( CNN ) -- Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner , who underwent surgery this week to remove her thyroid , did not actually have cancer , her spokesman said Saturday . Fernandez underwent the procedure for what doctors said was papillary carcinoma in her thyroid gland . A post-surgery examination , however , showed that there were no cancerous cells , and the original diagnosis of cancer has been discarded , spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro said . Fernandez was released from the hospital and will continue her recovery from the presidential residence , he said . `` We thank God and all the Argentinean people for the blessings received , '' Fernandez said on her Twitter account Saturday morning . Given the new diagnosis , planned radiation therapy will not be necessary , the spokesman said . Her 3 1/2-hour operation had been called a success without complications . Hundreds of supporters had waved flags and banners outside the Austral Hospital , located about 60 kilometers ( 35 miles ) from Buenos Aires . Before the operation , Fernandez handed over power to Vice President Amado Boudou until January 24 . Fernandez , 58 , was sworn in for a second four-year term last month after she won re-election with more than 54 % of the vote . She became Argentina 's president in 2007 . Her husband , Nestor Kirchner , was president from 2003 to 2007 . He died in October 2010 . During Fernandez 's presidency , Argentina 's economy has enjoyed sustained growth of about 8 % annually . CNN 's Claudia Dominguez contributed to this report .
President Fernandez underwent surgery this week . Doctors now say she never had cancer . Post-surgery tests led them to modify the diagnosis .