmine Tridevil is going to be famous for her odd plastic surgery decision. The real question is if the surgeon who did the surgery should be questioned about the decision to put another breast on Tridevil. Done for more of a freak element, it’s hard to believe it has helped Jasmine’s confidence.

source: examiner.com