Asma Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has begun treatment for breast cancer, the presidency has announced on its official Twitter account.
The 42-year old was found to have a malignant breast tumor. It was discovered early, according to the announcement, which was accompanied by a photo of the first lady and her husband at a Damascus hospital.
The same photo was posted on Asma’s Instagram account, prompting a flurry of good wishes from many of her 260,000 followers.
Asma is heavily involved in charity work, and has created a variety of organizations that function under the charity sector of the Syrian government. Official photos often show her visiting schoolchildren, orphans, and injured soldiers.
The first lady, who was born in the United Kingdom to Syrian parents, has three children with Bashar Assad. She moved to Syria in November 2000 after meeting Bashar, who she married just one month later.
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