Fred Thompson Has Lymphoma
Yet another new twist in the non-ending Presidential campaign comes from CNN:
Potential GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson has disclosed he has a treatable form of lymphoma, a source familiar to the “Law and Order” star’s deliberations tells CNN’s Candy Crowley.Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic glands — part of the body’s immune system. Nearly 500,000 Americans are currently living with the disease according to the Lymphoma Research foundation.
Thompson, a former Republican senator from Tennessee, has been discussing his condition privately “for sometime,” the source close to Thompson said, and his decision to disclose the information signals he is seriously considering a White House bid.
“This disclosure should indicate to everyone interested in seeing Fred enter the race for the White House how serious he is taking in taking the next steps toward launching a campaign,” the source said.
Former Tennessee Republican Sen. Fred Thompson told FOX News on Wednesday that he’s in remission from cancer.“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 life span, but in the meantime, I will not be affected in any way by it,” Thompson said.
Fair enough, and it is indeed treatable. But this revelation IS likely to take some of the edge off of Thompson’s candidacy. There will inevitably be some voters who’ll wonder if he’ll be able to go all the necessary rounds. It’s not the kind of new tidbit that boosts a candidate’s chances.
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12 Responses to “Fred Thompson Has Lymphoma”
It sure does sound like he’s on the verge of announcing though, and that this was an effort to get out in front of the disclosure.
There will inevitably be some voters who’ll wonder if he’ll be able to go all the necessary rounds.
They shouldn’t, and I speak as a liberal Democrat who couldn’t care less whether Thompson gets into the race or not.
“Cancer” is no longer an automatic death sentence, and it isn’t necessarily an automaticaly deeply disabling disease anymore, either.
Elizabeth Edwards isn’t the only person to say “I’m not letting cancer dictate what I do with my life.” Two very senior Senators have had cancer – Biden and Specter – and are cancer-free, still working, and apparently ready to go on working for as long as they like.
Rudy Giuliani is another cancer survivor who seems quite healthy and energetic.
We’re simply going to have to change the way we perceive people with cancer. They’re not just killing time until the disease kills them: they’re managing a difficult but survivable chrinic condition that doesn’t keep them from pursuing the causes and professions that matter to them.
CaseyL,
I agree with you but I still feel that candidates should be willing to openly address questions about the status of their health. There are no guarantees for any of us, of course, but voters have a right to know if the candidate they vote for has health risks that are greater than average (particularly for the presidential office).
That’s not to say that any particular condition or history should disqualify, but just that it is a valid consideration. I’m glad that Thompson is putting this out there and I hope if he does decide to run, that he’ll be very forthright with answering questions about his prognosis.
I was not saying voters SHOULD react that way. I as saying some voters will.
He’s toast, but not because of the cancer, per se. My dad died nearly 25 years ago from chronic lymphatic lymphoma and leukemia. The minute it reappears Thompson will have to get either chemo or radio treatments- as it’s still a deadly cancer, and chemo affects the brain, as well the body (loss of hair, weight, etc.).
Were he Prez, constitutionally, in those times, he would likely have to turn over the Presidency to the VP, and who’ll vote for a part-time ona gain off again Prez?
Some more prognosis facts are going to need to be widely aired. The boogeyman of uncertainty is never a good thing to have accompany you on the campaign trail.
Is This National Cancer Month?…
And if Fred Thompson is the knight in shining armor, it’s just been dented heavily.
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cos – the progress in cancer treatments, and chemo in particular, in the past 25 years are amazing. It isn’t like it was back then.
Fred Thompson Has Cancer, Good Prognosis…
Here’s the AP story:Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, 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…
I would not vote for Mr. Thompson, but I wish him a long and healthy life.
Well he’s out. Next.
AustinRoth: I know progress has been made in many cancers’, but not much in this one, which is why I wrote, ‘it’s still a deadly cancer, and chemo affects the brain’.