Elizabeth Edwards: No Divorce from John Planned

(CBS)  Elizabeth Edwards says she and estranged husband John Edwards won't be divorcing unless one of them decides to marry someone else. They're separated.

In a wide-ranging interview in the upcoming issue of People magazine, she also
reveals her cancer is spreading.

Elizabeth tells People tumors are popping up elsewhere in her body, including a particularly painful one in a hip.

People says she "shares how her cancer has gotten worse, with tumors in her legs, spine and skull."

"It's less frightening than you think; it can't migrate to your brain," People quotes her as saying.

She also says, "John's conduct through this whole thing was terrible and it makes people want him to pay for it. On a personal level, he's paid a lot."

Her estranged husband, a former presidential candidate and North Carolina governor, admits he had an affair and love child with former campaign videographer Rielle Hunter.

Elizabeth says it wasn't easy leaving her husband of 32 years in the wake of the affair. She spoke to People about having to close the door on him in order to move forward, even though she has no idea how much time she has left.

On "The Early Show" Wednesday, People Executive Editor Betsy Gleick shed light on much more of what Elizabeth had to say:


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A former aide of John Edwards, Andrew Young, has attacked Elizabeth for using "her incurable cancer to garner sympathy."

But People says she needs daily chemotherapy injected through into a breast. The treatments take long as two hours.

She tells doctors just don't know how long she has to live, but she'd be happy with eight more years, to see son Jack, 10, graduate high school and daughter Emma, 12, pick a major, and to see older daughter Cate, 28, get married to the young man she's been dating for some time. They aren't engaged but are "talking marriage," and that's a bright spot in Elizabeth's future.

Elizabeth debunks reports she wouldn't want John involved with their kids' lives after she dies and has every confidence in him as a father.

Cate volunteered to write an essay for People about her mom as a mother. It is short and sweet and the only reference in it to her father being unfaithful is when she talks about what her mom taught her about the meaning of grace: "Or how to continue your life on your own terms when somehow it becomes savaged by people you never invited into it." She says she and her father remain close.

As for whether John still sees Rielle, Elizabeth says she only knows what John tells her, which is that "under no circumstances" do they see each other," adding that she'd obviously be the last to know the truth about that.

Elizabeth says the grand jury probe of John will reveal nothing. Gleick says Elizabeth is "still very supportive of him -- she says she still believes his policies are the best" and that the investigation "is the result of people wanting to punish him."

About working again, Elizabeth says, "Nobody wants to hire the girl with cancer." As for dating, "It would surprise me even more if someone fell in love with me."

She says they are selling their $5.5 million mansion in Chapel Hill, because their "dream house" just doesn't have the same meaning anymore.

Though no divorce is planned, she'd allow John to have one if he wanted to remarry.

She and John are even going on a trip to Japan to show the children where Elizabeth grew up. She says it will be helpful to have John along, but the sleeping arrangements will be very different.

[h20zone]

Her line in the sand is that she dies as Mrs. John Edwards. As if that has any significance in real terms.

So sad to see a woman who purely picked bad in regard to a life mate - still be paralyzed in regard to cutting him loose.

After all he is chasing women everywhere, hon. Not choosing you. Absurd that she values "marriage" in these terms. And soooooooo sad. What is she mentoring for her daughters - if in the end they must settle for staying married to low down dogs like their father. Doesn't she think better of the next generations women? I would think so.

[rosebudster]

Your story says that John Edwards was a NC Governor but he never held that position. He was a NC Senator.

[deeshore]

John Edwards was not a North Carolina governor. He served in the U.S. Senate.

[deeshore]

John Edwards was not a North Carolina governor. He did serve as senator.

[Cassarit]

Why am I being forced to sign to this comment section in every time I close and reopen explorer? I did click the remember password option. Is this a new way of keeping people from posting if CBS doesn't like what they have to say?

[MalloryDavis]

run2jazz2: My comment was not insensitive. It was an observation. Why else would Edwards have run for president during this crucial ill time with Elizabeth? Why else would she have wanted him to run when she would have been worn down on days?

I didn't wish her ill or him ill. What is your problem?

[marti.lewis]

John Edwards was a U.S. senator from NC and was never a governor. You don't need

[iknowmorethanoprah]

She wants eight more years? Why does she think she's entitled to that? None of is can ask for any finite amount; poor Wade didn't get even 20 years. How many did Anne Frank have, how many did Daniel Pearl have? In many parts of the world a person is lucky to see 50. People have such expectations, sheesh. Anyway, not cancer and not infidelity and not a baby out of wedlock--not any of that compares to the grief of saying goodbye to a dead child. That's the worst (at least he died quickly), apart from having a lost/missing child and no answers, ever. I just wish she'd shut up already.

[pokey5735]

Why don't you take your own advise and shut up! You are one cold bastard! I don't know of anyone who wouldn't want to live to see their children grown.

[JustYourAverageReader]

You might know more than oprah, but using it and having the compassion of Oprah are quite distant from you.

[larrryshrine]

"A former aide of John Edwards, Andrew Young, has attacked Elizabeth for using "her incurable cancer to garner sympathy." "
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Oh, for God's sake, incurable cancer should engender sympathy. Sympathy is a natural, empathic, reaction to a terrible malady. Elizabeth seems to handle events and situations with grace and dignity, and even if you don't agree with her on all her actions, I think it wise to respect her. She has told no one to feel sorry for her. So sure, let's give her a little sympathy.

[oldarkie]

I doubt the truth could come out of Andrew Young's mouth if it were sliding on snot. Remember, he is the one that lied like a dog and said Hunter's child was his. That entire bunch strikes me as being dishonest, deceitful, manipulative, and obsessed with a feeling of entitlement. And to think I supported John Edwards when he first announced his candidacy. This country dodged a bullet.

[th9876]

I think Andrew Young has said and done enough. His opinion that Elizabeth is "using her cancer to garner sympathy" is just plain mean.

[yaliktono]

Hello idiots at CBS.... You'd think that you people would at least get your facts straight with Democrats since you are so left leaning. Edwards WASN'T a GOVERNOR, he was a U.S. SENATOR. Can't wait for your next poll of Obama's performance... I'm sure it will have him with an approval rating in the upper 70's................