Putin was visited by a cancer surgeon dozens of times in 4 years and takes rejuvenating baths in deer antler blood, says Russian investigative news outlet

The investigation claims that Putin was visited by a doctor 35 times.

Russian investigative news outlet Proekt revealed that a team of doctors frequently visited the Russian president at his residences or accompanied him on trips.

According to the report, Yevgeny Selivanov flew to visit Putin 35 times and spent 166 days in his presence.

The Russian president was visited by two otolaryngologists more often.

According to the report, Shcheglov flew to see Putin 59 times and spent a total of 282 days with him.

A doctor told Proekt that cancer is usually first diagnosed by an otolaryngologist, after which an oncologist and a surgeon become involved in the treatment.

The outlet looked at hotel contracts on the government procurement website to find out which doctors spent time with Putin.

According to the report, the dates that doctors stayed at hotels in the city were associated with official visits by Putin.

The number of medics in Putin's convoy increased from five in 2016 to nine in 2019.

Anesthetists, a neurosurgeon, an infectious diseases specialist, and an intensive care doctor were part of the team.

The number of medics attending to Putin increased when he was likely to have surgery or a serious procedure, said the outlet.

According to the report, Putin has taken up bathing in the blood extract from the deer's severed limbs as a form of alternative medicine.

Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu recommended this alternative therapy to the Russian president. The deer blood is said to improve the cardiovascular system.

The horns are cut from the deer while they are alive, and animal rights activists have compared it to pulling out a person's fingernails.

Евгений Харитонов/Getty Images

There has been a lot of speculation about the health of the Russian president.

The Kremlin has kept quiet about Putin's possible health issues.

Putin was pictured sitting on one end of a long table during his meetings with foreign leaders during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Kremlin Press Office/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Putin was out of the public eye for the month of September. It is thought that he underwent a complicated procedure related to his disease.

The bloated face of the Russian president has sparked rumors that he is using steroids to treat cancer.

The Kremlin has previously rejected questions about Putin's health, with a spokesman saying in 2020 that his health was excellent.