Fred Thompson Has Cancer

Possible GOP Presidential Candidate Says Lymphoma Has Not Slowed Him Down

(AP)  Fred Thompson, the potential presidential candidate better known as television's gruff "Law & Order" district attorney, said Wednesday he was diagnosed with lymphoma more than two years ago but the cancer shouldn't affect his life expectancy.

In an interview with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto, the former Tennessee senator, 64, said a doctor conducting a physical in 2004 found a bump on his neck, which turned out to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He said the disease is in remission with no illness or symptoms, and it won't affect his decision about whether to seek the Republican nomination.

"I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't satisfied in my own mind as to the nature of it and the fact that not only will I have an average lifespan but in the meantime I will not be affected in anyway by it," Thompson said. "Now of course nobody knows the future but that has been in the history for almost three years now in terms of no symptoms and no sickness."'

Thompson's physician, Dr. Bruce Cheson, hematology chief at Georgetown University Hospital, said the prognosis is good.

"Some lymphomas are very aggressive, but people with slow-growing types, like Senator Thompson's, more often die from natural causes associated with old age, rather than from the disease," Cheson said in a statement.

Thompson's disclosure comes just weeks after Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, revealed that her cancer had returned. White House spokesman Tony Snow recently underwent surgery for cancer that had spread to his liver.

Cancer has touched past and present presidential candidates. John McCain carries scars after three episodes of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. His 2008 Republican rival, Rudy Giuliani, had prostate cancer, which also afflicted 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry and 1996 Republican nominee Bob Dole.

In 1992, Democratic primary candidate Paul Tsongas was the first presidential candidate to run as a cancer survivor, having undergone a radical bone-marrow transplant six years earlier after lymphoma forced an end to his Senate career. Tsongas later died from a complication related to the treatment for the disease's recurrence.

"I have friends in politics, some in Congress, some running for president, and others who have successfully dealt with cancer," Thompson told interviewer Cavuto, who has battled Hodgkin's disease in the past and has multiple sclerosis. "It is certainly no respecter of persons and totally nonpartisan."

[agnim]

"Fred Thompson Has Cancer"

Response to democrat declaration in order to get a sympathy bump in the polls? LOL

[bluestardad]

Sorry Fred, America has a Cancer too it is called Republicans!

[iceman_1960]

"Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, said Wednesday he has lymphoma, a form of cancer."

Stay well, Fred.

His prognosis is excellent, but this drops him from the list of viable presidential candidates, if he ever was one. (John Kerry had prostate cancer, but it was treated and he was declared "cured," not just in remisssion.)

Best wishes to Fred Thompson and his family.

[newsman72]

What kind of sympathy plea is that? The guy's got cancer and he's disclosed it. At least he's willing to disclose such a condition so prospective voters can make a decision as to whether he's fit enough for president.

[iceman_1960]

"If he already knows that its in remission and the diagnosis shouldn't affect his life expectancy...then he shouldn't feel the need to publicize it." Posted by jh6379 at 10:33 AM : Apr 11, 2007

A likely presidential candidate owes it to the public to reveal this.

It's part of what they have to consider to make an informed choice.

The late Paul Tsongas was less than forthcoming about his cancer, and that was a disservice to those who supported him.

[gwagener]

My mother died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and while Thompson has my sympaty, this cancer is so deadly that is disqualified to be president with it. The 5 year survival rate is 53% (http://www.lymphomation.org/statistics.htm) meaning there is a 47% chance he would not serve a full term. There is also a significant chance of a lingering death like my mother had with significant loss in mental capacity. Forget a run for president Thompson, we can't be assured that you would have the good sense to resign should you become mentally impared. Just being horrably sick could impare the judgement. Sure anyone can get sick while in office, but why elect someone with a 47% chance of getting sick and dieing?

[oleander8]

[Sorry Fred, America has a Cancer too it is called Republicans!
at 10:32 AM : Apr 11, 200]

["Fred Thompson Has Cancer"
Response to democrat declaration in order to get a sympathy bump in the polls? LOL
Posted by Agnim]

Is there anything that you two CAN'T post something mean about?

[bluestardad]

oleander8; I think you are Nice! :)

[jumkey]

I look forward to the endless, mean-spirited comments and dissection of his fitness to run for office, ala Elizabeth Edwards.

