Posted on 03/22/2007 10:56:30 AM PDT by Kaslin
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - John Edwards said Thursday his wife's cancer has returned, but said he will continue his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
"The campaign goes on. The campaign goes on strongly," Edwards told reporters, his wife by his side.
The recurrence of the cancer—this time on Elizabeth Edwards' bone—presents a setback for the couple, both personally and politically. But both said they would stick with their plans to campaign vigorously for the nomination.
"From our perspective, there was no reason to stop," Edwards said. "I don't think we seriously thought about it."
Edwards had canceled a Tuesday evening house party in Iowa to go with his wife to a doctor's appointment, which his campaign described as a follow-up to a routine test she had Monday.
Faced with questions about how his wife's illness affected his political future, Edwards said he will pursue his second bid for the presidency, but: "Any time, any place I need to be with Elizabeth I will be there—period."
Mrs. Edwards, 57, was first diagnosed with cancer in the final weeks of the 2004 campaign. The day after Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and Edwards, his running mate, conceded the election to George W. Bush, Edwards announced that his wife had invasive ductal cancer, the most common type of breast cancer, and would undergo treatment.
Mrs. Edwards underwent several months of radiation and chemotherapy for the lump in her breast. Her husband's campaign has said she had recovered from the illness.
"I don't look sickly, I don't feel sickly. I am as ready as any person can be for that," she said at the news conference.
John Edwards said a biopsy of her rib had showed that the cancer had returned.
The bone is one of the most common places where breast cancer spreads, and once it does so it is not considered curable.
But how long women survive depends on how widespread the cancer is in the bone, and many can survive for years. The longer it takes for cancer to spread after the initial tumor, the better the prognosis. She was diagnosed in 2004.
Chemotherapy and radiation are standard treatments, along with use of drugs that specifically target the bones called bisphosphonates. Other treatments include hormone therapy if the cancer is responsive to estrogen.
Dr. Lisa Carey, Elizabeth Edwards' physician, said that initial tests showed some very small suspicious spots elsewhere, but that the therapy focus would be on the bone. Asked where else, she said "possibly involving the lung."
As soon as I heard this, I thought: What a sick puppy; using his wife's terminal illness to try and win the sympathy vote.
And this is a funny line in his piece right here on it's own.....Addressed to Ann Coulter: "But this man will be remembered for a character you do not even want to possess."
That's your choice, and it's certainly a legitimate option. But it might not be everyone's, or even everyone's idea of what would be best for their children (for example, it would not be mine).
"Elizabeth and John suit each other well, he is a narcissistic ass and she is an enabler. After they lost their only son she flooded her grieving menopausal body with hormones and stimulants to bear his natural children at age 49 and 51. She had to do this twice to get him another son."
Seems to me that than there are several assumption there: about her motivation, the nature of the decision making process in their marriage, about the relative value they places on sons and daughters, and so on. I would not myself attempt to make those assumptions about anyone else's marriage long distance.
Also, even if her (or their) decision to conceive two children later in life was unwise, it appears to have been driven by a strongly felt idea of what family life ought to be like, and the central importance of children in their image of a family.
Seems to me that a personal vision of the central role of marriage and the importance of children is reflected in your own version of what you wold do in their situation.
Some people would opt for an ideal but unworldly family life in such a situation, some others might feel their children were better served by the example of their parent attempting to continue to lead their "normal" lives under such circumstances.
Seems to me that either could be a reasonable choice for a loving couple who cared about their children, and that either done well could be a better choice than the other done badly.
Last months on a campaign? Heaven forbid!
Ah, yes, the ambulance chaser will be chasing another lawsuit. I too had a terrible gynocological cancer but mercifully have survived. It makes you appreciate what is important in life.
She was 49 and 51 when she gave BIRTH??? OMG! I didn't realize she had been that old.
He really is a girly boy.
No, it's not good. Pray. She does not deserve to have a selfish husband.
The oldest son died young and now the wife is seriously ill and he wants to "campaign". He really is sick. GET YOUR PRIORITIES TOGETHER, JOHN: IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HAIR AND TEETH!
I think they had in vitro.
actually, it's a metaphor for american society.
"a public service"? No, the word should be self-serving! Andrew Sullivan had turned into a real jerk.
I agree with you. The number of our fellow Freepers who believe they can see into the Edwards' minds and hearts is staggering. The Edwards' have to make the best choice they believe they can make for themselves and their family, and this is the choice at which they've arrived. We may not agree that it's what we would choose for ourselves and our families, but it's not our business to judge their decision here.
What makes you think he won't?????
yes, "being an arrogant jerk" (Edwards, that is).
What a tragedy. This poor woman finds out 24 hours ago that her cancer has returned to more than one site. Neither of them has had the time to "process" this information or even begin to deal with it.
It was too early and unnecessary at this point to make any determination about the campaign, IMHO, of course.
Terrible news. Prayers for Mrs. Edwards.
This couple has politics so deeply in their blood, that campaigning is the most enjoyable thing to do.
And while it would probably be the last thing I would ever want to do, I can't say that I condemn them for making that choice. They're doing it willfully.
As for their politics, I can find PLENTY of fault.
I know if it were me, I'd drop out of the race. (Especially since he really doesn't stand much of a chance.)
I see cooler and smarter heads (yours) are prevailing. At least I hope so. Only thing though, she can live with this for some years.
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