The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Specter said the recurrence “was detected during a routine scan of his chest and abdomen. A biopsy confirmed that the cancer had returned in a chest lymph node.” Just last month he had talked about beating the disease while doing a tour for his new book, Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate.” This time, his stage is considered IIIA, which is “significantly less advanced,” according to the statement from Specter’s office.
“I consider this just another bump on the road to a successful recovery from Hodgkin’s, from which I’ve been symptom-free for three years,” Specter said in the statement. “I’ve beaten some tough medical problems and tough political opponents and I expect to beat this, too.”
Specter has had a history of health problems. In 1993 he underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, which recurred in 1996 and was successfully treated. He also had coronary bypass surgery in 1998.
I remember following Senator Specter’s questioning and dialogue with the NIH director last year. His concern about the impact of flat funding was obvious and best characterized as indignant that we could be allowing our research to become such a low priority. A presence like his is very much needed in a legislature that can so easily clamor for one end or the other.
The Philly.com article goes into much more detail about the senator, his family and his health. Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate is Specter’s most recent book.