Or is this another talking point that will be considered off-limits since it pertains to a Republican - much like the adultery, lying and hypocrisy that Republicans seem to always get a pass on from the media?

[gwagener]

jumkey wrote:
I look forward to the endless, mean-spirited comments and dissection of his fitness to run for office, ala Elizabeth Edwards.

This is totally different from the Elizabeth Edwards situation. Elizabeth is running for first lady, not president. If she does not live for a full term it will be sad, tragic, but will not change the person who holds the office of president.
This does point to the importance of Rudi and McCain giving full disclosure of their cancer situations. The medical history of the candidates is important to the public's right to make an informed choice!

[gunnerv1]

RUN FRED, RUN...... PLEASE!

[gunnerv1]

He disclosed it because it would have been disclosed by someone else anyway, so why not from the horses mouth.

[agnim]

"Is there anything that you two CAN'T post something mean about?
Posted by oleander8 at 11:10 AM : Apr 11, 2007"

Oh, get a life, girl. LOL

What's 'mean'?

Playing of the known positions of politicians to be liars/deceivers/opportunists is a natural and reasonable consequence of their past behaviors.

See the government lies and deceptions that are costing thousands of lives and limbs in Iraq.

See the government lies and deceptions over Tillman's death!

When politicians are known to lie and deceive, American citizens are reasonable to be cynical!

Lies and deceptions breed cynicism!
Better to have your beloved politicians become acquainted with the truth, Ole! OK?

Se

[sjw1253]

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is the same cancer that killed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She also had periods of "remission".

It is clearly an essential piece of information that voters must know before electing a president. No politics/partisanship about it.

It is great to have a positive attitude - all of us who are diagnosed with a disease that has a poor prognosis plan on beating the odds (lymf.org) ... but we have to live in reality as well and know that none of us is above the limitations of our human bodies.

[mcvet]

RUN FRED, RUN...... PLEASE!
Posted by gunnerv1 at 12:18 PM : Apr 11, 2007
+ report abuse

Well he has been "running", he's just like all the rest of the Fascist though. It's tough to get support when you've failed so badly in all area's. LMAO This porker will be lucky to get better support that the Southern Nazi we have now. Sieg Heil Y'all.

[jumkey]

gwagener:

I agree Thompson's illness is far more pertinent to the Presidential race than Elizabeth Edwards' cancer.

Even so, the Republicans and their media operatives used HER cancer to attack HIM (ie, he's selfish for continuing in the race, it was announced for sympathy, etc.) - and I wondered if they were going to attack him with the same arguments.

Since the media is overwhelmingly sympathetic to Republicans while relentless smearing Democrats and others I am guessing not.

[ramos937]

I am a moderate Democrat. But, I like Fred Thompson quite a bit. Whenever he says something, there is no doubt as to what he is saying and what he means. That is a huge asset for any President.

But, cancer is very unpredictable. There have been many survivors (Lance Armstrong) but they are far outnumbered by the deaths. It would be very hard to entrust the Office of President to someone that will very likely not survive his first four years.

Too bad, Fred would be a credit to the Office.

[gwagener]

jumkey wrote:
I agree Thompson's illness is far more pertinent to the Presidential race than Elizabeth Edwards' cancer.

Even so, the Republicans and their media operatives used HER cancer to attack HIM (ie, he's selfish for continuing in the race, it was announced for sympathy, etc.)

Well, I for one am willing to say that his illness is sufficient to disqualify him form consideration. You can't get much more extreme than that. And I know a little bit about it becuase my mother died of the same thing. My mother was in full remission and a year later she was dead. Her mental state was such that she would not have made a good president. So severe was her mental state that I would fear to have a president with the same thing.

[canaima]

To Apple2pie: What a tasteless post.

If God takes care of fools & idiots, you're in for a double dose of divine grace.

[randalds]

His political career is over. Period. He'll never make it through the nomination process now since even most people who would have considered voting for him won't now because they just don't want to take that chance. Still I hope he stays on "Law and Order" as it's just about the only show I ever watch on network prime time.

[barbaraf4]

Last night we were watching "The Final Report" and there was a much younger Fred Thompson during the Watergate Hearings. Although I don't see him any more or any less qualified for POTUS, nevertheless, he has had a long, distinguished career in politics and his acting career has been equally successful.

Fred, God Bless you and good luck with your treatments.

