Warren Buffett finishes cancer treatment

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett is seen on June 2, 2010, in New York. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(AP) NEW YORK - Warren Buffett says he's done with radiation treatments for cancer, and the Oracle of Omaha seems eager to move on.

The billionaire investor and chairman and CEO of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway Inc. broke the news Friday while speaking to a group of executives from newspapers he owns. "It's a great day for me. Today I had my 44th and last day of radiation," he said, according to the Berkshire-owned Omaha World-Herald.

Buffett had disclosed in the spring that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time, he said the disease was detected early and wasn't life-threatening.

Any discussion of Buffett's health raises questions about how long he can keep running his investment firm, Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett turned 82 two weeks ago and celebrated by giving away more of his $44 billion fortune to his three children, for their charitable foundations.

Buffett said at the time that he was feeling fine and that his decision wasn't related to his health. Instead, he wanted to reward his children for the progress their foundations have made on issues like ending violence against women and helping farmers in impoverished nations. Buffett has already pledged to give away most of his personal fortune to charity.

Berkshire plans to split Buffett's job into three parts once he is gone. The next CEO will run Berkshire, but two other men hired by Buffett in recent years will oversee investment. Buffett wants his eldest son to succeed him as chairman.

With the newspaper executives, Buffett joked about planning to live to be the oldest man alive.

Buffett has assembled more than 80 businesses at Berkshire including manufacturing, utility and insurance companies.

[mudduck053]

Warren Buffett is a fine and generous human being, a creator of jobs, and a true helper of his fellow man. May he live long.

[thprop]

what's more important a gallon of gas or a gallon of blood

[fotonite1]

If there's only a choice, which will you pick?
a) $40B in the bank with terminal illness.
b) $40 in the bank and good health.

[askagain]

How about 40B in the bank and good health as a third option? Anyone can get sick whether they have vast wealth or are dirt poor. You can have $40 in the bank and be a very sick person and you can be a healthy person with wealth. What is your point?

[bramletabercrombie]

Can I get a million dollars?