John Edwards: "The Campaign Goes On"

Democratic Presidential Candidate Announces Wife's Cancer Is Back And Is Incurable

(CBS/AP)  Democrat John Edwards is forging ahead with his second bid for the presidency despite the sobering news that his wife, Elizabeth, is battling an incurable reappearance of cancer.

The presidential candidate revealed the closely guarded prognosis — even family friends and some senior campaign staff were unaware — at a news conference Thursday. His wife was by his side in the hotel garden where they held their wedding reception 30 years ago.

Putting to rest speculation about his political future, Edwards told reporters: "The campaign goes on. The campaign goes on strongly."

The recurrence of the cancer — this time on Elizabeth Edwards' bone as stage 4 breast cancer — 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."

Elizabeth Edwards said: "I expect to do next week all the things I did last week. I don't expect my life to be significantly different."

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."

Earlier, The Politico, a politics Web site and a CBS News partner, erroneously reported that Edwards was going to announce he would suspend his presidential campaign. Read The Politico's explanation.

Elizabeth 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.

She 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.

Democratic strategist James Carville told The Early Show's Hannah Storm that he thinks Edwards relies on his wife "very, very heavily."

"I think they became extremely close after the death of their son," Carville said. "They are a remarkable couple."

John Edwards said a biopsy of his wife's 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.

"The thing that is true is that her cancer cannot be cured now, Elizabeth will have this as long as she's alive," John Edwards said at the news conference.

How long women survive depends on how widespread the cancer is in the bone, but many can survive for years.

Adrienne Reid is one such survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago and thought she beat it. But five years ago, her cancer came back and spread to her bones, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. However, she says she's learned to live with it.

"I haven't been without treatment for the last five years," she says. "It's just part of my lifestyle. … At first you have to accept it, and once you accept it, it just becomes part of your life.”

The longer it takes for cancer to spread after the initial tumor, the better the prognosis. Elizabeth Edwards was diagnosed in 2004.

The average survival rate has been 2 1/2 to five years, LaPook reports. But doctors say the odds are improving, thanks to newer therapies that target the cancer with fewer side effects.

"Most of these treatments, unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs aren't just bombs that go in and explode, but they're treatments that are targeted much more specifically for abnormalities that are seen in the cancer cells that aren’t seen in a woman’s normal cells," says Dr. Eric Winer, director of the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

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."

John Edwards has been a strong contender in the 2008 Democratic race, leading in early polls of the important Iowa caucus-goers who will cast the first ballots in January. His wife has served as his closest political adviser in both his campaigns.

John Edwards made clear that although he's staying on the campaign trail, his wife will come first, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

"Let me be absolutely clear. Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth, I will be there," he said.

After the couple's announcement, support poured in from both sides of the political aisle.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said in a release that "Elizabeth has been an inspiration and role model to all of us with her courageous and very public fight against breast cancer. I am hopeful and optimistic that Elizabeth will continue to win her fight."

At the White House, press secretary Tony Snow said "our prayers are with you."

"As somebody who has been through this, Elizabeth Edwards is setting a powerful example for a lot of people and good and positive one," said Snow, who had his colon removed in 2005 and underwent six months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

[agnim]

Posted by anopinion1 at 11:04 AM : Mar 23, 2007

You are too funny. LMAO

[anopinion1]

Did jdweymouth say he felt bad for mrs Edwards illness??? yea and then continue onto other subject matter??

enough said

[scott4261]

Not really. I'm too smart to believe that. But the low brow, below the belt tactics here are uncalled for. I admit I get sucked in sometimes, but jeez! It is without class and I, for one, was raised better than that.

[anopinion1]

I think you have been cruel and heartless. You have done so while posting dialog with me before. I find it unnecessary and classless.

Good day, sir.
Posted by Scott4261 at 12:26 PM : Mar 23, 2007

So did you really expect every single post on this thing to say. I truely feel sorry for the bad news mr. and mrs. Edwards. Our prayers are with you. We hope your wife has a full recovery.

[scott4261]

jdweymouth,

And the Republican party, under the guidance of Grover Nordquist and others of his ilk are busily trying to dismantle as much regulation as possible before Bush is gone from office. This, to the detriment of the middle class. We are losing many of their jobs due to outsourcing. We simply are getting squeezed into being poor. And more regulation? I wouldn't want a lot, but we could start by charging importing countries more realistic tariffs. If we do not do that, our jobs will continue to be outsourced.

You and I are clearly on opposite side of the political spectrum. We can agree to disagree. But I view this circular argument as pointless. And BTW, I'm not beyond being hypocritical form time to time, but I try my best to be honest at all times. For the record, though, I think you have been cruel and heartless. You have done so while posting dialog with me before. I find it unnecessary and classless.

