Posted on 09/13/2007 8:21:01 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has a rare type of cancer that specialists say is incurable but not life-threatening over the short term.
Although the 65-year-old former senator and actor says his disease is in remission, studies of other cases indicate that it's likely to return within the next two to five years.
But cancer experts say his malignancy -- a slow-growing disruption of the immune system known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- can be well managed with drugs and needn't interfere with normal activities.
They say Thompson has an excellent chance of survival for at least five to 10 years, based on the experiences of other patients reported in medical journals.
"My understanding is you can expect to live a normal life expectancy," Thompson said Sunday on his campaign bus. But he acknowledged that "it's something that is always potentially there."
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the lymph system, a complex network of specialized cells whose task is to detect and destroy invading microbes.
For unknown reasons, some lymph cells occasionally run amok, traveling through the body and forming cancerous lumps that interfere with the immune system.
Sometimes these unruly cells grow rapidly, causing an "aggressive" non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that's often fatal. Sometimes the growth is slow, leading to a case of "indolent," or painless, lymphoma. This is the kind that Thompson has.
-snip-
Thanks to improvements in treatment, patients are surviving longer than they used to. The five-year expected survival rate of 63 percent is up from 48 percent 30 years ago.
Thompson's cancer was detected in 2004, as a lump in his neck. It later spread to other areas. His doctor prescribed a new drug, Rituxan, which drove the disease into remission.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
No he's not. Marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma is treated with Rituxan, which uses antibodies, not chemotherapy or radiation—it's almost a cancer vaccine. Rituxan is "heavy duty" when it comes to killing cancer cells, but it's not at all debilitating. More like having a mild flu for a day once a week for a month or two. He won't even have to hand over the football to VP Steele.
“Life is a terminal disease.”
“Wrong.
Life is a terminal condition.
Liberals lives are terminal diseases”
Love it.!!!!
Mahalo
"may recur", for this type of lymphoma is less of a chance than any of the candidates will get some deadly disease during the same period.
Stress is self imposed. True that the job is probably the easiest one to become stressed over, but in this case Fred strikes me as "Reagan-like" in his propensity to not get stressed out.
We should always cae about the VP selection "just-in-case" ... I just wish the electorate cared about #3 in line last election.
When Ronald Reagan was running for his first term as President, I remember cartoonists drawing him as an old geezer in a wheelchair. He was too old to be President, you see. That all changed after the assassination attempt.
It is disappointing someone can throw the word cancer around as a fear tactic.
I would vote for Thompson if he was on his deathbed. All this means is we have to look at the VP knowing that Fred could go into remission. It isn’t a big deal if he chooses someone that is also Conservative. I am hoping for JC Watts as they are friends.
I think I’ll take two ORLYs and call the doctor in the morning.
I’m not using a fear tactic. Someone asked what happened with Rudy’s prostate cancer. I answered: It forced him out of his Senate race and Hillary won.
It’s history; look it up.
Anyone wanting to help out Fred, here is a link:
https://www.fred08.com/contribute.aspx?RefererID=c637caaa-315c-4b4c-9967-08d864cd0791
He knew it was coming. He told Hannity that this wasn't his first time at the rodeo, so he and Jeri knew what to expect. I'm sure it doesn't make listening to it any easier, though.
“So much for doctor/patient confidentiality. Disclosure is Thompson’s prerogative not the Sacramento Bee’s.
Hit piece.”
Could not agree more than what you have said.
The Sacto. Bee is da kine not good.
No he's not. Marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma is treated with Rituxan, which uses antibodies, not chemotherapy or radiation—it's almost a cancer vaccine. Rituxan is "heavy duty" when it comes to killing cancer cells, but it's not at all debilitating. More like having a mild flu for a day once a week for a month or two. He won't even have to hand over the football to VP Steele."
That was not my post - It was a post I sent an answer to...and my answer to them was 'Are you sure YOU'LL be around to see it?"
Hey, Missouri elected Carnehan even after he died, so stranger things have happened.
Ah yes, Thompson is not FIT for the Presidency, says the liberal rag. Liberal cancer victims get sympathy and admiration. Conservative cancer victims get shunned.
Maybe, but they'd all beat the heck out of having socialists like Obama, or Her Heinous as President!
Yep -= like I said, you sound like an angry man - which I based on your first post and then by reading your home page.
Now, in your attempt to refute it, you have dotted the i's and crossed the t's.
Maybe you should take a chill pill. You keep pounding Fred's statistical survival rate.
What about yours? Anger is a killer. It causes high blood pressure which can lead to stroke, heart attack... Maybe you wont have to worry about whether to vote for Fred or not...
Here's some de-stress exercises that can help: Count to ten; Take deep breaths; go for a walk; take a nap; take a chill pill - ;o)
Wow! Wouldn't that be something! I'd like to see the demographics on that idea. He's really sexy, too. That's got to be a good thing in a VP, eh? ;)
Came in way late but fixed the bias
He was in Law and Order for the last four years or so, up until this May. He is thin because he's been working out since he stopped filming so as to get in better shape for the run for office. His doctor has given him a go ahead for the run, saying that his cancer is a very slow growing type, and is in remission now.
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