[randalds]

No Sweat my Liberal friends Rudy had cancer too any of you smell blood yet? OOps cant go after Rudy unless you go after Edwards?

What a Dilemma...lol
Posted by didntinhale at 02:42 PM : Apr 11, 2007

The water is already strong with the scent of blood from all of the Bush administrations self-inflicted wounds and Rudy is shooting himself in the foot in front of the religious nuts in the republican party well enough on his own. Why should we happy liberals waste time and energy taking pot shots at republicans when they do such a great job scre*wing up on their own?

[jsilver2th]

I think this spells: J E B f o r V I C E P R E S I D E N T

[coffeehead-2009]

Wilma lewis has cancer - millions of americans have cancer. So we know that the corrupt and elitist are human too.

Anything new here? Maybe now we will get some passage of stem cell research, seeing as someone of HIS caliber is exposed.

No harshness - just FACT. I see no need to stress over PUBLIC figures as most of us already experienced the misery of illness, I am happy that he has has the money and connections to get the best, most reliable and least economically devastating help that his "position" can buy for him.

[hawksprings]

Liberals are mean and unhappy.

[hawksprings]

Liberals are mean and unhappy, and angry.

[coffeehead-2009]

Lmao --
what a difference 2 years can make when truth hits the fan. Only a smidgen of weak minded "rats rats rats wmd wmd wmd" left that havent been deprogrammed.

Mean ????
F-U kinda place this administration has created.
Losing your house? - f/u it's business.
On the street? - f/u it's your own fault
Elderly dying - f/u they shouldn't expect anything.
Poverty - F/u - live with it, it's a changing world

I have decided to think fairly -
no compassion, that is what this administration has shown me.
hypocrasy - I will fly with the "god god god" phrase whenever it is "convenient" and I will beat the bible whenever it serves my purpose. Then I will screw my neighbors, call hurricane victims scum and steal every penny grandma millie has and expect no justice.
THAT is the agenda - it's me/mine and I....
Republicans (and that is just for the folks who "label" themselves in a PLASTIC bag - because most of america is not STILL that weak willed)

[coffeehead-2009]

Angry?

Y E S


Bush Joke Video: DC Humor in Bad Taste
http://www.musicforamerica.org/bushjoke

[randalds]

Liberals are mean and unhappy, and angry.
Posted by hawksprings at 04:03 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Actually as this corrupt administration slowly (not quickly enough) self destructs I find myself becoming happier by the day. And the only people I'm still mean to or angry with are those idiots who still support these as*sholes in the White House.

[hawksprings]

Liberals have ALWAYS been mean, angry, and unhappy.

[hawksprings]

But we're happy :)

[witwct]

correction, this article states that melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. I thought so too until I got Merkel Cell Carcinoma. It is more deadly than Melanoma. Fortunately for the general population, it is a lot rarer. That's unfortunate for me since there is much less research on Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

[hawksprings]

Is Merkel Cell related to Urkel Cell?
Do you find yourself wanting to wear big ugly glasses and suspenders?

[witwct]

very funny, if they had cut any more of my right hip off I might have needed the suspenders!!! it was a lump I had been living with for about a year. my primary care doctor told me it was a fatty tumor (more joke fodder) which doesn't need any treatment, a very common condition but what mcc is usually wrongly diagnosed as. so be careful with those innoculous lumps!!!!

[fairandbal]

The burning question that comes to mind when reading this will be if Catie will ask Fred if he's using his cancer diagnosis for political gain! Somehow i don't think she'll be asking that question of a GOP candidate.

[witwct]

I hope Katie learned her lesson last time based on comments I saw, but then the Edwards sure got a lot of sympathy and good will out of that interchange! makes one wonder!!

[puzzler125]

I'm a liberal and I'm not mean, angry or unhappy! Actually I do get angry when I see mean posts here.

[sero5]

Glad to hear his cancer is in remission. Hope Thompson decides to run. He is a no nonsense sort of guy unlike the Clintons, Bush, and Pelosi.

[terrapin78]

I don't think anyone running for President would get elected with a cancer known to be inside them.

It's a health issue. We want who we elect to be there for the entire term. With cancer, there is less of a chance of this outcome.

[colonieny]

He is a tough honest man, and a Reagan like Republican. If Reagan could serve with a colon cancer and at an advanced age, I would vote for Sen T. and trust. At this time, he seems to be the best man for the job.