Good day, sir.

[jdweymouth]

I may feel sorry for dying deer: that doesn't mean I warm my heart to them.

[jdweymouth]

Scott;

Because you are perfect proof of the left's hypocricy. Nobody likes hypocrites-except the left.

In regards to my empathy toward the Edwards couple: I do feel for them, but the fact that Edwards is glorified socialist intent on imposing that upon our country doesn't warm my heart toward him-no matter how bad I feel for him

I ask YOU again: what exactly do you mean by regulated capitalism? Capitalism is already regulated to the advantage of the country; how do you think it needs more regulating?

[anopinion1]

tisk tisk
scottie boy

[scott4261]

This is degenerating beyond belief. And BTW, I can dish it out, but this is NOT the forum to do so. I may have crossed the line, but you really are an a s s. Why don't you grow up and learn civility?

[anopinion1]

if you want me be an *** towards you scott i can be...

[scott4261]

Case in point.

[anopinion1]

so when did scotty boy all of a sudden resort to name calling so quick in a conversation....

bad day???
you bf say your butt looked big?

[anopinion1]

don't talk about my *** ****

[scott4261]

And BTW, you're an a s s!

[scott4261]

Universal health care is a legitimate issue. And don't be fooled, becuse ater it gets hammered out between Republicans and Democrats in committe, it will be watered down, anyway. That's waht happens in divided government, for better or for worse.

And I will repeat to you what I said to jdweymouth,

And one more thing before I go to bed, I believe that capitalism is part of the American way of life. But UNREGULATED capitalism is a prescription for the robber barons to take everything and for the middle class to disappear as a result. If we have learned nothing over the last six years, it is that the Grover Nordquist influence of the Republican Party has been an unmitigated disaster.

I am sure that John Edwards shares my viewpoint. Now, if you think that such a viewpoint makes me a "certified communist," then you are truly an idiot.

[anopinion1]

"Let me be absolutely clear. Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth, I will be there." John Edwards


JUST GRAVEY....
SOOO, if he did become prez and elizab took a turn for the worse, what would he do??
Take a month or more off from being the prez???
Resign to spend time with her towards the end??

He needs to get out of the race now and do the right thing.......spend some QT with his wife.
He could make a run at the white house in 2012 or 2016 and i guess get some real sympathy votes then.

yea yea we do have a heart.. I don't think neone here would wish cancer upon anyone and we wish them the best. but scott, the fact of the matter is he is a presidental candidate so stuff to deal with that will be discused in the chat. plain and simple. in one regaurd he is communist to I.E. his universal healthcare plan. But, of any plan out their for universal healthcare his idea of taxing the *** outta the rich to pay for it makes the most sence.(even tho universal healthcare would ruin this country in my and many many other peoples minds)

[scott4261]

No, jdweymouth, your capacity for being nasty IN SPITE OF supposedly trying to show empathy at the SAME TIME is disgusting and, quite frankly, shallow.

[anopinion1]

The fact that this couple have been together for 30 plus years is an amazement within itself. John Edwards is truely a remarkable person and will be a great President.

America will surely be watching this family and praying that all works out well.

I'll be voting for Mr. Edwards.............
Posted by xlt150 at 07:11 PM : Mar 22, 2007

NOW THIS SCARES ME!!!!!!!
so anyone that has been married 30 years will be a good president???????
*** are you talking about?????
If this incident with edwards wife somehow strengthened your opinion to fove fo riraq then you need to re think a few things.

and one other thing... all of the democratic candidates running right now are weak. and mr edwards/universal healthcare ideas will completely ruin the US. Hilary has no ideas of her own, she could'nt even ask a simple question the other day in front of the press on wheather or not gayss are immoral. obama is to young with to little experience...

al gore may have what it takes.

[jdweymouth]

RE: "Now, if you think that such a viewpoint makes me a 'certified communist' then you are truly an idiot."

What exactly do you believe?

RE: "Pardon me for saying that your capacity for empathy doesn't ring true."

As you wish. I know you're wrong, but if you believe that simply because I'm a conservative than, pardon me for saying this, your capacity for toleration doesn't ring true.

[scott4261]

And one more thing before I go to bed, I believe that capitalism is part of the American way of life. But UNREGULATED capitalism is a prescription for the robber barons to take everything and for the middle class to disappear as a result. If we have learned nothing over the last six years, it is that the Grover Norquist influence of the Republican Party has been an unmitigated disaster.

I am sure that John Edwards shares my viewpoint. Now, if you think that such a viewpoint makes me a "certified communist," then you are truly an idiot.