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."
There's no way he'll win no matter what kind of guy he is.
No matter what, his wife is in for a battle, and people will want him to focus on her.
It's better for him to sit this time out, and be supportive of his wife.
He can use that the next time he runs.
Reuters used the words "incurable recurrence" but I don't know how accurate that is. I do know that recurrences tend to be very agressive. I will pray for her. In the meanwhile, John should knock it off and take care of his family and get his life in order. He is still very young. And if he really cares about his image, I think he will look very selfish campaigning.
She still had to give BIRTH.
Not only will the stress of the campaign affect her, but her illness will be highly disruptive and affect the campaign. There will be numerous hospital visits, tests, etc. Try to be smiling & gracious while you're nauseous from chemo. Or in pain. What if she gets another fracture?
Having watched my mother die of breast cancer, I know how horrible the end will be. My prayers go out to Mrs. Edwards, but I think she & her husband are not only selfish but in denial. Especially when her illness is stage 4, metastasis to the bone.
Maybe she feels that the campaigning will have therapeutic, as well as symbolic value. The excitement of it might distract her, or even add months. Certainly, there is no reason she has to spend her last days brooding. She wants to be a helpmate to her husband. Very noble of her, but I think very futile & foolish. Their focus should be on her health & her children.
I would guess depending on how her cancer progresses, fast or slowly, that if she starts to deteriorate, then he will step down. I also agree with your point about the 24 hours, once it all really sinks in they will probably reconsider campaigning at some point in the near future.
With or without cancer he is a jerk.
Like any democrap he will milk this sad situation for all its worth.
The tool here is Andie Sullivan. The about-face of Sullivan is humorous.
Its their call if they want to go forward with this.
My prayers go out to Mrs Edwards.
Mr. Edwards is young enough to wait for another chance. Campaign trails are not conducive to good health where stress and immune systems are at stake. What is this going to teach the children?
Of course, she did. I can't believe he is putting her through this. According to the latest report, the cancer is "incurable" but "treatable". Last night Geraldine Ferraro was on tv braying and giving them high fives to keep campainging.
What it will teach their children is that their father's ego comes first. Hopefully, they will turn on him.
He is a vain egomaniac and she does not tell him off then she is his enabler. Your health comes first. I went through this also.
Politics is the only thing Democrats know.
I could not believe what Ferraro, the Puppet, was saying on Hannity & Colmes. Sean Hannity was agreeing with her but my theory is that if given enough rope, Edwards will hang himself and that is why people are not publicly saying what I believe: that he is a creep who is using a sick wife. Ferraro also does not know what she is talking about in spite of having suffered from cancer. It takes years for new drugs to come out and every clinic has its own "protocol". Health first!
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