Never try to check your own prostate.
Posted on 10/04/2004 12:25:05 AM PDT by Jenya
WASHINGTON (Oct. 3) - Sen. John Kerry's doctors have told him he is cured of the prostate cancer that sidelined him almost two years ago and that there is a slim chance it could recur in the next decade, The New York Times said Sunday in a report based on interviews with the Democratic presidential nominee and several of his physicians.
"I am cured," the 60-year-old Kerry said in the interview last month. "I am cancer-free, and the percentages of me being cancer-free 10 years from now are about as good as they get."
Kerry's doctors have told him there is a slim chance his cancer may return in the next decade.
He characterized the cancer as a nonissue in the campaign against President Bush.
Kerry's doctors said they told him he was cured, based on the results of an array of tests. They also have concluded he had a less than 3 percent chance of a recurrence in the next nine years. Even if the cancer came back, Kerry's doctors and other experts said it could be treated without seriously interfering with Kerry's presidential duties, should he be elected on Nov. 2.
"The likelihood that he is going to have a significant problem with this cancer is infinitesimally small," said Dr. Patrick C. Walsh, the Johns Hopkins University urologist who removed Kerry's entire prostate gland during surgery in February 2003.
Since then, blood tests performed at six month intervals have indicated no recurrence of cancer. The most recent test was done on Sept. 18 during a house call by Dr. Gerald J. Doyle, Kerry's personal physician in Boston.
10/03/04 10:05 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.
Good. God Bless him.
Since when did we use the word "Cured" with "Cancer" EVER. Isn't that medically unethical? Outside the norms of practice? Is this unique to this form? It's been only TWO YEARS?
EXACTLY what I was wondering.
Well, being a man you gotta feel some sympathy for anyone who has surgery down there. It can't be a fun experience. In spite of this I won't be changing my vote, however. Go GW! ;-)
It'd suck to have a dead president on our hands, better vote for Bush. But in all seriousness, lets hope the cancer doesn't return, it would really slow him down in his next job, auto parts retailer.
I thought cancer was not considered cured until 5 years after the original occurance. At least that is what they told my mother with her melanoma and other people we know. Maybe prostate cancer is different?
I guess this is why you see Kerry with his tie loosened. At first I thought it was just to appear more like a 'regular guy', but the tie must've been part of his therapy. Now that he's cured, he can let the tie go loose and he doesn't have to worry about his foreskin drooping and smothering the POS.
Can he and Teresa have a normal love life again? They weren't particularly loverly the last couple of months.
Kerry's doctor will now try to find a way to remove his head from his ass. Probability of success is about 1%.
The standard for a cancer "cure" is five years of being cancer free. This is BS and is no substitute for a release of his medical records.
Agreed. I know of no reputable physician who uses the word "cure" before 5 years have passed.
These seems rather presumptive and politically motivated. I know 2 years after each of my parents fought cancer, they were still regularly checking up to make sure it did not come back. It has been over 10 years for both, but I remember well that they were extremely vigilant for far more than 2 years and were still considered very much 'at risk' I indeed hope Senator Kerry is and stays healthy...but I think this is being far to dismissive of real risks.
The other question is whether Kerry's Vietnam STD is cured or is it something permanent? RELEASE THE RECORDS! Tax, Military, Medical etc. etc. etc. etc. &c.
Although the projected odds of Kerry's prostate cancer recurring may only be 5% or less in the next 5-10 years, it is still a possibility. As for the 5 year benchmark, most cancers will recur within 5 years, if they are going to do so. Breast cancer and prostate cancer are two noteable exceptions. It is not unusual at all to see a breast cancer recur after 10 years of dormancy. Likewise, I have successfully treated many men with prostate cancer, whose cancer was "early" at the time of radical prostatectomy, only to see the PSA start creeping upward after 2-3 years. Most of the time when this happens, it indicates residual cancer cells in the operative site, where the prostate was removed, have regrown and are multiplying. Fortunately, if inititiated early enough, radiation can salvage about 80+ % of these recurrences.
Never try to check your own prostate.
Usually when the Dems say something, the opposite is true.
Now he still has his pain in the A$$ which is his wife.
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