Posted on 04/07/2005 1:52:05 PM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs
Peter Jennings' lung cancer, which he disclosed Tuesday on ABC World News Tonight, may be in an advanced stage, a local expert on the disease says.
Most patients don't have their conditions diagnosed until the cancer is "so advanced that it can't be cured by surgery, and the patient has a poor chance of long-term survival," says Rita Axelrod of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Kimmel Center.
Details of Jennings' condition haven't been disclosed, but his hoarse voice and the fact that he isn't having surgery immediately "suggests he could be in at least stage III" of lung cancer, says Axelrod, director of pulmonary medical oncology.
In stage III, life expectancy for lung-cancer patients is 12 to 18 months, with less than 9 percent living for five years after their diagnosis, according to Axelrod.
Jennings, 66, World News anchor since 1983, shocked his ABC colleagues - and the broadcast world - by revealing in a staff e-mail Tuesday morning that the cancer had been diagnosed the previous day.
He said that he would begin outpatient chemotherapy next week, and that he would anchor when his health permits. Good Morning America's Charlie Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas of 20/20, among others, will fill in.
Jennings had planned to anchor World News Tuesday, but changed his mind late in the day due to a weak voice. Looking thin, he told viewers his news in a taped segment at the end of the broadcast.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States, with roughly four out of five people who have the disease dying within five years, Axelrod says.
The five leading causes: "Smoking, smoking, smoking, smoking and smoking."
Jennings, once described by a colleague as a "relentless smoker," says he quit 20 years ago but started again during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Nightline's Ted Koppel "was always goading Peter to quit," says Bob Zelnick, chairman of Boston University's journalism department and an ABC correspondent from '77 to '98.
"Sometimes Peter was like a kid, smoking in the bathroom or stealing a cigarette in the hallway," Zelnick says. "At one point, he went to a hypnotist to try to get control of it."
The traditional course of chemo for lung cancer is in cycles of three to four weeks, Axelrod says.
Some people "actually do very well. They're able to work and enjoy life... . They only need to take a few days off at a time."
Meanwhile, the abcnews.com message board has been flooded with good wishes for Jennings, ABC News' Jeffrey Schneider says.
Jennings joined Wednesday in World News' daily 9 a.m. editorial conference call and spoke throughout the day with exec producer Jon Banner, but he didn't anchor last night.
In the wings. Though ABC has no succession plan in place for Jennings, news division chief David Westin has the luxury of a deep bench.
Gibson, 62, and Vargas, 42, already designated subs, would be on any short list. Vargas is considered a fast-tracker at the network.
Other possibilities: chief White House correspondent Terry Moran and World News Saturday anchor Bob Woodruff.
If ABC decides to go with network evening news' first solo woman, GMA's Diane Sawyer, 59, is the logical choice, says CBS Evening News interim anchor Bob Schieffer.
"I have no idea whether she would want to leave GMA, but she's always been the one I would have thought was the strongest woman anchor right now in television, and she works for ABC."
Since Tom Brokaw stepped down Dec. 1, Jennings has brought World News close to the top-rated NBC Nightly News in the Nielsen wars. (CBS Evening News remains a distant third.)
With CBS's Dan Rather having stepped down March 9, ABC is perfectly poised to make a move. Its promo for Jennings says it all: "Trust is earned."
I "quit" when a hurricane blew through these parts. Excuse me. It's getting late, friends.
But, but there are Freepers who tell us this is just a myth.
Of course they are among the addicted but surely....
You ever smoke Players? The next best thing...
CA....
As is undoubtedly the case with any decent person, your preening, drippingly smug posts make me want to vomit. I'll puff on a fine Churchill, instead.
Get lost.
Most genuine Republicans, such as myself, detest the nanny-state "We're just preachin' to ya for your own good, son" of the backwater pulpit-banger as much as we do the secular, Marxist bilge we hear from the propaganda organs of the politically correct Left.
Conservatism is about freedom, not snarky Sunday school lessons from obnoxious latter-day pharisees with axes to grind, and self-righteous sneers to sneer.
You're a perfect example of a crabby addict; and no gentleman either. And as for getting lost--ain't gonna happen, Dude.
Look, I really don't give a flying flip if you poison yourselves. It's your stinkiness coming towards me as stale gaseous substances waft from your clothing, hair, teeth, breath that I mind. It's the increase in medical coverage to care for the bajillion smoking-related diseases. It's having to step on and see your ugly, nasty stubs all over the ground, as smokers apparently think the entire world is your ashtray. It's nicoheads being the most strident, shrill, rude, obnoxious, fingerwagging "it's all about me! Me! ME!" types around. What happened to "Do you mind if I smoke?" and being nice if the person says, "Yes, I do mind"? Now it's all a matter of "rights" because courtesy flees when addiction takes center stage.
As have I.
Can someone tell me if I became addicted to cigarettes because my family smoked?
My mother didn't but my father and my seven siblings all started in their early teens.
I was into athletics and had no desire to smoke but when I did, before I had smoked five or six out of curiosity and which made me feel ill, I knew I was going to be addicted.
I lost many things through my smoking in my personal life because of smoking, and many people in my family too.
But I refuse to judge anyone who smokes. We are all in charge of our own bodies and minds and being given free will we can only make decisions for ourselves, not by another's orders.
And yes the topic was Peter Jennings and regardless of his politics and his professional "delivery", I hope he can beat this thing.
Back to my question:
Does anyone know if children can become addicted within a family of smokers by the lifestyle and/or passive smoke?
"To all FReepers who smoke:
PLEASE STOP NOW!!!"
OK, I'll quit right now if you are able to tell me the date I will no longer be alive.
"You do NOT want to die this way."
Which way should I want to die?
"As a pastor, I just had a parishioner--a longtime heavy smoker--die of lung cancer at age 70. He should have expected many more years of life to enjoy with his wife, children, and grandchildren."
What is the average life expectancy for someone born in 1935?
Funny thing is, I can't imagine how anyone couldn't...
Please keep my updated via posts or freepmail, I'd like to hear how it goes for you!
Good luck!
Pit bull attack.
"Oh how I wish I had been a nagging B!tch now that it is too late."
You would prefer to create a miserable life that lasts longer for your husband and potentially destroy a marriage?
"You are the most obnoxious smoker I've seen in all my years online."
On what day and at what time did you see her smoking?
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