Friend: Arlen Specter 'Seriously Ill' Battling Cancer
By Ben Simmoneau
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Longtime Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is seriously ill, a friend of Specter's confirmed to CBS 3.
On Tuesday morning, Specter's office released a statement from the former Senator.
"I am battling cancer. It's another battle I intend to win. I'm grateful for all the well wishes I received. I'm looking forward to getting back to work, to the comedy stage and the ballpark."
Specter, 82, was diagnosed about six weeks ago with a new form of cancer, the specifics of which are being kept private by his family, a CNN source said Monday night.
Specter reportedly had a "big flare up" of the disease Monday night.
Specter has overcome numerous serious illnesses over the past two decades, including a brain tumor and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He served in the United States Senate for 30 years. He was a Republican from 1965 until 2009, when he switched to the Democratic Party. He was defeated in the 2010 Pennsylvania Democratic Primary by Representative Joe Sestak.
