Posted on 06/14/2007 12:41:19 AM PDT by Doofer
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A doctor for former Sen. Fred Thompson announced Wednesday that the possible presidential candidate was diagnosed in 2004 with a form of lymphoma -- a cancer that begins in cells of the immune system -- and that it is currently in remission.
"Right now, he has no evidence of disease," said Dr. Bruce D. Cheson, head of hematology in the division of hematology/oncology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington. Many such patients "can live a normal life span," he said.
Cheson described his 64-year-old patient's disease as an "indolent lymphoma -- slow growing." (Watch the doctor talk about living "as normal as possible" )
Patients with this form of disease "can live a normal, productive life, often dying from unrelated causes," Cheson said. He described Thompson's prognosis as "very favorable."
The diagnosis was made late in 2004, when Thompson sought treatment for a 3.5 centimeter by 4 centimeter (roughly one inch by 1½ inch) lump under his left jaw and the biopsy came back positive, Cheson said.
Thompson was initially treated with radiation to his neck, "merely because it was bothersome to him to have a lump there."
"The indolent, or slow-growing lymphomas are very treatable, but rarely if ever curable," Cheson said. "Therefore, his likelihood of recurring is high, but this may not happen for a number of years."
Should the disease recur, Thompson could be retreated with chemotherapy, the blood expert said.
[snip]
Disease Should Not Stop Presidential Bid
About Thompson's consideration of a possible presidential bid, Cheson said: "I would strongly encourage him, if this is what he wants to do, to go ahead with it. His disease and eventual treatment for this disease should not impact on his ability to perform this job."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
About Thompson's consideration of a possible presidential bid, Cheson said: "I would strongly encourage him, if this is what he wants to do, to go ahead with it. His disease and eventual treatment for this disease should not impact on his ability to perform this job."
Great news to get a definitive answer to the cancer question! Full speed ahead for Fred!
To the extent this affects his campaign at all (and it shouldn’t, at all), I think it could be a net positive.
“Right now, he has no evidence of disease” - is the only true response. You are never “cancer free” after treatment. Good Doctor. But you can be sure that some of the ignorant press will leap on this as an issue.
So we buy "life insurance" in the form of an equally good VP candidate.
The DBM, however, has no problem with McCain’s Melanoma...
Anyone seriously running for President has to know that their chances of dying on the job are greater than average.
And it has nothing to do with illness.
Thank God.
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