ABC news anchor Peter Jennings has lung cancer

ABC News-Drudge ^ | 4-5-05

[waynebobo]

ABC news anchor Peter Jennings has lung cancer.

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE APRIL 05, 2005 10:43:02 ET XXXXX

ABCNEWS PETER JENNINGS LUNG CANCER

**Exclusive**

Peter Jennings and David Westin sent the following e-mails to their ABC News colleagues this morning:

David Westin's e-mail

This morning, Peter Jennings told his senior staff at World News Tonight that yesterday afternoon he was diagnosed with lung cancer. I include below the full text of Peter’s note to the group of people with whom he works most closely. He will begin outpatient treatment next week here in New York. It’s both Peter’s and my expectation that he will anchor World News Tonight during the period of treatment to the extent he can do so comfortably; but, we should also expect him to be off the broadcast from time to time, depending on how he feels. Charlie Gibson, Elizabeth Vargas, and others will be substituting for Peter as necessary and when their other responsibilities permit.

All of us at ABC News have watched over the years as Peter has led us on various assignments with strength and with courage. We’ve done our best to support him in these endeavors. Now, Peter’s been given a tough assignment. He’s already bringing to this new challenge the courage and strength we’ve seen so often in his reporting from the field and in anchoring ABC News. I know that all of us will give him every bit of support that he needs and asks for. Peter will once again lead the way, but we will stand with him at every turn.

Peter’s Email

Dear All – Forgive me the group mailing – but it seems the easiest way to tell a lot of people I care for ….. about a change in my life. I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. Yes, it was quite a surprise. As you all know, this is a challenge. I begin chemo-therapy next week. I will continue to do the broadcast. There will be good days and bad, which means that some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky! Almost 10 million Americans are living with cancer. I am sure I will learn from them how to cope with the facts of life that none of us anticipated. In all the years I have worked here I have had the most outstanding support from this news division. Hundreds of you have been like family. It feels good to have such a family right now.

Peter

[Rocket1968]

Jennings became a U.S. citizen recently.

[johnb838]

you're an ignorant know nothing fool.

[Lockbar]

Gee whiz, gosh darn, thats tough.

[StarFan]

FNC just verified it and cited AP as the source.

[Lazamataz]

Being treated as an "outpatient." How bad can it be?

Quickly and fatally bad. Outpatient status says nothing.

[mwyounce]

AP: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mymod/hdln/z/afaprt/sty/SIG=13ou4m595/EXP=1112801012;_ylt=Aro_S4bClsLM8MV1srnLj4wE1vAI/*http%3A//story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20050405/ap_on_en_tv/tv_jennings_cancer

[Lazamataz]

Gee whiz, gosh darn, thats tough.

Let's give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you talk like this in real life.

Then I won't have to get angry at you.

[kstewskis]

Wow, I do hope this lung cancer is one of the types that are more successfully treated.

I wish him Godspeed, and to get well soon.

[flushed with pride]

Harriet, on the other hand, smoked heavily. I heard this in a tv interview with her granddaughter, who is also an actress (I seem to recall her name is Tracy and she played in the Father Dowling mystery series some years back).

[cdrw]

Radon gas is estimated to cause a substantial portion of Lung cancer - you don't have to smoke.

Peter's chances depend very much on how early it was found and where it is located in his lungs (and on where it originated .. he could have cancer elsewhere that has spread to his lungs). If they can carve it out and if that's the only place he has it then he's got a fighting chance. I suppose if he was operable they would be doing that rather than chemo but I don't know for sure. But, as others have said, lung cancer is very bad news. It's a tough one to beat and it's a rather unpleasant way to die.

[TheRightGuy]

Hopefully they caught it early enough.

Am incorrect in assuming, since the prescribed treatment is chemo, that the tumor is inoperable? Any med-heads out there?

[Labyrinthos]

Hmmmm...the Lord does his work in truly mysterious ways.

Really inappropriate. You may want to ask the Moderator to remove the post.

[Valin]

Dittos.

[reagan_fanatic]

I join in prayer for Jennings' full recovery and return to health!

This is why I'm a FReeper. Even to our adversaries, we offer prayers and good wishes in times of need.

If this were a Republican or Conservative, the nimrods at Dirty Underpants would be exulting in his suffering and hoping for a slow, painful death.

Get well, Peter.

[mlc9852]

I've always liked him way better than Dan Rather!

[Zionist Conspirator]

Prayers and hopes for a speedy recovery, directed at this man that I ideologically oppose. May G-d heal him and may his family be unburdened with sadness.

Amen and amen. I'm also at the opposite pole from him ideologically, but I wouldn't wish lung cancer on anyone.

I'm heartened at the kindness and humanity FReepers are displaying on this thread towards an ideological opponent, despite all the hoo-haw about how "extremist" we've become during the Schindler tragedy.

[jwalsh07]

God bless him.

[Fury]

You don't have to smoke to get lung cancer...I think Andy Kauffman got lung cancer, didn't he? And I don't think HE smoked. Eddie Rabbitt the country singer, too...though I'm not sure.

Agreed, but smoking does put you at higher risk for various ailments including lung cancer.

[SF Republican]

So, as a Canadian I believe he became an American Citizen last year.

[Borges]

Huh?