Posted on 02/16/2005 2:24:05 PM PST by msnimje
Senator Arlen Specter’s office just announced the senator has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. From the release:
Senator Specter had experienced persistent fevers and enlarged lymph nodes under his left arm and above his left clavicle. He received testing on February 14th at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The testing involved biopsy of a lymph node and biopsy of bone marrow. The lymph node was positive for Hodgkin’s disease. The bone marrow biopsy showed no cancer. A follow up PET scan and MRI at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania on February 16th established that Senator Specter has stage IVB Hodgkin’s disease.
More:
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
"Senator Specter’s oncologist, John H. Glick, M.D., said: "Senator Specter has an excellent chance of being completely cured of his Hodgkin’s disease. Senator Specter’s Hodgkin’s disease has a five-year survival rate of 70%"
My sister died from Hodgkins.
be that as it may, I've heard of precious few survivors. And, at the risk of being crass, who's behind Specter in seniority at Judiciary Committee?
This is a relatively painless disease, until the final stages. I pray for the Senator, he's got a hard road ahead of him.
Jackie O.
That didn't come out right; I meant this made me think of her.
Please FReepers, regardless of our feelings toward Specter let's not post any nasty comments.
Probably a compassionate conservative. Some blocks may be falling into place ... kinda' like TETRUS.
Click, click, click, click, click ... whisk ----- zoom.
Should this conjecture prove true, we can only pray for a constitutionally patriotic term from Specter.
My brother-in-law was diagnosed with Hodgkins when he was only 15. After a long treatment period he was able to beat it. He has been cancer free since he was 19. He is now in his middle 40's.
Prayers for Senator Specter. Hopefully, they caught it in the early stages. It's a toughie, I've been in remission going on almost two years now and also lost a dear friend from it. Hope all goes well for him.
Everyone I've known that have had Hodgkin's in the last 15 years made it, but they were all young. Still, wishing him the best.
But you're right, who the next person in line becomes important.
that's wonderful !!!! it's not an easy one to beat, God really bless your brother in law. I pray recovery for Sen. Specter, too ... I don't know how one goes thru the treatments and carries the burdens of a Senate Committee chairmanship, but that's up to Specter to figure out.
My sister didn't know she had it. We actually didn't know what was wrong with her until they did an autopsy. She hadn't been feeling well and had some flu-like symptoms. She was 34 and left two little boys. I still miss her. It's been 30 years now.
wasn't Paul Tsongas also afflicted with Hodgkins? Research moves rapidly on these diseases, tho .. I remember when a leukemia diagnosis was an instant death sentence, and now there are just so many survivors.
I will remember Senator Specter in my prayers.
I don't know who's next in line regarding seniority, but I have another question: If Specter resigns his Senate seat because of his illness, Does Democrat Governor Ed Rendell get to pick his replacement?
True. Best of luck to him.
Not in 74-year old men, it doesn't.
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