During a televised Cabinet meeting on Saturday, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez revealed that he will be undergoing his next round of chemotherapy – the third one - in Venezuela itself, in place of Cuba where he has undergone cancer treatments earlier.

Chavez, who has had the last two rounds of chemotherapy in Cuba, said that he will check into the Military Hospital in Caracas on Saturday night, with his third phase of chemotherapy scheduled to begin soon.

The President also added that it was on the basis of the results of the latest round of medical tests on Friday that his medical team decided on administering the chemotherapy in Venezuela.

In June, Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba to get a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvic region. Though he did not specify the exact location of the tumor, he did mention that no sign of malignant cells had been detected in his body in the latest follow-up tests.

Referring to cancer as the “illness I had,” and expressing optimism that he is overcoming the disease, Chavez also said that he, along with his Vice President Elias Jaua and other officials, is making arrangements “continue with this rhythm of treatment.”

Chavez – who has been making public appearances with his head shaved during the last few weeks, after his hair began to fall out as a result of chemotherapy – described the chemotherapy as a preventive measure that will help prevent cancer cells from reappearing.