Posted on 02/16/2005 8:04:05 PM PST by dirtboy
United States Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) has announced that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, in a press release from his office Wednesday afternoon.
In a press release, Specter, 75, said he had experienced persistent fevers and enlarged lymph nodes under his left arm and above his left clavicle.
The statement said Specter received testing on February 14 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The testing involved biopsy of a lymph node and biopsy of bone marrow.
The lymph node was positive for Hodgkin's disease. The bone marrow biopsy showed no cancer. A follow up PET scan and MRI established Specter has stage IVB Hodgkin's disease, the statement said.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymph system. Approximately 7500 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States.
His office said Specter is expected to receive chemotherapy over the next 24 to 32 weeks and he is expected to be able to perform all duties, including chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Senator Specter's Hodgkin's disease has a five-year survival rate of 70%. He is in superb physical condition, particularly in light of his daily squash regimen, " said Specter's oncologist, Dr. John H. Glick.
In the statement, Specter said: "I have beaten a brain tumor, bypass heart surgery and many tough political opponents; and I'm going to beat this, too. I have a lot more work to do for Pennsylvania and America."
I don't wish ill on the man, but I will be one glad regulator when he clears out of Dodge.
That the bone marrow biopsy was clean is a very good sign.
What is senatorial replacement policy in PA?
The governor does it - recall that when John Heinz was killed in that plane crash, Bob Case appointed Wofford as a replacement.
Even for a man with strong morals it would be tough, and Spector doesn't have ANY morals to begin with. He'll do his usual backstabbing routine and blame it on being weakened by the cancer and the treatments and be given a pass for it.
This is lymph cancer, and it's nasty and aggressive. He'll need all the prayers he can get.
I wish Mr. Spector a healing. I may not agree with his politics..but health is a whole different ballgame.
Prayers said.
The governor appoints a fill in who serves until the next general election (whenever the next November comes) when a new Senator is elected to finish out the remainder of the term. This happened in 1991 when John Heinz died. Governor Casey appointed Harris Wofford who, with the help of Begala and Carville, who tried their methods and message for 1992, defeated former Governor Thornburgh by a wide margin six months later. Wofford lost the 1994 election and the seat to Rick Santorum.
These are the stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
* Stage 1 means there is Hodgkin's lymphoma in only 1 group of lymph nodes or lymphoma in one body organ only
* Stage 2 means Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2 or more groups of lymph nodes or an organ and 1 or more group of lymph nodes. In both cases, the two sites of lymphoma must be on the same side of the diaphragm
* Stage 3 means that lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm have Hodgkin's lymphoma
* Stage 4 means that many groups of lymph nodes contain Hodgkin's lymphoma and it has spread to body organs such as the liver, bones or lungs
Absolutely. I wish him well in his fight against cancer. But I don't wish him well in his fight for abortions.
Agreed. Prayers for his recovery.
Good newa bad news
Senatorial replacement policy in all states is that if a Senator dies or can't fulfill their term, the Governor gets to replace them. Their state has a former head of the DNC, Ed rendell I think. So of course he would name a dem.
Prayers offered up for his recovery.
Maybe he'll be well enough to keep his Senate seat but have to give up his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee.
A moment of truth.....
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