Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is to begin a second round of chemotherapy in Havana in the coming hours.

Mr. Chavez said in a phone call to state media Monday that he has gained weight and recent blood and organ tests went well. The 57-year-old president is in Cuba for cancer treatment. He has not said what kind of cancer he has, or how much it has spread.

Mr. Chavez said in a taped interview Sunday that he cried when he was diagnosed with cancer. He said he read the work of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to help him cope with the news.

Mr. Chavez arrived in Havana late Saturday, where he was greeted by Cuban President Raul Castro.

In June, Cuban doctors performed surgery on Mr. Chavez to remove a tumor. Last month he returned to Cuba for his first round of chemotherapy.

Mr. Chavez has vowed to recover and insists he will seek another six-year term next year.