Posted on 09/13/2007 8:21:01 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has a rare type of cancer that specialists say is incurable but not life-threatening over the short term.
Although the 65-year-old former senator and actor says his disease is in remission, studies of other cases indicate that it's likely to return within the next two to five years.
But cancer experts say his malignancy -- a slow-growing disruption of the immune system known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- can be well managed with drugs and needn't interfere with normal activities.
They say Thompson has an excellent chance of survival for at least five to 10 years, based on the experiences of other patients reported in medical journals.
"My understanding is you can expect to live a normal life expectancy," Thompson said Sunday on his campaign bus. But he acknowledged that "it's something that is always potentially there."
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the lymph system, a complex network of specialized cells whose task is to detect and destroy invading microbes.
For unknown reasons, some lymph cells occasionally run amok, traveling through the body and forming cancerous lumps that interfere with the immune system.
Sometimes these unruly cells grow rapidly, causing an "aggressive" non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that's often fatal. Sometimes the growth is slow, leading to a case of "indolent," or painless, lymphoma. This is the kind that Thompson has.
-snip-
Thanks to improvements in treatment, patients are surviving longer than they used to. The five-year expected survival rate of 63 percent is up from 48 percent 30 years ago.
Thompson's cancer was detected in 2004, as a lump in his neck. It later spread to other areas. His doctor prescribed a new drug, Rituxan, which drove the disease into remission.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Well wait a minute here.
If the candidate for the presidency had developed some type of a mental condition, that had the potential for affecting his mental ability to some degree, would you want to know about it prior to any election?
“So much for doctor/patient confidentiality. Disclosure is Thompson’s prerogative not the Sacramento Bee’s.”
It’s not like Thompson has kept this a secret or anything:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265271,00.html
Good point. The article pointedly doesn't say when he was diagnosed or how long he's been in remission, does it? I didn't know this about him, but knowing just means I'll be praying for him. I doubt that if he or his family thought the campaign would result in a recurrence they would have decided to do it. He's got very young children. It's not worth the risk. Actually, I think it makes me admire him more.
I’m not angry. My blood pressure is great. My LDL and HDL...great. I run, I nap too much, and I can’t find chill pills anywhere in the store. Maybe you’re right, I am kinda mad... about that, especially since people keep reccommending those damned things to me.
That’s exactly what he said. He hasn’t had a single day of sickness or any symptoms. He said if he thought it would harm his health to run, he wouldn’t do it. He has young kids to think of.
I believe him.
As the article states, FDT's marginal zone lymphoma is indolent (slow growing), is treatable, but not curable. His doctors have not been specific on his prognosis, but the literature states that marginal zone lymphoma (diagnosed in 2004), has a 5-year survival rate of 50-70%. The Bee touches lightly on this now, but if Fred should win the nomination the MSM will drum that figure into every person in the nation.
Well wait a minute here.
If the candidate for the presidency had developed some type of a mental condition, that had the potential for affecting his mental ability to some degree, would you want to know about it prior to any election?
In addition, I would guess people that have debilitating or potentially life threatening diseases can be susceptible to changes mentally/emotionally. I believe some people with these conditions, it could possibly affect their mental or emotional state, to some degree.
The mayor has promised to make his decision a week before the GOP state convention on May 30, allowing Republicans an opportunity to find a replacement candidate if he drops out. Despite such assurances, some state GOP leaders have clearly grown impatient with Giuliani.
Giuliani remains undecided about N.Y. Senate race
http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/18/rudy.race/index.html
It was not like he was in the middle of the race and drop out he could not start.
No way. the MSM would do everything to protect her "privacy". Just like they were so incurious about Clinton's health. Remember the Presidential MD who refused to administer some drug to Clinton unless he knew what it was? The press could have cared less, and Clinton's health wasn't the greatest. He had a bypass not long after he left the WH. He was probably ill the last couple of years of his presidency, but the MSM didn't care.
I'm with you there. That would be a great VP choice!!
Heheheh
I, for one, am not ready for a woman president. However, I firmly believe that the reason is the current crop of potential female candidates. None are Margaret Thatcher or even Barbara Jordon. I’m not just looking for someone with the right ideas — we need a *leader* with the right ideas.
Condi Rice comes the closest, but to be frank, she’s too quiet and good at following directives. She needs to throw her weight , or at least the weight of the Secretary of State, around a bit more.
I try to pay close attention and I have no idea what she thinks about anything, except football.
Ted Olson for VP IMO.
I had a cancerous tumor removed from my breast, the doctor was very angry because I would not let him remove the whole breast and refused chemo, said I would not live five more years. That was 31 years ago. He’s dead now.
My dad was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma almost 20 years ago. He went through his period of treatment, and the cancer went into remission. Today, he is 82, and remains cancer free. I really don’t think this cancer is what’s going to finally get him. Something will, of course, because we all die of something or from something.
When thinking about whether Fred is the one I will vote for, I will of course consider his health history. I’d be foolish not to. But, based on my personal knowledge of this cancer and my dad’s experience with it, the fact that Fred Thompson has had it wouldn’t keep me from voting for him.... as long as he’s free and clear from the disease at election time.
Fred IS electable after all, and I’d do ANYTHING to keep Hillary out of the White House. She is TRULY a deadly cancer, a nasty disease. The idea of her as president sends cold chills down my spine. The fact that Fred Thompson has had this cancer would not be enough, in and of itself, to stop me from voting from him. We’ll see.... it’s early days yet.
pattyjo
There are many different kinds of non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, not just one. The virulence of the cancer varies widely. We’re told here that the particular type is “low grade.”
Here’s a great resource on the particular lymphoma Senator Thompson has, “peripheral nodal marginal zone B-cell:”
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Lymphomanon-Hodgkin/TypesofNHL/NodalmarginalzoneB-cell
Yeah...heaven forbid a newspaper provide information. </sarc>
I saw that name an did a double take thinking the Grand PooBah of the Exalted KKK was writing hit piece articles on Fred.
Robert S. Bird Senator, Grand Wizzard and PooBah.
COOL!
The “Fred is Dead” meme gets it very own hit piece...
The cancer is honored despite being on an extended break...
Horse Hockey...
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