Posted on 04/11/2007 6:27:06 AM PDT by tsmith130
ROFL...ever hear of a poster named Mr. Spike?
Unfortunately and perhaps unfairly, as a potential political candidate, the medical complexity of "lymphoma" translates for too many voters into uncertainty, and that is not a good thing for a candidate. Both Rudy and McCain have had significant cancers in the past, but they can plausibly claim to be cured whereas Fred can only claim to be "in remission" and to have a good prognosis. Even if that is true and he's backed up by a bunch of doctors there will be doubters. If any of the three are nominated the MSM will keep their health in the news - in contrast to Hillary. whose health records will stay filed with Bill's. In Fred's case the MSM can take things a step further. They can say nice things about him and compare him to Paul Tsongas. IIRC discussion of Tsongas's remitted lymphoma wasn't helping him in the polls prior to its sad relapse. Adding this to a late start and a large initial money gap behind those already in leaves potential candidate Fred with a large hill to climb. However I don't think this would hurt him as a VP candidate.
Some have interpreted Fred releasing this as advance spin control preceding a campaign launch. That is plausible. However it also is plausible that he heard the story was going to be leaked, either by somebody in the MSM or by some other candidate, and wanted to control the story for the sake of his own reputation. There are too many unsavory reporters, and politicians, in both parties, to rule out the latter possibility completely.
He’s just grand, isn’t he?
OK
I am an oncologist. Obviously I don’t have access to Fred Thompson’s pathology reports and staging studies (and if I did, I be barred from discussing them here by doctor-patient privilege), but in general, the natural history of low grade, indolent lymphoma is very long, and most patients die of something other than their lymphoma.
Begs the question: Who's prostate were they laying...and it must've been quite a big one for that many guys to have been helping.
If he should apologize, why were all of your posts removed?
Based on what has come out today, it appears the specific lymphoma he has is “Nodal Marginal-Zone B-Cell Lymphoma”.
This has not been explicitly stated, but his oncologist stated he had “marginal zone lymphoma”, and it was spotted in a lymph node in his neck.
Do you have any additional comments on this particular kind of lymphoma?
The two are not mutually exclusive. Once you have an infectious autoimmune disease like cancer, MS, Lupus, Wegeners, rheumatoid arthritis and 100 others, you are susceptible for life!!
Being in remission simply means that the disease has been controlled by surgery, radiation, drugs, diet, prayer (likely a combination), and is no longer active.
I have a friend with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma who took the same drug as Thompson and has been doing extremely well for the past 6 years.
Thompson's NH Lymphoma was treated with Rituxan (rituximab) - a relatively new drug developed specifically to treat NHL.
I have taken Rituxan, for a different disease, and it has virtually no side affects. If he was on chemo and prednisone, I would agree that he shouldn't run. But he is not. Now with Rituxan, and a follow-on from Genentec which I understand may prove even more effective, I think we should leave the decision to him. Ultimately, the decision will be made by the American people. I would be proud to vote for Fred!!
One more data point; I have a friend with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma who took the same drug as Thompson (Rituxan) and has been doing extremely well for the past 6 years.
My thoughts exactly this morning on the way to work. He is getting the MSM garbage out of the way and will probably announce within two weeks.
I don’t know anything about the lymphoma, except that a friend has it...not sure what kind, but she was diagnosed about 10 or 11 years ago and she’s still alive and kicking. At the time of diagnosis, a doctor gave her little chance of surviving a year. That my friend is still with us means either the doctor didn’t know jack, or in 10 or so years, the medical profession has made a lot of progress in treating this disease. If it’s the latter, you know that Billary’s socialized medicine scheme (or any other “universal health care” boondoggle from the Dems) would quash all that progress.
To be cold-hearted about it, the question is "Will the disease will seriously affect Fred Thompson's ability to function as President between now and January 20 2017?" and the answer is probably not.
To be cynical about things, one wonders how the RATs will approach this, as well as Giuliani's inactive prostate cancer and McInsane's inactive melanoma, given Elizabeth Edwards' recent diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, a much more serious situation (though she isn't running for office). Considering the types of "get well" wishes they have sent to Dick Cheney and Tony Snow, I expect they will continue to disgrace themselves.
“Thompson: I have a normal life expectancy and feel fine.”
But he doesn’t have a normal energy level. Later in the interview he said he had a young family and therefore did not think he had to leave them to be on the road campaigning as much as people expected. He was pretty unequivocal about this—he does not intend to go out on the road that much. This does not sound like somebody ready for the grueling slog of running for president in ‘08.
Prostate cancer, caught early, is curable. Rudy is now cancer free.
Thanks for the info. I am not an oncologist, but I am quite involved in cancer issues, sometimes at the national level. I have the most experience with multiple myeloma and primary CNS lymphoma.
The info I have seen for this specific variant of lymphoma indicates more than half of the patients will have their first progression between 1.5 and 4 years after successful initial treatment. However, the statistics I have seen were NOT adjusted for the stage the patient was at upon initial diagnosis.
It seems that typical treatment upon relapse includes Rituxan + CHOP, possibly followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. As you know, this kind of treatment DOES have significant side effects, and could certainly affect his performance as President.
A key variable is the stage he was at when initially diagnosed. The information released thus far could be construed to put him at stage 1a. You would know much more about this than I do, but it seems reasonable to assume that catching it this early would also imply he has more time before significant additional treatment is needed.
All in all, it seems to me that he should release his medical records, in full, ASAP. If he was stage 1a at the time of diagnosis, which is the implication they seem to be trying to make without actually saying so, they should prove it.
Likewise, if he is truly in a good remission, then they should prove that too. Ditto for the treatments he has had.
As long as he has a reasonable shot at 10 years or more before needing draconian treatment, releasing the above information would not hurt him. And it would prevent the rumors and innuendo that are sure to come if he tries to keep this information secret.
How’s this for an idea: Thompson offers to release his medical records, in full, at the same time Hillary releases hers. When she refuses, he makes a big show about releasing his records in a big news conference, HELD IN NEW YORK CITY, coupled with a public call for Hillary to do the same. Then, every time his lymphoma comes up, he repeats the call.
The lymphoma issue would go away completely, and might even turn into a plus when compared with Hillary’s secrecy.
Like Fred Thompson's lymphoma, though, some prostate cancers can progress very slowly, though that is less common in somebody diagnosed with the disease as young as he was.
“But he doesn’t have a normal energy level.”
He has a toddler and a 4 month old at home and two jobs. \
I’d be tired, too, and I compete in “stong man” competitions, thowing telephone polls on ESPN2.
The reason for me getting angry about everyone spouting “facts” is they ARE NOT FRED THOMPSONS. His doctor gave him the a OK. If Mr. Thompson thought for 1 IOTA it would affect his job as President, HE WOULD NOT RUN. Sorry Old Mill, don’t mean to get all pissy with you, but stop looking up these kinds of “facts”. If you want to know the truth about Mr. Thompson, what he has and how it’s affecting him, please look to what Mr. Thompson and his doctors say. I’m tired of everyone sending this wonderful man to his grave!
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