Thompson's illness is slow, serious

Sacramento Bee ^ | Sept. 13, 2007 | Robert S. Boyd

[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.

[maine-iac7]

The type of cancer Rudy had would very rarely kill within 10-15 years. With treatment such as he had, it usually doesn’t kill at all. Even if it comes back, it’s usually very slowly, and the man ends up dying of some common old age ailment first.

No guarantees on that - that's what the doctor's told my neighbor - who went into remission - but died 2 years later.

Let's not beat this drum...

[Rennes Templar]

They don’t brag, but they need some PR. Always got a bad rap!

[madison10]

His health is going to be an issue in this campaign. We better get used to it.

Fred can be VP in Duncan's Presidency. Mr. Thompson will be safer there.

[chaos_5]

can be well managed with drugs and needn't interfere with normal activities.

If this is the case, why are they making such a big deal about it?

[maine-iac7]

I can guarantee over the next year the whole country is going to be a lot more familiar with Hodgkins disease.

and we should fall into their plant and help make it a major issue? Like other posters have mentioned - Cheney was supposed to've keeled over some time ago too

[Rennes Templar]

“Then post some facts.”

First, read the article - this is a requirement for thread discussions on FR.

Then please post all non-factual statements here.

[MHGinTN]

And we are supposed to believe a rabid Mittiac as he does all he can to sow doubt? LOL

[MHGinTN]

Wow! Great choice!! Michael would then become president, sooner or later, and this nation might actually be on the road to recovery from the deadly disease of Democrap.

[maine-iac7]

The more I look at him, the more I don’t see a two-term President. Dare I say less than a one-termer. We have to be ready for this.

Just read your home page, Captainpaintball. You seem to be one angry man.

You also seem to have another candidate you're backing...

[Politicalmom]

Then he loses my support, and I am one of his biggest supporters. I will NOT, under any circumstances, vote to put Giuliani in office.

[Tears of a Clown]

Yep. This is exactly what they did to Cheney.

[esopman]

TO ARTICLE:

I sense (not just in this article, but in many more): some strange tropism to despair, moaning, and hopelessness — like it is a great thing to expire with one long pathetic, melodramatic heave. And so, many petulant “we don’t have a perfect hero yet” whines - go up at regular intervals... .. AND: “Let me be the first to say what the ‘realy bad news’ is.... sniff, sniff, choke, choke!

I am disgusted with what I perceive as severe narcissism in supposedly thinking ‘conservative’ venues.

YUK !

Mrs. Esopman

PS: Thumb-sucking is henceforth forbidden

[maine-iac7]

The more I look at him, the more I don’t see a two-term President. Dare I say less than a one-termer. We have to be ready for this.

Hey, Cap, read Post #53

"From Medical News; By Mark Bloom, Editor-in-Chief, MedPage Today - April 11, 2007: "Thompson was treated with radiation and rituximab (Rituxan). Since then, Dr. Cheson said, non-invasive scans have found no evidence of disease in Thompson, and he is asymptomatic. Nodal marginal zone lymphomas account for only 1% to 3% of all NHLs. "

Some lymphomas are very aggressive, but people with slow-growing types, like Senator Thompson's, more often die from natural causes associated with old age, rather than from the disease,'' Dr. Cheson said. "

[mylife]

Where are the survival rates for health paradises like Cuba and Iran?

[maine-iac7]

gasbaggery!

LOL

Love that! Can I steal it for one of my columns?

[Infidel1571]

“He will pick Rudy as his VP.”

If he does, conservative support isn’t going to be all that enthusiastic.

[BIGLOOK]

So much for doctor/patient confidentiality. Disclosure is Thompson's prerogative not the Sacramento Bee's.

Hit piece.

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[cherry]

what a bs article......why bring it up?....we never even KNEW a thing about Clinton, because he had all his health records sealed and he fired the first White House doctor to bring in his own buddy....

[maine-iac7]

They have brains????

hee hee , good one